If you think tequila is only for margaritas, or shots bookended with salt and lime, think again. There are plenty of myths about tequila, not to mention confusion about tequila vs. mezcal, but many people don’t know that it’s an incredibly versatile and delicious spirit.
Tequila is made by fermenting juice from the Mexican blue agave plant. The liquor is usually clear, unaged, and between 40 and 50% alcohol (that’s 80 to 100 proof!). The name comes from the town of Tequila, in Jalisco, the Mexican state where it is produced. Blue agave plants have a pineapple-shaped base that fills with sweet sap, or agua miel (honey water) as the plant matures. The sap is extracted, fermented, and then twice-distilled for purity.
Much like champagne, tequila can only be called tequila if it meets certain conditions. True tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave, and produced in Jalisco, Mexico, or certain municipalities in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. That “100% agave only” rule means that some beverages we might assume are tequila (hello, Jose Cuervo Especial!) are actually not. To determine authenticity, look for the ingredients on the label. If your tequila contains anything other than 100% blue agave, it’s not tequila. If it contains a worm, it’s also not tequila – only mezcal contains worms.
Once you’ve verified your tequila, though, how best to drink it? Here are the 10 best drinks to mix with tequila.
Tomato juice
No matter how healthy your lifestyle, it’s inevitable that occasionally you will find yourself needing a drink to go along with breakfast. Whether you’re throwing a birthday brunch for your bestie or in need of a little hair of the dog, you cannot go wrong mixing tequila and tomato juice.
According to Healthline, tomato juice is high in many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium — perfect if you’re a little bit … dehydrated. Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant, which we like to think has beauty benefits even when paired with alcohol. Not only is the tequila and tomato juice mix basically good for you, it’s also delicious.
Energetic morning people might try adding some lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, black pepper, and a stick of celery. When this concoction is mixed with vodka, it’s a Bloody Mary. When you mix it with tequila, it becomes a Bloody Maria, and far superior as a brunch accompaniment.
Grapefruit juice
Good tequila can be subtle, earthy, or even slightly sweet. Good grapefruit juice has a nice tart kick to it. Combine the two, and you have a match made in heaven (if you don’t have too much of a sweet tooth).
Grapefruit juice is very high in vitamin C, per Healthline, so a tequila and grapefruit juice combo isn’t just perfect for sipping on the porch of a long weekend afternoon, it will also help you fight off a cold. It’s important to note that grapefruit interacts negatively with many medications, so you should always check with your doctor before getting the juicer and Patròn out.
Grapefruit is also the basis of what Liquor.com calls Mexico’s national cocktail: the Paloma. A highball made with tequila, grapefruit soda or grapefruit juice and seltzer, and a squeeze of lime, the Paloma should definitely be at the top of your summer cocktail list. It’s refreshing without being too sweet, and adding a pinch of chili salt gives a Paloma a gorgeous spicy kick.
Soda water
This one is for your friend who’s doing keto. They’ve made it to drinks night, but their daily carb limit is maxed out. Enter the tequila highball, because tequila has no carbs (via Healthline). Therefore, even the low-carb amongst us are free to do as The New York Times Cooking suggests and mix tequila, soda water, and a squeeze of lime and sip, happy in the knowledge that their macros are unaffected.
Even if you’re not on the keto train, a tequila highball is a great way to enjoy a high-quality tequila – the flavor can really come through with such a subtle mixer. Alternatively, you can elevate a mid-grade tequila with a fancy soda water!
Just make sure you use soda water, or club soda, or even seltzer – never tonic water (at least when you’re making keto drinks). As Healthline explains, tonic water has added sugar, which means it has carbs, unlike the other carbonated waters.
Aloe vera
You may know aloe vera as that goo you put on your sunburn, or your plant friend’s fave succulent, but did you know that it also comes in a juice — and that juice can be mixed with tequila to great effect?
Aloe vera juice has a citrusy, slightly bitter flavor, although many pre-mixed juices are sweetened, so be aware of the ingredients if you’re not looking for a sugar bomb. Healthline notes that aloe vera contains high amounts of antioxidants, which as far as we’re concerned makes a tequila and aloe vera mix basically a health drink.
However, if you’re simply looking for a new way to make margaritas, you should give aloe a go. This aloe vera margarita recipe from Wicked Spatula is perfect for an after-dinner digestif or three, combining the stomach-calming powers of both tequila and aloe.
Who knows, it might even work for sunburn, too.
Coconut water
If you like to keep a hint of tropical warmth close to your heart, then you probably already drink coconut water. Or, maybe you’re just one of those strange people who claim not to like the taste of plain water.
