22 Cinco de Mayo Drinks That Are Easy to Make at Home (and Go Beyond Margaritas)
The enchiladas are rolled, the guac is mixed and the carnitas are crisp. But your Cinco de Mayo party isn't quite complete until the bevs (margaritas, palomas, micheladas—take your pick) are flowing. Before you settle on a case of Corona, consider serving these 22 Cinco de Mayo drinks for your fiesta. And if you're not sure where to start, I recommend checking out the Mexican mules, rosemary palomas and non-alcoholic horchata (served three ways).
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1. Beer Margarita
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
When you can’t decide between two drinks, combine them. The only way the iconic tequila-and-lime cocktail could get more refreshing is being topped off by a crisp pilsner or Mexican lager.
2. Classic Margaritas
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <15 minutes, beginner-friendly
OK, I couldn’t resist including the O.G. marg. This version uses freshly squeezed lime juice instead of sour mix (which is well worth the effort) and makes sweetener optional.
3. Guava Mezcal Mule
Salt & Wind
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Spicy ginger beer is rounded out by sweet guava and acidic lime juices. Most importantly, mezcal infuses every drop with smoky, complex flavor to boot.
4. Sangrita
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
When in doubt, sangria is always an easy win. This one stars tequila and your choice of sweet or dry wine, plus a lime-kissed sugar rim.
5. 5-Ingredient Xantolo Cocktail
Laura Wing/Jim Kamoosi
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Not only does this cocktail boast both mezcal and tequila reposada, but it's also mixed with a spiced pineapple syrup you'll want to use in every drink possible. Make the syrup ahead of Cinco de Mayo for minimal prep before the fiesta.
6. Blood Orange Thyme Paloma
Salt & Wind
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
Palomas are usually finished with grapefruit soda, but this one is made with blood orange soda instead. Up the ante by adding a few ounces of fresh blood orange juice too.
7. Horchata, 3 Ways
ESTEBAN CASTILLO/CHICANO EATS
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Don't let the time commitment deter you: Most of it is hands-off chilling. Take your pick of classic, matcha and coconut varieties (or better yet, all three).
8. Avocado Margaritas
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, dairy free
Avocados can do so much more than toast. Here, they unite with fresh lime, cilantro, agave and jalapeño for a luxurious twist on the O.G.
9. Micheladas
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
If you've never had this zesty beer cocktail, it's your lucky day. This version is pretty standard, as the recipe calls for Clamato juice and an ice-cold Mexican lager. (Think Tecate or Corona.)
10. Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
A drink is only as tasty as what goes in it. Here, it's all about the fresh fruit juices. (In case you need help slicing that watermelon before you blend it, here's a five-step tutorial.)
11. Classic Paloma
Whitney Bond
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegan
Citrusy, refreshing and photogenic—need I say more? Instead of grapefruit soda, this Cinco de Mayo drink calls for a mix of plain sparkling water and fresh grapefruit juice.
12. Tequila Sunrise
Recipe Tin Eats
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
The ombre effect of this classic cocktail never fails to impress. The trick is slowly pouring grenadine over a spoon so it can settle at the bottom of the glass.
13. Mexican Mule
The Endless Meal
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Moscow mules are usually made with vodka, but subbing silver tequila transforms one into a Mexican mule. Don't sweat the copper cups if you don't already have some on hand—it'll taste just as good out of a regular glass.
14. Summertime Aguas Frescas
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
If you want a non-alcoholic option for your Cinco de Mayo guests, go with these fruity sippers. Take your pick of strawberries, cucumber, pineapple or cantaloupe, for starters.
15. Low-Sugar Rosemary Paloma
The Defined Dish
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
There's nothing like a sprig of rosemary to dress up a simple drink with no effort. The simple syrup is made with monkfruit sweetener, but you can sub regular sugar if you aren't watching your intake.
16. Pineapple Margarita
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
Pineapple and orange and lime, oh my. The rim is a mix of Tajín and salt, but you could make it even tastier with a smear of chamoy.
17. Mezcal Aperol Spritz
Salt & Wind
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, no cook, special occasion-worthy
Crowned with sliced blood oranges and strawberries. Go the extra mile by squeezing the orange juice by hand (bonus points for using cara cara oranges for extra sweetness).
18. La Cura Cocktail
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
This one is like a hybrid between a mezcal margarita and a penicillin, an old-school whiskey drink made with ginger, honey and lemon. Prepare the honey-ginger syrup ahead, so you can mix a cocktail on the fly later on.
19. Rhubarb Mint Margarita with Jalapeño Tequila
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 25 minutes (plus infusing time)
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Show off your inner mixologist with this elevated bev that's oh-so seasonal. It combines jalapeño-infused tequila with from-scratch rhubarb-mint simple syrup.
20. Passion Fruit Margarita
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Keep the mixology to a minimum with this five-ingredient Cinco de Mayo drink. Prepare the passion fruit syrup ahead if you have time, so you won't have to wait for it to chill come happy hour.
21. Best Bloody Marys
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Swap tequila or mezcal in for vodka and just like that, your Bloody Mary is a Bloody Maria. You can even top it off with some Mexican beer for a lighter finish.
22. Mezcal Negroni
The Endless Meal
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
We love gin just as much as the next negroni girl, but you may be surprised what a great substitute mezcal makes. Crown each glass with a dehydrated orange wheel or a twist of orange for the 'gram.
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