What Can You Mix With Tequila Drinks?
While I'm a tequila sipper and enjoy most of my tequila neat, it's hard to turn down a refreshing tequila based mixed drink when the hot Miami sun is pounding down. Every once in a while I'm surprised at the creations bartenders have come up with to make craft drinks from tequila and even mezcal. To make tequila cocktails according to your tastes, here are some ideas for easy and delicious beverages that are sure to impress your guests.
Tequila and Coke
This unique take on rum and coke is an easy cocktail to prepare. All you need is your favorite cola, a quality tequila, lime juice, and a little sea salt for the rim. You can also add sugar to the rim for a sweeter cocktail, or combine sugar and salt to make the flavor of the cocktail more complex. Tequila and coke takes less than five minutes to make, and you can prepare a pitcher if you're celebrating with friends.
Tequila and Lemonade
Tequila and lemonade is perfect for a backyard get-together and is a sophisticated treat with smoked or barbecued foods. You can simply combine tequila with homemade lemonade, or you can make the beverage a more refined cocktail by flavoring it with vanilla beans and adding a Meyer lemon slice for garnish. Of course, your favorite all-natural or organic lemonade works well for this cocktail as well. You can add more flavor to the beverage by using strawberry lemonade or mango lemonade as well.
What Soda to Mix with Tequila?
If you're wondering what soda to mix with tequila, you've got several options. Your selections should be based on your taste preferences and the type of food you're serving. You can combine club soda or seltzer with tequila to bring out the complexity of the flavor and accent this simple yet elegant drink with a lemon or lime garnish. You can also use grapefruit soda to create a Paloma or a cola, root beer, or ginger ale for a cocktail with a more pronounced taste. Sodas with a pronounced citrus flavor are also delicious with tequila. Lemon and lime flavors pair with this Mexican spirit nicely and provide a flavor that is similar to a classic margarita.
Simple Tequila Drinks
There are several simple tequila drinks you can prepare if you want a quick cocktail with dinner or you're preparing to host a gathering. For instance, you can mix tequila with your favorite cranberry or pineapple juice, or add a little tequila to citrus soda for a bubbly drink with a kick. If you've got your favorite soda on hand, add some tequila to a soft drink for a cocktail that is satisfying and simple to make.
Tequila and Ginger Ale
Tequila and ginger ale is an easy and delicious drink that is similar to a Moscow Mule and you can make it in minutes. Just mix tequila and ginger ale and add lime for garnish. Or, you can make the cocktail a little more complex in flavor by adding orange liqueur and brown sugar. A classic simple syrup can be added to this drink to give the drink more depth, and you can add lime to the simple syrup to bring out the flavor of the tequila.
What Juice to Mix with Tequila
If you're not sure what juice to mix with tequila, think about your favorite margarita flavors. If you like mango margaritas, mix mango juice or puree with tequila and lime juice for a flavorful cocktail. Or, you can puree watermelon slices to create juice and mix the watermelon juice with tequila and triple sec. Tequila also tastes great with apple juice. If you're mixing tequila with juice, add a splash of club soda for a sparkly drink that is flavorful and refreshing.
Tequila Sunrise
If you prefer citrus flavors, mix tequila with grenadine and orange juice to make a classic Tequila Sunrise. When you stir the cocktail, you'll see a beautiful array of orange and red colors, which is sure to impress your brunch guests. You can add a cherry or two to your tequila sunrise ingredients for garnish and added flavor. This drink goes great with breakfast foods, but you can also enjoy it with Mexican breakfast dishes like huevos rancheros.
No matter what time of day it is, tequila can always pair well with a sangrita. Try this sangrita recipe at home if you can't find it in your local Mexican establishment.
Tequila Sunset
A Tequila Sunset tends to be a little darker in color than a Tequila Sunrise and features a few more flavors. Grapefruit, mango, or pineapple juice is combined with tequila and grenadine for a delicious cocktail that is great for brunch or dinner that features your favorite Mexican foods. There are several variations of this cocktail, so if you want to add some blackberry or cranberry syrup to the drink to intensify the flavor and darken the color, this is a great choice as well.
Huevos Rancheros always pair well with a good tequila!
Tequila and Sprite
Want a quick and easy tequila cocktail to enjoy with dinner? Try tequila and Sprite. This drink tastes a lot like a classic margarita and you can prepare it in minutes. Once you've achieved the perfect combination of tequila and Sprite, you can add a splash of fresh lime juice and place a lime wedge on the glass for garnish. This drink is perfect for Taco Tuesday and tastes great with other Mexican dishes like chile Rellenos or burritos as well.
Fruity Drink with Tequila
Whether you're having a get-together with friends or want to add a tasty cocktail to family dinner, a fruity drink with tequila can make any meal or celebration more enjoyable. You make your own blackberry lemonade and add tequila, or add tequila and triple sec to fruit punch and garnish with fresh lemon, lime, and orange wedges. You can create your own fruit punch with the drink mix of your choice. Add water according to the package directions, and enhance the flavor of the punch by adding pineapple juice and/or muddled strawberries before stirring in the tequila.
Tequila and Dr. Pepper
If you like tequila and cola, you'll love tequila and Dr. Pepper. The tequila adds a refreshing bite to the soda, and you can mix in some fresh lemon or lime juice to brighten the flavor. To intensify the taste of the drink, you can create a simple syrup with white or brown sugar and add a few drops of fresh lemon or lime juice. If you're serving this easy cocktail to guests, garnish each glass with a slice of lime.
2 Ingredient Tequila Drinks
You can easily mix tequila with a beverage for a refreshing cocktail that takes less than five minutes to prepare. Tasty 2 ingredient tequila drinks include tequila and cola, tequila with lemon-lime soda, tequila with lemonade, or tequila with mango, cranberry, or pineapple juice.
Tequila Smash
A Tequila Smash is a cocktail made from tequila, honey simple syrup or agave syrup, lemon juice, lime juice, and mint leaves. This cocktail is the perfect refreshing drink for a warm summer day.
Holiday Cocktails with Tequila
Bring in the season by preparing holiday cocktails with tequila. A cranberry margarita is a wonderful way to make your holiday party more festive. To make this drink, combine tequila with cranberry juice, rosemary simple syrup, sugar, and lime juice. You can also add some frozen cranberries to the cocktail for visual appeal. A spiced apple margarita is also a great choice and combines the flavors of cinnamon, coconut sugar, honey simple syrup, apple juice, and tequila.
FAQ's And User Submitted Tequila Cocktail Recipes
In the below area I answer questions that people send in via email, and will also reserve this area for any user-submitted tequila drink recipes that I decide to share.
Can You Mix Tequila and Coke?
If you're wondering “can you mix tequila and coke?” the answer is yes! This cocktail is called the Batanga and tastes like a combination between a margarita and a rum and coke. This cocktail offers both fruity and caramel flavors, and you can finish the drink with a slice of lime for a burst of citrus deliciousness.
Which Type of Tequila Should I Use for Mixed Drinks?
This is a matter of preference, and I'll never tell someone to change something up if they like it, but know that you don't really need to go with a high end tequila if you are mixing it with anything. The juice or mixer will take away from the natural flavor of the tequila, so I like to choose something affordable like the Costco tequila (Kirklands) brand. Definitely don't go with something that's a top shelf, expensive tequila meant for sipping. You may want to try a Cristalino tequila if you want that aged tequila taste but need that clear tequila to make your color profile stand out.
