[I]f your café is licensed to serve liquor, consider celebrating Cinco de Mayo with fun cocktails that go beyond margarita mix. We’ve compiled twelve super tasty, easy-to-make cocktails you can add to your menu—no muddling required!
The Burro by Cholula (serves four)
Combine 4 teaspoons of Cholula Chili Garlic Hot Sauce, 2 ounces 1800 Silver Tequila, 0.5 ounce mezcal, and the juice of half a lime. Pour evenly into four cups of crushed ice. Top with ginger beer, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Organic Mexicali Mule by Azuñia Tequila
Combine 1.5 ounces of Azuñia Blanco organic tequila, 4 ounces ginger beer, 0.25 ounces fresh lime juice, and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters in a glass. Add ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Rosé Sunrise by Syltbar
Combine 0.5 ounce vodka, 0.5 ounce cranberry juice, and 1 ounce pineapple juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled wine glass. Top with 4 ounces Syltbar sparkling rosé and garnish with a pineapple slice.
Crafted Paloma by Altos Tequila
Combine two parts Altos Plata with one part lemon juice, and 1/2 part agave syrup. Stir and pour into a glass full of ice. Top with two parts fresh pink grapefruit juice and a pinch of salt.
Strawberry Basil Margarita by Natalie’s
This is the most complicated of our picks, but only requires a small amount of prep. Strawberry Basil syrup: Combine 2 cups fresh strawberries, 0.5 cup fresh basil leaves, and 1 cup sugar in a food processor. Puree. Pour the puree into a small pot. Add 1 cup Natalie’s lemon juice. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes. Cool completely, and strain through a metal sieve. Margarita: Add equal parts strawberry basil syrup, Natalie’s Margarita Mix, and tequila. Serve over a generous amount of crushed ice, or blend with ice for a frozen version. Pour into salted rimmed glasses. Garnish with a slice of lime.
Tequila, Soda, Lime
The easiest of the bunch. Combine one part tequila (one you’d sip on its own) and two parts soda water in a glass with ice. Stir to combine and garnish with lime wedges.
Mexican Coffee Cocktail by Royal Cup Coffee
Rim your glass with brown sugar, torch to caramelize the rim. Combine 6 ounces fresh french pressed coffee, 1 ounce Kahlua, and .75 ounce of your favorite tequila, and 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream in your glass. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon
Spicy Moscato Mimosa by Sutter Home (serves two)
Combine 1 cup Sutter Home pink moscato, 0.5 cup chilled sparkling blood orange juice, 0.25 cup chilled fresh carrot juice and a pinch of cayenne in a pitcher. Pour into two chilled glasses, top with carrot curls and serve.
Margarita Maya by Casa D’Aristi
Combine 0.5 ounce of Casa D’Aristi Xtabentún with 1.5 ounces of tequila silver in a glass with a salted rim. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Wicked Green by Owl’s Brew
For a simple and festive margarita-style cocktail, combine two parts Wicked Green Owl’s Brew cocktail mix with one part mezcal in a cocktail shaker. Serve over ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Palomatini by The Bitter Truth
Combine 2 ounces Tequila silver, .25 ounce orange liqueur, 3 dashes Grapefruit Bitters (The Bitter Truth), and .5 ounce simple syrup in a glass with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with grapefruit zest.
Shine Mocktails
If your café is liquor-free, Shine’s pouches of organic fruits, veggies, and micronutrients are a great alternative to cocktails. Mix 8 ounces of sparkling water with one pouch of Shine’s Purify for an alcohol-free mocktail to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
—Rachel Sandstrom Morrison is Fresh Cup‘s associate editor.