Either way, you should know that the nutty, sweet taste of coconut water is only missing one thing: a shot of tequila. The Cleveland Clinic notes that coconut water contains electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium, all of which are great to have in the beverage you drink after exercising really, really hard — and that includes dancing on the table.
Real Simple even claims that their coconut water margarita is guaranteed hangover-free, a declaration that is surely worth extensive investigation. As always, you should definitely read the label to make sure that your coconut water is 100% made up of the water that comes from coconuts and contains no added sugars or preservatives. The tequila should preserve it just fine.
Pineapple juice
There may be debates about pineapple’s place on pizza, but the pineapple and tequila debate has been well and truly settled in favor of yes. These two liquids go together like a dream, the natural sweetness of the pineapple kicking the earthy tequila taste down a notch for a delicious and easy mixed drink.
Add a squeeze of lime to lift the flavors, as Patrón tequila recommends, and enjoy over ice. According to Web MD, pineapple juice is high in vitamins A and C, as well as B vitamins and essential metals like manganese and copper. It’s also anti-inflammatory, containing an enzyme called bromelain, which helps the body reduce swelling, as well as fighting pain.
There has been research into using bromelain to treat asthma, as well as common colds and allergies, as it is effective at clearing congestion, which is great news for hay fever sufferers. We’re always looking for another beverage that’s perfect for drinking in the garden!
Orange juice
You may have heard of that classic cocktail, the screwdriver: It’s just vodka and orange juice. Well, how about a tequila screwdriver? The orange juice is doing most of the heavy lifting here, so it’s pretty delicious with a nice, smooth tequila added.
The real question is this: Do you prefer a screwdriver with pulp, or no pulp? Some people don’t mind a drink that’s a little chewy, but if you hate the feeling of pulp in the morning, take that tequila screwdriver a step further and add some grenadine. Voila! You’ve made a tequila sunrise, named for the pretty yellows, oranges, and reds that layer neatly in your glass – as long as you don’t give in to temptation and mix the three liquids.
As Liquor.com explains, it’s best to start with the tequila, then the OJ, and finally the grenadine – its comparative density means that this pomegranate-based syrup will sink to the bottom of the glass, forming a nice red layer and making a pretty ombré on its way through the orange juice. Delicious!
Cola
Legend has it that the tequila and cola combo was invented in the town of Tequila. As Taste Tequila explains, the cocktail – known as the Batanga – was first mixed by Tequila native Don Javier Delgado Corona, the owner of a small cantina.
The cantina is still there, still popular with tourists, and now named after that legendary barman. It’s called La Capilla De Don Javier, which translates to the chapel of Don Javier. Talk about a fitting tribute to a tequila genius.
The word Batanga is apparently Spanish slang for thick in the middle, and the cocktail is named for a La Capilla regular with a sense of humor, whose self-declared nickname was “batanga”. Of course, you’re welcome to mix cola with tequila and ice any time, but to make a Batanga you’ll need about half a lime’s worth of juice and a salt rim.
Don’t forget to pour one out for Don Javier, and remember that batanga is beautiful.
Watermelon
Finally, there is a use for all that watermelon you have leftover from that weekend barbecue: Cut out the flesh and purée it in a blender. The high water content in the melon will keep your puree nice and liquidy, perfect for adding to a glass of ice and tequila.
If it’s a little too lumpy, you can always push it through a sieve after blending it. Like many other fruits, watermelons have serious amounts of vitamin C, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties (via Healthline). And if you’re an active type, take note. Watermelon contains citrulline, an amino acid that has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and even improve athletic performance.
There’s no reason not to go on that run you planned if you had a watermelon and tequila cocktail the night before. Cut the sweetness of the watermelon with a little lime and a pinch of salt, as The New York Times recommends, and you have the perfect summer drink.
Lemon
We all know that the lime has the monopoly as the go-to citrus accompaniment to tequila, but hear us out: Lemons are also a great combination when it comes to the blue agave liquor. A really nice, smooth tequila with a squeeze of lemon is perfect to sip on a quiet Sunday, especially if you’re a fiend for the sour taste profile.
For a sweeter lemony hit, try a Juan Collins. As Tipsy Bartender explains, simply mix tequila, simple or agave syrup, lemon juice, and top with soda water. Lemon juice is a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and folate, per Live Science.
In fact, lemons might be one of the most useful ingredients we have. You can clean with them, they make most everything taste better, from soup to cupcakes, and they’re the perfect accompaniment to most every drink.
That said, we think that when life gives you lemons, you should definitely put them in your tequila first.
Source: Tasting Table