5 Delicious Tequila Cocktails That Aren't Margaritas

We love a good Margarita as much as anyone, but there’s so much more to tequila than just that classic cocktail! The spirit is surprisingly versatile, and pairs well with multiple ingredients. These 5 tequila cocktails will not only impress your friends far more than a margarita slushie but will also make you feel like a true master of the art! From delicate sipping cocktails to bold drinks bursting with spice, we rounded up our five favorite tequila cocktails – without a tired old margarita in the bunch!

La Paloma Tequila Cocktail Recipe

The Paloma deserves to be more than a second fiddle. The stirred combination of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda is just as refreshing as a margarita. Skip the overly sweet and syrupy supermarket sodas by making your own base of grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and club soda. And to give your cocktail some smoke in no time, try grilling your citrus or substituting tequila for mezcal.

Ingredients:

• Kosher salt
• ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ¼ cup mezcal or tequila
• ¼ cup club soda

Directions:

1. Pour some kosher salt on a plate.
2. Rub half of the rim of a highball glass with a grapefruit wedge; dip the rim of the glass in salt.
3. Combine ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, and 1 teaspoon sugar in glass; stir until sugar is dissolved.
4. Stir in ¼ cup mezcal or tequila, add ice, and top off with ¼ cup club soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Tequila Smash Cocktail Recipe

It’s time to upgrade your tequila soda. This recipe uses blackberries to give the drink nice flavor and color, and sage leaves to elevate everything to the next level. Plus, when has a lemon-lime soda ever let you down?

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces gold tequila
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice
• 1-ounce lemon-lime soda
• Blackberries
• Sage leaves

Directions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle 4 blackberries and 4 sage leaves.
2. Add tequila, lime juice, and ice and shake vigorously.
3. TStrain over ice.
4. Add soda and stir.
5. Garnish with a blackberry and sprig of sage.

Mexican Mule Cocktail Recipe

With a gingery bite, tart citrus, and agave fruit, Mexican mule cocktails are tasty, flavorful, and a brilliant take on the original Moscow Mule. Besides taste, they’re a cinch to make – you’ll be sipping one of these on a warm summer day within minutes!

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Milagro Reposado Tequila
• 0.5 parts of lime juice
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 3 parts ginger beer
• Mint sprigs and lime for garnish

Directions:

1. Place 2-3 ice cubes in a Collins glass.
2. Add freshly squeezed lime juice, Milagro, ginger beer, and bitters.
3. Stir well. Garnish with mint sprigs and a lime wheel.

Tequila Sunrise Cocktail Recipe

There is no doubt that the tequila sunrise is one of the most popular tequila drinks; and luckily, it’s also one of the easiest! The layering effect that creates the sunrise happens naturally, so anyone can create this stunning cocktail. The key to the sunrise is to avoid stirring the drink after adding the grenadine. If you stir it, the grenadine will mix with the juice and create a blush pink drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces tequila
• 4 ounces of orange juice
• ½ ounce grenadine
• Orange slice, a maraschino cherry for garnish

Directions:

1. Pour the tequila and the orange juice into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Stir
2. Slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass. It will sink and gradually rise to mix with the other ingredients.
3. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. Serve and enjoy!

Tequila Mojito

This tasty recipe is a great twist on the original; it holds the gin, goes heavy on the tequila, and still enlists mint into the mix. As long as you have a blender or cocktail shaker you’re good to go — simply throw your handful of ingredients together, and top with soda water and fresh mint.

Ingredients:

• A handful of fresh mint leaves
• 1 ½ lime, quartered
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz tequila
• 2 cups of ice cubes
• Soda water
• Sprigs of mint for garnish

Directions:

1. Place the ice cubes, mint leaves, tequila, and simple syrup in the blender or cocktail shaker.
2. Squeeze in the juice from the limes and divide the limes between each glass. Blend or shake until well combined.
3. Divide between two glasses and top with soda water and sprigs of mint.

For more great cocktail recipes, check out our other blogs; or visit our online store for all of your at-home liquor needs!