Food and Drink Cocktails + Spirits Friday Is National Tequila Day — Here Are 13 Cocktail Recipes to Celebrate Raise a glass to National Tequila Day with these cocktail recipes. By Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes is an associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on July 24, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email July 24 is National Tequila Day, and while you might not be able to visit the small town in Jalisco, Mexico, for which the spirit is named, you can mix up a delicious tequila cocktail at home and dream of your next vacation. Tequila, made from blue agave, has been distilled and enjoyed in Mexico for hundreds of years, and it has become increasingly popular in the United States in the past two decades. In fact, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, “Americans cannot get enough of Mexico’s native spirit.” Since 2002, tequila has become even more popular in the United States, with volumes growing 180 percent in the last 18 years. There are three popular types of tequila: blanco, which is clear and unaged, reposado, which is aged between two and 12 months and usually has a gold color, and añejo, which is aged one to three years. There’s also extra añejo, which is aged over three years, and joven tequila, which typically combines different types of tequila or flavorings to get its gold color. Whatever you have in your cabinet or on your bar cart, we’ve got you covered. 13 Rum Cocktails That Are Basically a Beach Vacation in a Glass We’ve rounded up classic tequila cocktail recipes, as well as inventive, new drinks from newcomers to the tequila market, including Teremana Tequila, founded by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Cincoro Tequila, created by Michael Jordan and four other NBA team owners. Of course, we also have tequila cocktails from brands who have been creating the spirit for hundreds of years, including Hacienda Corralejo. Ray Ramos, director of Hacienda Corralejo, says, "Tequila is one of Mexico’s biggest assets — culturally and beyond....For nearly 250 years, the distillation methods of Hacienda Corralejo have been preserved, refined, and developed by our local community into a tradition of tequila.” Here are 13 tequila cocktails to make this National Tequila Day. And, as always, enjoy responsibly! More cocktail and spirits news Courtesy of Corralejo Tequila 1. Spicy Grapefruit Sour Ingredients: 2 oz. Corralejo Reposado Tequila1 oz. grapefruit juice1 oz. lime juice0.5 oz. jalapeño simple syrup1 egg white Directions: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients. Strain out ice and shake hard again. Strain into a glass and garnish. 2. Hibiscus Margarita Ingredients: 2 parts tequila1 part fresh lime juice1 part orange-flavored triple sec1 part hibiscus simple syrup Directions: Build all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well (about 20 seconds) and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Courtesy of Cincoro Tequila 3. Cincoro Margarita Ingredients: 2 oz. Cincoro Blanco Tequila1 oz. fresh lime juice0.75 oz. Cointreau0.25 oz. agave nectar Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice in a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime wheel. 4. Classic Paloma Ingredients: 1.5 parts blanco tequila1.5 parts grapefruit juice1.5 parts lime juice1.5 parts simple syrup1.5 parts club soda (or to taste) Directions: Build tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice. Top with club soda. 10 Signature Cocktails From Around the World and the History Behind Them Courtesy of Partida Tequila 5. Ponche Caballero Ingredients: 2 oz. Tequila Partida Reposado1.5 oz. tamarind nectar or soda1.5 oz. pineapple juice0.5 oz. agave nectar0.5 oz. fresh lime juice2 dashes of Angostura bitters Directions: Shake and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge and pineapple leaves. 6. Teremana Avo-Colada Ingredients: 2 oz. Teremana Blanco1 oz. lime juice0.5 oz. agave nectarHalf an avocado2 tbsps. coconut yogurt Directions: Muddle the avocado in a tin. Add Teremana Blanco, lime juice, agave nectar, and coconut yogurt. Shake, serve over fresh ice, and top with sparkling mineral water. Courtesy of Los Arango 7. Strawberry Basil Paloma Ingredients: 2 oz. Los Arango Reposado1 oz. grapefruit juice0.5 oz. agave syrup2 chopped strawberries5 basil leavesSoda to topSmoked sea salt for rim Directions: Rim a highball glass with smoked sea salt. Combine all ingredients except soda in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill and combine ingredients. Fine strain into the glass over fresh ice. Top with soda and garnish. 8. El Diablo Ingredients: 0.75 oz. Chamucos Blanco0.5 oz. crème de cassis0.5 oz. fresh lime juice3 oz. ginger beerLime wedge and fresh blackberry or candied ginger, for garnish Directions: Combine all ingredients, except ginger beer, and shake. Fine strain into an ice-filled Collins glass, top with ginger beer, and garnish. Courtesy of Palm Bay International 9. Jalapeño Avocado Margarita for Two Ingredients: 4 oz. Bribón Tequila Blanco2 oz. agave nectar (cut 50/50 with water)2 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juiceHalf an avocado, peeled and mashed2 slices jalapeñoLime wheels, for garnish1 cup ice, plus extra for serving Directions: Fill two rocks glasses with ice. Set aside. Place ripe avocado and jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker. Muddle ingredients until they're thoroughly mashed. Add remaining ingredients to the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into the two rocks glasses, and garnish with the remaining lime wheels. 10. 3 Raspados by Jaime Salas, National Milagro Tequila Ambassador Ingredients: 2 parts Milagro Silver1 part fresh lime juice1 part fruit juice of choice (lime, mango, or papaya)0.5 part agave nectar Directions: Combine everything in a shaker with ice and shake until frosty. Using your method of choice, make your ice “snow” in a cone or rocks glass, and pour the mix over to make an adult version of a snow cone. Courtesy of Sesión Premium Tequila 11. Spring Flora Ingredients: 1 oz. Sesión Blanco0.33 oz. Aperol0.5 oz. lime juice0.33 oz. hibiscus syrup1 oz. watermelon juice2 drops rosewater3 dashes Peychaud's bitters Directions: Add all ingredients to a shaker. Add ice and shake until cold. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with grated chocolate. 12. Sunrise & Shine Mocktail Ingredients: 2 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative0.75 cup orange juice0.75 oz. grenadine syrupOrange slice, for garnishMaraschino cherry Directions: Pour Ritual Tequila Alternative and orange juice in a highball glass over ice. Stir to combine. Pour in grenadine, slowly over the back of a spoon. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. For a lower-ABV twist, add one ounce of tequila and one ounce of Tequila Alternative. Courtesy of JAJA Tequila 13. Jaja-peño Margarita Ingredients: 1.5 oz. Jaja Blanco1 oz. fresh lime juice0.5 oz. triple sec0.5 oz. agave syrup2 jalapeño slices Directions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice to chill the mixture, and pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit