Crafting the Perfect Tequila Cocktails at Home
Written by Emma C | Updated May 2024
Tequila isn't just for shots or margaritas—it's a versatile spirit that can turn any drink into a fiesta for your taste buds. Whether you're a seasoned mixologist or just starting to explore the world of cocktails, this guide is your ticket to creating stunning tequila cocktails right from the comfort of your kitchen.
Our team at Taster's Club, with the expertise of our in-house mixologist, has curated a list of their favorite tequila brands and cocktail recipes that promise to elevate your at-home bar experience. Whether you're planning a cozy night in or hosting a lively gathering, these drinks cater to every skill level, ensuring you can impress your guests with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ready to shake things up? Let's explore the art of tequila cocktails that will have you saying "¡Salud!"
Taster's Club Favorite Tequila Cocktails
Classic Margarita
Spread some coarse salt on a large plate and wipe a lime wedge around your cocktail glass rim. Place the glass rim on the salt. Set aside. Combine 2 ounces of Reposado tequila, 1 ounce of freshly-squeezed lime juice, and 1 ounce of orange liquor (like Cointreau) by stirring in a mixing glass or shaking in a cocktail shaker. Strain into your prepped ice-filled cocktail glass and enjoy.
Tequila Martini
Pour 2.5 ounces of blanco tequila, a ½-ounce of dry vermouth, and a dash of aromatic bitters into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir well and staring into a chilled cocktail glass. Add a twist of lemon or olive as garnish.
Diablo
In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine 1.5 ounces Reposado tequila, a ½-ounce of crème de cassis, and a ½-ounce of freshly-squeezed lime juice. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Fill with about 4 ounces of ginger beer and add a slice of lime as garnish.
Lime-Cucumber Margarita
Lime simple syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 cups of water, 1.5 cups of sugar, and one lime’s zest until the sugar dissolves. Cool until ready to use.
Cocktail: Muddle 3-4 slices of cucumber with 1.5 ounces of Silver tequila. Add ¾-ounces of Cointreau, and 1.5 ounces each of lime juice and lime simple syrup. Shake over ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of cucumber.
Bloody Maria
To a highball glass, add 2 ounces of tequila, a teaspoon of horseradish, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard (optional), a dash of lime juice, and a few dashes each of: Tabasco or hot sauce Worcestershire sauce Celery salt Black pepper. Stir well, add 4-6 ounces (to taste) of tomato juice, and stir again. Fill glass with ice and garnish with a celery stalk and lime and/or lemon wedge.
Reposado Old Fashioned
To an old-fashioned glass, add 2 nectarine slices, 2 Bing cherries, and 1 tablespoon of agave nectar. Muddle well and fill the glass with ice (large ice is best as it dilutes the slowest). Add 3 ounces of Reposado tequila and a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters. Stir well and garnish with a nectarine slice and Bing cherry.
Sangrita
While not officially a cocktail, this is the true Mexican tequila “chaser” (forget that lime and salt!) In bars, it’s served alongside tequila. Sangrita is meant to be sipped in between tequila sips to cleanse the palate and bring out the spirit’s pepper and citrus notes.
Fill a shot glass with 1.5-2 ounces of your favorite tequila. To a cocktail shaker, add 1 ounce of freshly-squeezed orange juice, ¾-ounces of freshly-squeezed lime juice, a ½-ounce of grenadine, and a few dashes of hot sauce, and ice. Shake well. Strain into a second shot glass and add a jalapeno slice (optional).
To drink, start with the straight tequila and chase it quickly with the citrus juice shot.
Dulce de Tequila
Rim a cocktail glass with granulated or superfine sugar. Take a wedge of lime or lemon and wipe it around the rim, then roll it in a dish of granulated or superfine sugar. To a cocktail shaker, add 2 ounces of Reposado tequila, 1 ounce each of cognac and triple sec, a ½-ounce of lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of agave nectar. Fill with ice and shake well. Strain into your cocktail glass and garnish with lemon or lime.
