Tequila Drinks Page

Tequila

Probably Mexico's most famous export, tequila is produced in only two designated regions in the country, one near the town of Tequila, the other near Tepatitlan. Tequila is distilled from the sap of the mature blue agave plant also called the century plant. There are other varieties of agave, from which mezcal is produced, but by Mexican law, only blue agave can be used for tequila. Mexican law also dictates that tequila must contain 51% blue agave, with the remainder coming from cane or other sugars. Tequila made from 100% blue agave requires government inspection to certify it authenticity.

White tequila is ready for export immediately after distillation, requiring no aging. Gold tequila is usually aged in white oak casks for 2 to 4 years, although Mexican regulations do not stipulate a minimum aging period. Tequila anejo, however, must be aged at least 1 year.

Tequila's popularity has exploded in the last few years and the Margarita is, without question, the most popular way tequila is consumed. Fueled by Americans' ever-growing taste for Mexican and southwestern cuisine, the Margarita is the specialty drink most often ordered in bars and restaurants across the country. Plain, salted, or sugared, straight up, on the rocks, or frozen, Margaritas are now made in a mind-boggling array of flavors and colors.

Margaritas are also the third most popular drink consumed at home. El Toro Tequila, topped by a distinctive red sombrero cap, is available in both white and gold versions to use in any Margarita recipe. Though the drink is simple to make, many consumers enjoy the convenience of already prepared Margaritas for home consumption. Chi-Chi's Margaritas, with tequila already in it, requires only blending with ice to make a refreshing frosty drink.

Alamo Splash

Mix with cracked ice and strain into collins glass.

Big Red Hooter

Pour tequila and amaretto over ice into collins glass. Fill with pineapple juice and top with grenadine. Garnish with a cherry and serve with a straw.

Bloody Maria

Shake all ingredients with cracked ice. Strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add a slice of lemon.

Blue Margarita

Rub rim of cocktail glass with lime juice. Dip rim in coarse salt. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into glass.

Brave Bull

Pour offer ice cubes into old-fashioned glass and stir. Add a twist of lemon.

Cactus Berry

Shake with ice and pour into large salt-rimmed cocktail or margarita glass.

Catalina Margarita

Shake with cracked ice and strain into chilled cocktail or margarita glass.

Chapala

Shake with ice and strain into old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add a slice of orange.

Hairy Sunrise

Mix all ingredients in blender except grenadine. Pour into collins glass and float grenadine on top. Garnish with a lime slice.

Hot Pants

Shake with ice cubes and pour into old-fashioned glass rimmed with salt.

La Bomba

Shake all ingredients except grenadine with ice 3 times ONLY. Pour into sugar rimmed cocktail glass. Add grenadine and garnish with a lime wheel.

Margarita

Rub rim of cocktail glass with lemon or lime rind and dip in salt. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into salt rimmed glass.

Mexicana

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Mexican Madras

Pour juices and tequila into shaker 1/2 filled with ice. Shake well and strain into old-fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

Mexicola

Fill collins glass with ice cubes. Add tequila and lime juice, fill with cola and stir.

Pacific Sunshine

Mix with cracked ice and pour, with ice, into chilled parfait or hurricane glass with a salted rim. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Purple Gecko

Shake with ice and pour into salt-rimmed cocktail or margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Purple Pancho

Shake with ice and pour into salt-rimmed cocktail or margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Rosita

Stir in old-fashioned glass with cracked ice. Add a twist of lemon peel and serve with short straws.

Shady Lady

Combine ingredients ove ice in highball glass. Garnish with a lime and a cherry.

Silk Stockings

Shake ingredients with crushed ice. Strain into cocktail glass and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Sloe Tequila

Blend ingredients at low speed with 1/2 cup ice in blender. Pour into old- fashioned glass, add ice cubes and a twist of cucumber peel.

South of the Border

Shake with ice and strain into sour glass. Add a lime slice.

Strawberry Margarita

If desired, rub rim of cocktail glass with a rind of lemon or lime and dip in salt. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Tequila Canyon

Pour first 3 ingredients over ice into collins glass and stir gently. Top with pineapple and orange juices. Garnish with a lime wheel. Serve with a straw.

Tequila Collins

Shake with ice and strain into collins glass. Add several ice cubes, fill with club soda and stir. Decorate with slices of lemon and orange, and a cherry. Serve with a straw.

Tequila Manhattan

Shake ingredients with ice and strain over ice cubes into old-fashioned glass. Add a cherry and an orange slice.

Tequila Matador

Shake with crushed ice and strain into champagne flute.

Tequila Mockingbird

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Tequila Old-Fashioned

Mix sugar, bitters, and water in old-fashioned glass. Add tequila, ice, and club soda. Decorate with a pineapple stick.

Tequila Pink

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Tequila Sour

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Decorate with a 1/2 slice of lemon and a cherry.

Tequila Straight

Put salt between thumb and index finger on back of left hand. Hold jigger of tequila in salted hand and lemon wedge in the other. Lick salt, slam the tequila, then suck lemon. Hmmmmmm.

Tequila Sunrise

Stir tequila and orange juice with ice and strain into highball glass. Add ice cubes. Pour in grenadine slowly and allow to settle. Before drinking, stir to complete your sunrise.

Tequini

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Serve with a twist of lemon peel and an olive.

Tequonic

Pour tequila over ice cubes into old-fashioned glass. Add fruit juice, fill with tonic water, and stir.

Tijuana Taxi

Pour tequila, curacao, and schnapps over ice into large highball glass. Fill with lemon-lime soda and garnish with orange slice and a cherry.

T.N.T. No. 2

Mix with ice in old-fashioned glass.

Toreador

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Top with a little whipped cream and sprinkle lightly with cocoa.

Traffic Light Cooler

Into pilsner glass filled with ice cubes, first pour the melon liqueur, then the tequila, to create a green layer. Add sour mix. Slowly pour orange juice against side of glass to create yellow layer. Add a few more ice cubes, if needed. Carefully float sloe gin on top for the red layer. Garnish with a cherry and lemon and lime wheels. Stir just before drinking.

Viva Villa

Shake with ice and strain over ice cubes into old-fashioned glass rimmed with salt.

Wild Thing

Pour over ice into old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Last modified: Wed Apr 20 1995