Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day! We know you know, but we also know that at least three people at your party won’t, so here’s your fun fact to drop before the first round: Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, it has become a full-blown celebration of Mexican culture, food, music, and yes, very good tequila, in the United States.
We’ve already shared six easy tequila cocktails, but we’re not done yet. With Cinco de Mayo celebrations in full swing, it’s time to mix things up with these tequila-based cocktails that are sure to impress your friends and family. Featuring Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal and Espresso Cristalino, you don’t need a bartending course to pull these off.
The measurements below are suggestions based on standard cocktail ratios. Feel free to adjust the sweetness, acidity, or spirit levels to suit your personal taste.
1. The Bee That Stings Back (Jalapeño Honey Sour)
Sweet from honey, tart from lemon, and packing just enough heat from the jalapeño.
- 1.5 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part warm water)
- 3 slices fresh jalapeño, muddled
- Shake with ice, fine-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
- Garnish: jalapeño slice and lemon wheel
This one is dangerously easy to make and somehow always the first one gone.
2. Jalisco Jungle Bird (Tequila Jungle Bird)
This brighter, modern alternative to the rum-based original will make everyone ask for the recipe.
- 1.5 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 0.75 oz Campari
- 1.5 oz fresh pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz agave syrup
- *Shake well with ice before straining into a chilled coupe
- Garnish: pineapple wedge
Bittersweet, tropical, and unexpected.
3. Blanco Old Fashioned
An agave-forward riff on the classic cocktail, the Old Fashioned has one requirement: the very best blanco you can find.
- 3 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 0.5 oz agave syrup
- 3-4 dashes Angostura bitters
- Large ice cube
- Stir in a rocks glass
- Express lime peel over the glass and drop it in
- Garnish: lemon peel
For people who think they don’t like tequila, until they try it like this.
4. La Matadora (Pineapple Tequila Sour)
A vibrant and refreshing cocktail that combines the sweetness of pineapple with the tanginess of lime.
- 2 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 2 oz fresh pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- Dash of Angostura bitters (optional)
- Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe or over fresh ice
- Garnish: Lime wheel, twist, or pineapple chunk/spear
Proof that pineapple isn’t just for frozen drinks.
5. Paloma de Naranja Sanguina (Blood Orange Paloma)
Another fun fact to share with your peers: Paloma, not the margarita, is the most popular tequila cocktail in Mexico. And this version, with blood orange in the mix, is a more citrus-forward twist on the traditional tequila-and-grapefruit cocktail.
- 2 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 2 oz fresh blood orange juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.25 oz agave syrup (optional)
- Top with 1-2 oz blood orange soda or soda water
- Shake well, then strain into a glass over fresh ice
- Garnish: blood orange half-moon slice
Simple to make and impossible to put down.
6. La Sangrienta Maria (Bloody Maria)
A savory, spiced cocktail that substitutes tequila for vodka in a traditional Bloody Mary recipe.
- 2 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 4 oz tomato juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 to 4 dashes of hot sauce
- Pinch of celery salt and black pepper
- Build in a Tajin-rimmed pint glass over ice, stir gently
- Garnish: lime wedge, celery stalk, pickled jalapeño
This is everything a Bloody Mary wished it was.
7. Prickly Business (Prickly Pear Paloma)
A refreshing and vibrant pink cocktail with a sweet, citrusy, and slightly earthy flavor. The prickly pear syrup turns this Paloma into something almost too pretty to drink. Almost.
- 1.5 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.25 oz fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
- 1 oz prickly pear syrup
- 4 oz grapefruit soda
- Pinch of salt
- Shake first four ingredients with ice, strain into a Collins glass over ice, and top with grapefruit soda
- Garnish: lime and grapefruit slice
The most photogenic drink at the party, and it knows it.
8. Classic Lime Margarita
This classic is the classic for a reason, and it belongs on every Cinco de Mayo table.
- 2 oz Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz triple sec or Cointreau
- 0.25 oz agave syrup (optional)
- Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice in a salt-rimmed glass
- Garnish: lime wheel
The ultimate cocktail with a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavors.
9. Espresso Cristalino Negroni
A sophisticated, coffee-forward variation of the classic Negroni with gin.
- 1.5 oz Borracho Tequila Espresso Cristalino
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- Stir over ice until well chilled, strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube
- Garnish: expressed orange peel
Complex, earthy, and visually distinct.
10. Espresso Cristalino Chocolate Stir
An indulgent cocktail that pairs the roasted notes of espresso with dark chocolate and a hint of orange.
- 2 oz Borracho Espresso Cristalino
- 0.5 oz Crème de Cacao (dark)
- 2 dashes chocolate bitters
- Stir over ice until well chilled, strain into a coupe or rocks glass over a large ice cube
- Express orange peel over the glass and drop it in
- Garnish: orange peel
The crossover nobody expected, but everyone will want again.
Now That You Know the Cocktails, Here’s the Tequila That Makes Them
Every cocktail on this list uses Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal or Espresso Cristalino. Both are made with 100% Blue Weber agave from Jalisco, are additive-free, and have been put to the test by some of the most respected palates in the industry. Borracho Tequila Blanco Artesanal earned Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the 2026 Latin American World Spirits Competition, and Espresso Cristalino followed with Double Gold at the 2026 Latin American World Spirits Competition. We’re not saying that to brag. We’re sharing our accomplishments because you and your peers deserve to taste real, award-winning tequila, and Borracho Tequila is exactly that.
Read Blanco vs. Espresso Cristalino: Which Bottle Should You Pick Up First? for more information, and head to borrachotequila.com for the latest on where to find us.
FAQs
What type of tequila is best for cocktails?
A 100% Blue Weber agave blanco, like our Blanco Artesanal, is the go-to for most cocktails. Its clean, agave-forward flavor pairs well with citrus and herbs without getting lost in the mix.
Can I prepare tequila cocktails in advance for a party?
It’s best to prepare cocktails with fresh citrus juice or muddled herbs the day of. Freshly squeezed citrus juice and cut fruit turn bitter quickly, and muddled herbs oxidize fast, so prepare those a few hours before serving.
Is Borracho Tequila Espresso Cristalino good for cocktails or just sipping?
Both! It’s delicious neat, but its notes of roasted espresso, vanilla, and subtle agave sweetness make it exceptional in cocktails, too.
