29 Tequila Cocktails to Give Your Signature Margarita Some Competition
If the only tequila drinks you’ve had have all been margaritas, then you might be ready to try some other tequila cocktail recipes. A good bottle of tequila will have herbal, peppery flavors that will be bright and fresh (if it's a blanco) or slightly mellowed and creamy (if it's reposado tequila or añejo). You can think of tequila as a botanical spirit like gin, but all that botanical flavor comes naturally out of the agave plant itself. Which is to say: The good stuff deserves a good cocktail. Below you’ll find a few of our favorite tequila drinks, including boozy stirred options and refreshing frozen drinks, easy highballs, and yes, more than one spin on the marg you know and love. Get your cocktail shaker ready.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton1/29Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Not all tequila cocktails are shaken and citrusy. This stirred drink is sultry and herbal and smoky and yes, boozy, thanks to a mix of tequila and mezcal. If you like scotch and whiskey drinks, it's wise to start your agave journey here. A flamed orange twist makes an extra-aromatic garnish.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/29Rosie Ranch Water
Get your Topo Chico chilled. Epi contributor Kayla Stewart asked top Texas bartenders how they like to make this hydrating local favorite. This version from Houston’s Rosie Cannonball, which pairs tequila blanco with a pour of sotol or mezcal, knocked our socks off. The spicy salted rim, with its mix of herbs, flowers, and Aleppo-style pepper, is not to be skipped.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert3/29The Ultimate Paloma Cocktail
How do you pack tequila drinks with vibrant grapefruit flavor? The move that's showcased in this Paloma recipe is layering in the citrusy character, using zingy grapefruit soda (Ting is ideal if you can get it) and a squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice too. Invite some friends over for a Mexican feast and a few rounds of these. Wondering how strong your paloma is? Check out our cocktail ABV calculator.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert4/29The Classic Margarita
We know we promised that this wouldn't just be a list of margarita recipes. But it's worth remembering that the classic margarita is yours for tinkering. Some bartenders recommend 2 oz. tequila, 1 oz. fresh lime juice, and ¾ oz. Cointreau or other orange liqueur. Others dial down the tequila to 1½ oz., and do ¾ oz. each Cointreau and lime, plus ¼ ounce simple syrup. If you prefer to drink yours up, just strain into a coupe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton5/29Frozen Rosalita
Where a margarita is usually sweetened with orange liqueur, the Rosalita uses bittersweet amaro for a touch more complex flavor without any additional work. This version of the drink is chilled in your freezer before it heads to the blender with a big scoop of ice. It's an Epicurious staff favorite for summertime.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert7/29Redheaded Saint
We've been using a lot of raspberry syrup in our cocktails lately—especially in classic drinks like the Clover Club. But this spin on the old-school El Diablo is one of our favorite ways to drink tequila. It's refreshing, bubbly, gingery, and nicely tart, with a touch of smoke from a little mezcal.
Photograph by Natalie Migliarini and James Stevenson10/29Enjoying a Margarita in Venezia
You've probably paired tequila with orange liqueur before, but what about orangey Aperol? Think of this as a bright and bittersweet Aperol margarita, honoring both Italy and Mexico. This drink recipe appears in Beautiful Booze by Natalie Migliarini and James Stevenson.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton11/293-Ingredient Grilled Orange Margarita
If you're grilling outside, consider making a memorable cocktail to serve alongside your food by charring some oranges for this easy drink.
Photo by Ed Anderson12/29Cucumber Cilantro Margarita
This recipe from Trejo's Tacos might just be the path to one of the most refreshing tequila cocktails of all time. Pairing the spirit with cilantro and cooling muddled cucumber is a move we'll come back to.
Photo by Doron Gild14/29Rosita
This brisk and bracing tequila aperitif is likely to appeal if you love a negroni with your pre-dinner snacks. Jim Meehan recommends serving it up, as shown, in his book, Meehan's Bartender Manual, but we also really like it poured over ice in a rocks glass.