Mint Paloma
Muddle 8-10 mint leaves. In a cocktail shaker, add 2 ounces of Reposado tequila, 1.5 ounces of grapefruit juice, 1 ounce of lime juice, a ½-ounce of simple syrup, and ice. Shake for 10 seconds or so and strain into a highball glass with ice. Add a sprig of mint and grapefruit slice to garnish.
Spiked Hibiscus Tea
Brew 1 ounce of hibiscus tea and set aside to cool. To an ice-filled cocktail shaker, add 2 ounces of Reposado tequila, the cooled hibiscus tea, a ½-ounce of agave, ¾-ounces of lime juice, and a ¼-cup of fresh cilantro. Shake for about 30 seconds, then double-strain into a an ice-filled cocktail glass.
Taster’s Club Best Tequila for Cocktails Available in our Bottle Shop
1. Tequila Ocho Plata
Tequila Ocho Plata comes from the finest, overripe agaves in the Highlands of Jalisco and is made in a traditional, slow-cooked method. The distiller’s single-field estate-grown agaves are looked after carefully by the Camarena family, and they carry the essence – or terroir – of the rancho from which it grew. This unaged tequila contains clean, lively, intense aromas of cooked agave, pepper, citrus, grass, and earth, similar, fresh flavors plus mint and tropical fruit, and a long finish. Try it in a Mexican Martini.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Pepper, Mint, Tropical Fruit, Earth | ABV: 40%
Mexican Martini
Ingredients
- 1 part tequila blanco
- ½ part Triple Sec
- ½ part lime juice
- ⅓ part orange juice
- ⅙ part olive juice
- 1 olive
- Lime
- Ice
Directions
- Wet a martini glass’ lip and dip it in salt, then chill the glass.
- Fill shaker with ice and all ingredients and shake, then strain into the glass.
- Add an olive into the glass and a lime wheel as garnish.
2. El Tesoro Blanco Tequila
This blanco tequila from El Tesoro is unaged and bottled immediately after distillation to capture the essence of the distiller’s Highland Blue Weber agave. The minerality of the soil and water shines through in this traditional, agave-forward tequila. It carries a light, delicate character yet offers many flavors and depth. You’ll get rich, sweet, and spicy aromas of pepper, pineapple, earth, and agave, followed by flavors of spicy floral notes, tropical fruit, and briny olives. This is great in a Tequila Sunrise cocktail.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Pepper, Mint, Tropical Fruit, Earth | ABV: 40%
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
- 1½ parts tequila blanco
- 4 parts orange juice
- 1 cherry
- 1 orange wedge
- 1 dash of grenadine
- Ice
Directions
- Add ice, tequila, and orange juice to a highball glass, followed by the grenadine on top.
- Garnish with a cherry and orange wedge.
3. Teremana Anejo Small Batch Tequila
From Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Teremana distillery, this Anejo Small Batch tequila made from Blue Weber agave plants is hand-harvested and trimmed, with just the pinas left behind which are roasted for three days in a brick oven. Once the liquid sugar is extracted and fermented in tanks, the alcohol is distilled in handmade copper pot stills. From there, the spirit rests in ex-bourbon barrels for over 12 months with no sugar added. The resulting tequila is a light golden color, with caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla on the nose, along with lemon, pepper, and agave, followed by a sweet, rich brown sugar flavor. Try it in an Anejo Old Fashioned cocktail.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Butterscotch, Custard, Caramel | ABV: 40%
Anejo Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 3 ounces añejo tequila
- ¼ ounce agave nectar
- A dash of Angostura bitters
- Brandied cherry
- Orange peel
- Ice
Directions
- Muddle the agave nectar, bitters, and orange peel in a mixing glass, then add the tequila.
- Top with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over ice, then garnish with the brandied cherry.
4. Olmeca Altos Plata
Located in the center of Los Altos, Olmeca Altos is a collaboration between master distiller Jesús Hernandez, engineers from Kentucky, and two acclaimed bartenders from the UK. The brand uses the traditional tahona method with its Highlands agave, 60% of which comes from its own estate. Olmeca Altos Plata is the brand’s most traditional expression.
