Spirit.Ed: Check Out Our 2025 Cinco De Mayo Roundup
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Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is here, and per usual, many bars and those in the United States use this day to celebrate Mexican heritage, cuisine, and, of course, agave-based spirits. For this year's roundup, SPIRIT.ED is hoghloghing the cocktails for the Mexican holiday, including a booze-free option.
I'll keep it level with you, SPIRIT.ED readers. I almost didn't make this roundup for various reasons. Chief among them is the fact that Americans should really learn the real history of Cinco de Mayo and realize it's something that's not even widely celebrated in Mexico. Further, I've been to Cinco de Mayo gatherings in the States over the years, replete with all kinds of stereotypes against Mexican people.
Here is what I wrote about the history of Cinco de Mayo last year:
Since the 1800s, the day has somewhat focused on celebrating the connection between Mexican and American culture. In some cities, parties, musical performances, parades, and food will be a centerpiece. A fair point of criticism of the day is people not of Mexican descent putting on outfits connected to the country's culture yet enforcing offensive stereotypes. Beyond Puebla, the holiday isn't widely celebrated in Mexico.
The true root of Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the Mexican military against French invaders at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza led his troops against the relatively advanced military might of the French soldiers, giving them a boost in morale. Military leaders in the United States came to the aid of Mexico, causing the French to vacate their occupation in 1867.
However, our Mexican brothers and sisters do like a good drink, and you can go out and enjoy one without wearing a dollar store sombrero or donning a mustache, so that's what I'm concentrating on. Because I've been having some long weekends due to the gig, I'm going to take it easy, hence why I also included a mocktail in this roundup for those of us looking to still celebrate but without the buzz.
The roundup is centered strictly on agave-based cocktails. I am aware that there are Cinco de Mayo-inspired drinks featuring other spirits, but I wanted to keep things as close to traditional as possible. While there are margaritas in the mix, we've got some other agave spirit-based drinks listed to.
Enjoy this latest Cinco de Mayo roundup, and enjoy your drinks sensibly.
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Photo: Brent Hofacker / 500px / Getty
Spirit.Ed: Check Out Our 2025 Cinco De Mayo Roundup was originally published on cassiuslife.com Source:Cazadores
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Tequila CAZADORES Blanco (Made with 100% Blue Weber Agave)1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice1 oz. Agave Syrup1 Quarter of Avocado1 Sprig of Cilantro
1 Slice of Roasted Jalapeño
Method: Muddle avocado, cilantro and jalapeño in a mixing glass. Add the rest of the ingredients with ice, then shake and serve over the rocks. Source:Casamigos
Recipe:
1.5 oz. Casamigos Cristalino Tequila 1 oz. Fresh Watermelon Juice or 4-5 Fresh Watermelon Chunks (1') .5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice .25 oz. Simple Syrup 8-10 Mint Leaves 4 Dashes Peychaud's® Bitters
Garnish Mint Sprig and Watermelon Chunk Through Skewer
Instructions: Combine all ingredients into a tin shaker. Muddle fruit/herbs. Add ice, shake vigorously, and fine strain into a rocks glass. Add fresh ice and garnish. Source:Cointreau
Ingredients:
1 oz Cointreau 2 oz Tequila1 oz of Cold Brew Coffee
0.5 oz of Oat Milk
Directions:
Add all ingredients into shaker and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with espresso beans. Source:Hennessy
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Hennessy V.S0.75 oz fresh lime juice0.5 oz orange liqueur
.25 oz Agave syrup
Method:Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain into glass with ice
Optional: 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. Source:Ghost Tequila
2 oz Ghost Tequila1 oz Lime Juice1oz strawberry infused simple syruptopped with Ginger Beer
Garnish: Lime wheel
Directions:
Measure and pour all ingredients in a copper mule mug filled with ice. Stir gently. Garnish with lime wheel. Source:Hpnotiq
Directons:
1.5 oz Hpnotiq
1 oz Lunazul Blanco0.5 oz lime juice0.5 oz agave syrup (10:1 agave to water)5 jalapeno slices
Glassware: Double Rocks
Directions: In a mixing glass, muddle jalapeño with lime juice. Add the remaining ingredients. Shake until well chilled. Fill a Collins glass with ice, and double-strain the cocktail into the glass. Source:Mi Campo
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz Tequila Mi CAMPO Blanco½ oz Orange Liqueur½ oz Agave Nectar
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
INSTRUCTIONS:
Measure all ingredients and combine in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and then strain over fresh ice in a double rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. Source:HOPWTR
Ingredients:3oz Fresh Pineapple Juice1/2 oz Agave Syrup1/4 oz Sweetened Ginger Juice3 Drops Liquid Chlorophyll (optional)
Lime HOPWTR
Method: Add all ingredients except for the Lime HOPWTR to a tin shaker with ice. Shake with ice until cold and strain into a glass over ice. Top with Lime HOPWTR, garnish with a lime wheel + mint. Enjoy! Source:mezcal union
Ingredients:
1.25 oz Mezcal Unión El Viejo2 oz Grapefruit Juice.5 oz Lime Juice.5 oz Simple Syrup3 drops Saline Solution (see below for preparation)*1-2 dashes Firewater Tincture (optional)
Top with: 1-2oz Fever Club Soda
Preparation:
Shake: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain: Fine strain into a Collins glass with ice. Top & Garnish: Top with Fever Tree Club Soda Water and garnish with bruleed grapefruit (brulee with brown sugar on top of a half-moon grapefruit slice)
*Saline Solution:
20 grams of salt
80 grams of water
Preparation:Measure Salt: Weigh out 20 grams of salt using a digital scale.Measure Water: Weigh out 80 grams of water.
