What is it about tequila drinks that gets people moving and talking? Alcohol, sure, but remember how you felt the last time you had a jalapeño margarita as opposed to a rye whiskey old-fashioned or red wine sangria? Tequila just hits different. Whether youâre pouring up a retro tequila sunrise with freshly squeezed OJ and DIY grenadine, a bloody maria with canned tomato juice, or a kombucha-spiked sparkler, the proof is in the fact that, once you pass out a round of mixed drinks with tequila, the party lights up.
But before we share our favorite tequila cocktail recipes, letâs talk about types of tequila. Mezcal is any spirit made from the agave plant; tequila is made from only one varietal, the blue Weber agave, also known as blue agave. The different types mainly have to do with maturity. Thereâs blanco tequila (sometimes called plata or silver tequila), which isnât aged; reposado tequila, which sits in a barrel for 2â11 months; and añejo tequila, which is aged for 1â3 years in an oak barrel. Okay, thatâs a good start.
Now, here are our favorite tequila drinks. Get out your shaker and do us proud.