Unaged, with roasted agave, pepper, citrus, spicy, brine, and grassy notes and a long finish, this tequila is recognized for its natural smoothness when sipped, but also for being a top choice tequila for margaritas (according to a Drinks International poll among the top bartenders around the globe). Try one for yourself.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Lime Peel, Wet Cement, Green Bell Pepper | ABV: 40%
Margarita
Ingredients
- 3 ounces añejo tequila
- 1⅓ parts tequila blanco
- ⅔ part Triple Sec
- ⅔ part lime juice
- 1 part salt
- Ice
Directions
- Fill a shaker with ice, and add all ingredients.
- Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a salt rim.
5. Espolón Tequila Blanco
Espolón’s Tequila Blanco is clear, with aromas of herbal, grassy notes, and citrus including lemon and pineapple. You’ll taste vanilla and sweet lemon, followed by dry black pepper, and finally a long, dry finish with a savory, sour aftertaste. The brand’s distiller, Cirilo Oropeza, has been in the business for over 50 years and created the stainless-steel pressure cookers used for cooking the agave and extracting sugars to make his tequila. These cookers give the agave more even caramelizing and an overall cleaner spirit than you’ll find from traditional methods. This blanco tequila works well in an Agave Collins cocktail.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Herb, Earth, Floral, Pineapple, Pepper | ABV: 40%
Agave Collins
Ingredients
- 1½ parts tequila blanco
- 1 part lime juice
- ⅓ part peach syrup
- ⅓ part maraschino liqueur
- Soda water
- 1 cherry
- 1 lime wheel
- Ice
Directions
- Add the tequila blanco, lime juice, maraschino liqueur, and peach syrup to a highball glass. Stir well.
- Fill with ice and top with soda water.
- Garnish with lime and cherry.
6. Patrón Silver
Patrón is a huge part of tequila’s history – in 1989, when the brand launched, it succeeded in changing the existing public perception of tequila being a low-quality drink to it being an elevated spirit, much like whiskey. Over the next 20 years or so, the iconic beehive bottle was everywhere in bars and liquor stores. Today, it’s still one of the top-selling tequilas. When it comes to its Silver expression, Patrón’s crystal clear, unaged tequila offers a vegetal, earthy aroma of grass, agave, eucalyptus, and green pepper. You’ll taste dry, savory, mineral notes of pepper, agave, anise, and vanilla, followed by a spicy, dry, agave-forward, long, savory finish. The Batanga cocktail is perfect for this classic silver spirit.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Pepper, Marzipan, Dried Fruit, Citrus, Lavender, Chocolate | ABV: 40%
Batanga
Ingredients
- 2 parts tequila blanco
- 4 parts cola
- ½ part lime juice
- 1 lime wedge
- Ice
Directions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add all ingredients and stir well.
- Garnish with lime.
7. Gran Centenario Reposado
Rested in new oak casks, resulting in the perfect balance of taste and smoothness, Gran Centenario’s Mexican top-selling deep gold reposado provides a touch of fruit, like kiwi, on the nose, with sweet tones of cooked agave and light hints of oak, toasted almonds, caramel, vanilla, and clove. You’ll get spice, oak, agave, citrus, and brown sugar on the palate, with a long, oaky, grassy, peppery, and citrusy finish that lingers a while. The distinct, versatile, yet complex spirit is ideal in an El Diablo.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Fruit, Caramel, Spice, Oak | ABV: 40%
El Diablo
Ingredients
- 7 parts ginger beer
- 3 parts reposado tequila
- 1 part Crème de Cassis
- 1 part lime juice
- 1 lime wedge
- 1 blackberry
- Ice
Directions
- In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients except for the ginger beer, lime, and blackberry.
- Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass and top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with lime and blackberry.