Mix: Combine the salt and water in the mixing container and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Source:Cincoro
RECIPE:
2oz Cincoro Blanco.75oz Passion Fruit Liqueur.5oz Muddled Jalapenos.5oz fresh lime
.25oz Agave
METHOD: Combine, shake and strain over ice
GARNISH: dehydrated lime and tajin rim Source:Wild Common
Ingredients:
2 oz Wild Common Tequila Blanco1.5 oz pineapple juice (Dole canned works best)0.5 oz Lime juice0.5 oz agave sweetener2 oz dashes orange bitters
Soda water
Preparation:
Fill highball glass with ice. Combine Tequila, pineapple juice and lime juice stir. Top with soda water. Source:Cantera Negra
Ingredients:
2.5 parts Cantera Negra Silver Tequila1.5 parts Fresh lime juiceTop with sparkling waterInstructions:
Combine Cantera Negra Silver and fresh lime juice in a rocks glass with ice. Top with sparkling water and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wheel. Source:Jon Basil Tequila
Ingredients:
2 oz Jon Basil Reposado
1 oz Campari0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.50 oz Agave
Instructions:
In a mixing tin, combine all ingredients. Add ice, shake vigorously, and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist for a refreshing finish. Source:Hampton Water
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz Hampton Water Rosé
1 oz Santo Blanco Tequila½ oz Lemon Juice½ oz Lime Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
DIRECTIONS:
Run a lime wedge over the rim of a glass then dip in sugar and set aside. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into prepared glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a strawberry and lime wheel. Source:Kilinga Bacanora
Ingredients – Serves 6
8 oz (1 part) Kilinga Bacanora Reposado
8 oz (1 part) Licor 438 oz (1 part) Espresso8 oz (1 part) Water
2 dashes (per serve) Chocolate Bitters
How to make it:1. Carefully measure all ingredients into a 1 Liter bottle. NB: The bottle WILL NOTBE COMPLETELY FULL(You can either reuse a glass wine or spirits bottle, or buy a nice swing-top bottle).2. Place the bottle in the fridge and make it really cold before serving.3. To serve, take lowball glasses and fill with cubed ice.4. Add a couple of dashes of Chocolate Bitters to each glass then take the bottleof cocktail from the fridge.5. Shake the bottle really hard to froth up the drink. This is why the bottle was
not completely fIlled with liquid, as the liquid needs room to shake in the bottle. Source:Astral Tequila
1.5 oz Astral Tequila Blanco1 oz Fresh Lime Juice.5 oz Agave Nectar4 Pieces Watermelon
Garnish: Watermelon Wedge
How To Make:
Add Astral Tequila Blanco, fresh lime juice, agave nectar and watermelon into a shaker and muddle. Fill shaker with ice and shake, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice, garnish with watermelon wedge. Source:Herradura
Ingredients:
1 oz Herradura Reposado1 oz Licor 431.5 oz Fresh Espresso0.5 oz Vanilla Syrup
1 dash Orange Bitters
Method: Shake all ingredients over ice. Fine strain into glass. Garnish with dehydrated orange slice and ground nutmeg or cinnamon to dust one half of the drink. Source:Fresh Victor
3oz Fresh Victor Cactus Pear & Pomegranate1.5-2oz reposado or añejo tequila1/4 tsp ground cinnamon or (.05oz cinnamon syrup)
1 cinnamon stick
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, add all ingredients, fill the shaker with ice, shake well (to chill and dilute) and strain over ice in a 10-12oz glass. Add cinnamon stick garnish and serve. Source:Cheeky Cocktails
Ingredients2 oz Tequila
.75 oz Cheeky Lime Juice .5 oz Cheeky Agave Syrup
Garnish: Lime Wedge or Wheel
Method:
Add all ingredients into a mixing tin and fill with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds and strain into a coup or rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.
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