Hey, we’re here for a Marg, but here’s your friendly reminder that the Mexican spirit is more than that.
What’s the best way to drink tequila? Well, we’ve never been shy about how much we love a Margarita. From the classic (a classic) and the Tommy’s through to the Spicy, the Jalapeño and quite a few in between, here at Dan’s Daily, we have a Marg for everyone. But sometimes it’s good to remember that while the Margarita is arguably the perfect drink, tequila has so much more in its arsenal than just the one showstopping cocktail. So, when you need that friendly reminder – or want to step out of your comfort zone – we’ve rounded up 12 of the best tequila cocktails that aren’t Margs.
12 of the best tequila cocktails (that aren’t Margs)
Okay, some may argue this is still a Margarita, or at least still in the family, but it’s different – we promise. The Margarita Soda is for anyone who loves the simplicity of a Tommy’s (or for those who don’t love stepping too far out of their comfort zone). So, what’s with the soda? It elongates the cocktail and opens up those flavours of tequila (good quality only, please!), sharp lime and that agave goodness. Our hot tip is to add in a salt rim (maybe even some chilli flakes, if you’re feeling bold) and voila – an OG Marg feel in a highball.
Three ingredients are all that stands between you and this tequila-y, Coca-Cola-y, limey masterpiece. Seriously, we can’t stop banging on about the Batanga. If you’ve ever ordered this tequila-cola cocktail, you’ll know that dunked in said masterpiece is a knife. Yes, a knife. Why, you ask? Well, once you cut your limes, the blade is coated in fresh, zingy juice that is seriously too good to waste in the dishwasher, so pop the knife in the glass and give it a stir. Thank us for this one later.
Did you know the Margarita isn’t the official cocktail of Mexico? It’s actually the Paloma. Underrated and, dare we say, underappreciated, the Paloma is another easy, breezy cocktail that only requires three ingredients – your best blanco tequila, fresh lime juice and pink grapefruit soda. Hosting a group hang? Pull out the Palomas; they’re a cinch to make and will please almost any crowd. If you already know and love the Paloma, then level up with our Blood Orange Paloma – you’ll need a reposado tequila, fresh blood oranges and, of course, lime.
A tequila twist on the vodka-based Moscow Mule, the Mexican Mule doesn’t mess with its genius (well, other than swapping the hero spirit). The ginger beer and lime stay put, as does the lime wheel and crystallised ginger garnish. Not to sound like a broken record, but with so few ingredients, there’s absolutely nowhere to hide with the Mule, so it’s important to use a high-quality tequila and, if you can, squeeze that lime juice fresh.
If you’re yet to catch up on the new season of ‘Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ on Netflix, then clear your schedule, grab your mates and make a pitcher of the west-Texas born Ranch Water. You’ll need a bottle of blanco, soda water and some limes. We think we’ve got our recipe down pat, but feel free to tweak the measurements to be a little more ranch (tequila) than (soda) water or vice versa. BYO cowboy boots.
If you've trekked all over town to try and recreate that matcha you had on your last trip to Japan, let us help. There’s an important caveat – our matcha is spiked with blanco tequila and soju. Flavours? Glad you asked – matcha is famous for its grassy and nutty characters, while the blend of tequila and soju brings earthy tones, there’s zing from the lime, fizz from the soda and foam from the egg white. The key to the Matcha Fizz is the dry shake, so keep that ice away for the first shake of the tin or you won’t get that deliciously foamy finish.
We've introduced you to the Paloma, now it's time to meet its cousin, the Cantarito. The Canarito hails from Jalisco, Mexico – the birthplace of tequila – and swaps glassware for a clay cup (or a canarito). So, how does it compare to the Paloma? Well, it's a little more street, to start, but in terms of flavour, tequila and grapefruit still lead the way, with the addition of fresh (key word is fresh) orange juice.
Two words: tequila (and) Midori. The duo meld to make a bubbly, sweet, fluorescent green dream. If you're not familiar with our old friend Midori, it's a liqueur that brings flavours of muskmelon (AKA rockmelon and honeydew), which we balance with equal parts blanco tequila and cloudy apple juice, before adding lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda to top. Keen to try this green machine, but it sounds a little too sweet for your liking? Experiment with your Midori:tequila ratio – just remember that tequila is double the strength of Midori.
Did someone say tea party? Count us in. We've put a spin on the English breakfast tea with our Iced Tea-quila. Heading to your local Dan's? You'll need a bottle of blanco, an apricot brandy or liqueur and some grapefruit soda. From home, you'll need a few lemons, along with some English breakfast tea to bring notes of floral, malt and smoke. Zippy, tangy and fresh as hell, this is boozy iced tea at its best.
If the Cantarito is the cousin of the Paloma, then the Imperial Cantarito has to be its sibling, maybe even its fraternal twin. Dreamed up by our genius mate, Kayla Saito, this version of the Cantarito heroes the Imperial mandarins. We won't lie, getting the mandarin juice right takes a bit of time, but it's totally worth it. And then there really isn't much to it – just a bottle of blanco and some soda.
You know we love a riff on a classic, so it should come as no surprise that we’re obsessed with the Oaxaca Old Fashioned. The anything-but-old Old Fashioned swaps whisky for tequila and mezcal, and it is both sweet and smoky. You can choose your own adventure when it comes to tequila, but a good bottle of reposado will really bring those toasty notes.
Next up is the Rosita. Think the Negroni, sans gin but plus tequila, with the usual equal parts of dry and sweet vermouth, all bound together with orange bitters. Yum. Aside from the Rosita being so darn delish, it's super simple to make – all you need is a mixing glass, a stirrer and a strainer.
Not into tequila? Check out our growing collection of cocktail recipes that are loaded with expert tips and tricks to perfect these drinks at home.
J’aime CardilloJ’aime is the Editorial Content Lead at Dan’s Daily, a Western Bulldogs tragic, and has been known to swap a protein shake for a Margarita.