8. El Jimador Tequila Silver
Young and fresh, el Jimador Silver tequila’s character is authentic and crisp. Made with 100% hand-harvested Blue Weber agave and double-distilled with sparkling clarity, the clear tequila is unaged and comes with medicinal and herbal notes like freshly-cut grass along with lemon citrus and agave. The same notes carry into the taste, and black pepper and a bit of vanilla show up, too. The drink finishes short and warm, with a strong alcohol taste and some black pepper again. This one’s fantastic in a Ranch Water cocktail.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Apple, Taffy, Tea, Fruit, Pepper | ABV: 40%
Ranch Water
Ingredients
- 4 parts sparkling mineral water
- 3 parts tequila
- 1.5 parts fresh lime juice
- 1 lime wedge
- Ice
Directions
- To a highball glass, add the tequila and lime juice, then stir.
- Top with ice and sparkling water.
- Garnish with the lime wedge.
9. Codigo 1530 Rosa Reposado Tequila
Código 1530’s first-ever double barrel-aged Rosa-Reposado tequila was developed with country icon George Strait. George had been drinking this private tequila for years and even wrote a song about it. Now, he’s offering this very limited edition bottle of his new Código 1530 Rosa-Reposado Tequila – a special twist to the original blanco – for fans to enjoy. Código 1530 is the first brand to produce a naturally pink-hued tequila by resting its pure blanco expression in the finest French white oak Cabernet wine barrels, and then finishing it in Spanish sherry wine barrels to add extra character and a soft, sweet finish. Try this one in a Reposado Manhattan.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Agave, Floral, Red Wine | ABV: 40%
Reposado Manhattan
Ingredients
- 3 parts ounces reposado tequila
- 1 part 100-proof rye
- 1 part sweet vermouth
- 1 part dry vermouth
- Dash Angostura bitters
- Lime and lemon peels
- Ice
Directions
- In an ice-filled mixing glass, combine tequila, rye, sweet vermouth, and dry vermouth.
- Add a dash of Angostura bitters, then stir until well chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of lime and lemon peels.
10. Milagro Tequila Reposado
Milagro Reposado is a 100% blue agave tequila rested in American oak barrels for 2-4 months. You’ll enjoy salty, savory, dry, herbal, and woody aromas. Every sip of the light gold Milagro Reposado and its juicy, smooth body delivers delicious notes of brine, citrus, herbal, oak, pepper, spice, warm caramel, and vanilla. The spirit finishes medium-long, with dry, herbal, citrus notes. Milagro Reposado makes an excellent Paloma Rosada cocktail, a bright & fresh take on a traditional Paloma.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Peach, Black Pepper | ABV: 40%
Paloma Rosada
Ingredients
- 4 parts grapefruit juice
- 3 parts blanco tequila
- 2 parts blended rose liqueur
Combine these ingredients to make the blended rose liqueur: - 4 parts Combier rose liqueur
- 2 parts Combier pamplemousse liqueur
- 1 part Koval rosehip liqueur
- ½ part Élicser Combier
- 2 parts Squirt or other grapefruit soda
- 1 part lime juice
- Himalayan pink salt half rim and rosewater spray
- Ice
Directions
- Add Himalayan pink salt to a shallow dish.
- Wet half the Collins glass’ rim, then roll and coat the rim in salt. Fill glass with ice.
- Combine all ingredients except the grapefruit soda in an ice-filled mixing glass.
- Shake, then add the grapefruit soda.
- Strain into the Collins glass and spray rose water over top.
With all of the many tequila expressions out there, you’re sure to find one (or more) that appeals. And with these amazing cocktail recipes, it’s incredibly easy and enjoyable to enter the world of tequila. If you’re just not quite sure about which bottles make the best tequila for cocktails, though, we’ve got you covered with our tequila club. You simply sign up and get a new bottle shipped right to your door. While you won’t know what’s coming, you will know it’s guaranteed to taste great and mix well with the best cocktails.
Looking For An Industry-Leading Curated Monthy Tequila Subscription Service? Taster's Club Got you!
Taster’s Club is the Premiere online shop for anyone looking for a curated Liquor of the Month Club or a one-off bottle purchase from our Bottle Shop.
