The best tequila cocktails and recipes to try

Summer means sun, sea and sand. And in your glass? Tequila, naturally: Mexico’s national pride and the definitive tropical touch at the bar. Tequila is a spirit with a rich heritage that deserves to shine in top-tier cocktails. For centuries, generations of Mexican families have harvested agave to produce a drink steeped in meaning: tradition, culture and identity.

Tequila comes from a single species, blue agave Tequilana Weber, grown almost exclusively around Jalisco. After harvesting the heart of the plant, the piña (named for its resemblance to a pineapple), producers sometimes add corn syrup or cane sugar to the agave, never exceeding 49%, to yield a tequila mixto. The purest flavour, however, is preserved in 100% agave bottlings, such as Espolòn, crafted at Mexico’s San Nicolas distillery.

So, what are the best cocktails to savour authentic tequila? The wait is over: Flawless has rounded up the finest recipes to highlight the spirit’s original character. A taste of Mexico right at your fingertips. Or rather, in your glass.

Paloma

Take just one sip, and it is easy to see why this drink quickly climbed international bar charts to become one of the top tequila serves anywhere. Fresh, aromatic and wonderfully drinkable, the Paloma gets its pink hue from grapefruit soda, the star of the recipe alongside lime juice, agave syrup and Espolòn blanco tequila. With Espolòn’s punchy character, it delivers a fresh taste of contemporary Mexico, transforming how we enjoy tequila through first-rate bartending.

Paloma recipe:

• pour 15 ml lime juice;
• add 10 ml agave syrup;
• pour 60 ml Espolòn Tequila Blanco;
• stir with a spoon for a few seconds;
• fill the glass with ice;
• top up with grapefruit soda;
• garnish with a lime wedge and grapefruit zest.

Margarita

Hands up if you have never had a Margarita. This drink is always in high demand as temperatures climb. Whether down to its exotic appeal or its bright, invigorating flavour, a sunset on the beach with a good Margarita is essential for anyone who loves to travel, even just in spirit. Its classic sombrero-shaped glass with a salted rim is instantly recognisable in bars across the globe. Order one straight away; or, if you fancy something different, ask for a Tommy’s Margarita, a Californian variation on the classic that swaps triple sec for agave syrup.

Margarita recipe:

• rub the rim of the glass with lime juice;
• dip the rim in salt to coat;
• pour 60 ml tequila into a shaker;
• add 20 ml triple sec;
• add 20 ml lime juice;
• add a pinch of salt;
• garnish with a lime wheel.

Tequila Sunrise

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic tequila cocktails of all time, immortalised in song by both the Eagles and Cypress Hill. In appearance and spirit, the Tequila Sunrise takes its cue from sunrises over the Grand Canyon, capturing that moment of wonder when the sun welcomes a new day. A vibrant drink that highlights the bold profile of tequila, it brings a taste of the American Southwest straight to your local bar.

Tequila Sunrise recipe:

• add a few ice cubes to a glass;
• pour 45 ml tequila;
• add 90 ml orange juice;
• add 15 ml grenadine syrup;
• garnish with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice.

Batanga

A signature serve of Mexican mixology, made famous by an appearance in commercials for local brand El Tequileño, the Batanga was created by Don Javier Delgado Corona, owner and bartender of La Capilla. Packed with bright, refreshing notes, the drink comes with a signature detail: it is served with a knife inside, which Don Javier traditionally used to stir the drink after cutting the limes. Lime and cola deliver an irresistible fresh, fizzy lift, rounded out by the warmth of tequila.

Batanga recipe:

• fill a highball glass with ice;
• pour 50 ml Tequila blanco;
• add 15 ml lime juice;
• add 150 ml cola;
• stir well;
• garnish with a lime wheel.

Oaxaca Old Fashioned

Created in New York in 2007 by bartender Phil Ward, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned was the first major serve to blend tequila and mezcal. It is an intense drink with deep aromatic complexity that channels Manhattan’s cosmopolitan spirit, pairing the crisp freshness of agave with smoky undertones. Bringing together two defining Mexican spirits, it lends the traditional Old Fashioned an enticing, earthy richness courtesy of mezcal.

Oaxaca Old Fashioned recipe:

• pour 45 ml tequila into a glass;
• add 15 ml mezcal;
• add 7.5 ml agave nectar;
• add 2 dashes of Aromatic Bitter;
• stir until thoroughly chilled;
• flambé an orange peel;
• warm one side of the peel with a match and express the oils into the glass;
• garnish by dropping the peel into the glass.