Tequila Cocktails That Go Beyond The Classic Margarita

Top mixologists share recipes for original Tequila-based drinks.

Experimental cocktails showcase Tequila’s versatility. Spoke & Steele’s Smoke Over Chicago—made with Casa Pacific Blanco Tequila, Hum liqueur, mezcal and mezcal cream liqueur—is aged in absinthe-rinsed barrels.
Experimental cocktails showcase Tequila’s versatility. Spoke & Steele’s Smoke Over Chicago—made with Casa Pacific Blanco Tequila, Hum liqueur, mezcal and mezcal cream liqueur—is aged in absinthe-rinsed barrels.

Tequila has been somewhat slow to catch fire in cocktail culture despite its rapid volume growth, but the rise of high-end expressions has spurred a push to experiment. And while the Margarita is still by far the most popular Tequila-based drink, the agave spirit is being adapted to a range of cocktail styles. “The creative energy in the mixology community has caused bartenders to rethink what can be done with Tequila, and that shift is helping it evolve,” says Barry Augus, president and CEO of Tres Agaves Products.

La Revolución, a drink created by Chicago mixologist Alex Renshaw for Terlato Wines and Artisan Spirits’ Riazul Tequila, mixes Riazul’s Reposado expression with Nonino amaro, fresh lime juice, Monin Strawberry syrup, Angostura bitters and cinnamon. “Tequila has moved far beyond its reputation as a cheap drink,” says Bill Terlato, CEO of Terlato Wines and Artisan Spirits. “The spirit has established its credibility as a complex, sophisticated ingredient that can play at all levels.”

Dove’s Luncheonette in Chicago offers the Te for the Day ($9), comprising black tea–infused Lunazul Blanco Tequila, house-made ginger syrup, lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda. Eden Laurin, managing partner of Chicago bar The Violet Hour, created the cocktail for Dove’s, where she consults on the drinks program. Dove’s bar manager Kate Lerner notes that the true beauty of Tequila lies in its ability to work well with a plethora of ingredients. “Tequila is extremely versatile and doesn’t need to be held to just one category,” she says. “Coffee, tea, chocolate, beer—breaking paradigms can create delicious and surprising cocktails.”

Other mixologists put new spins on classic cocktails. Manny Hinojosa, brand ambassador for Bacardi’s Cazadores and Corzo Tequila brands, created the Corzo Negroni Bianco. The drink is made with Corzo Reposado, Campari aperitif, Martini & Rossi Bianco vermouth, The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley Orange Zest and Fee Brothers Lemon bitters. At Spoke & Steele in Indianapolis, the Smoke Over Chicago ($16) is aged for three months in St. George Verte absinthe–rinsed barrels and blends Casa Pacific Blanco Tequila, Hum botanical liqueur, Del Maguey Vida mezcal and Crema de Mezcal liqueur. “A lot of people have preconceived notions about how Tequila tastes and how you consume it,” says beverage director Tyler Burns. “I love changing people’s minds and showing them how versatile it is.”

Tequila-Based Cocktail Recipes

La Revolución

By Alex Renshaw
Ingredients

1½ ounces Riazul Reposado Tequila;

½ ounce Nonino amaro;

¾ ounce Monin Strawberry syrup;

¾ ounce fresh lime juice;

Dash Angostura bitters;

Grated cinnamon;

Strawberry.

Recipe

Combine Tequila, amaro, syrup, lime juice and bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a strawberry and grated cinnamon.

Te for the Day

Eden Laurin
(Photo by By Sandy Noto)
Ingredients

2 ounces black tea–infused Lunazul Blanco Tequila1;

½ ounce ginger syrup2;

¾ ounce lemon juice;

¼ ounce simple syrup;

Splash club soda;

Lemon peel.

Recipe

Combine Tequila, ginger syrup, lemon juice and simple syrup in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Express a lemon peel over the drink and use as garnish.

1 Steep 2 bags of black tea in a 750-ml. bottle of Lunazul Blanco for 4 hours.

2 Juice fresh ginger. Let the juice sit for 4 hours or more and then strain through cheesecloth. Add equal parts refined sugar and stir to combine.

Corzo Negroni Bianco

By Manny Hinojosa
Ingredients

1 ounce Corzo Reposado Tequila;

¾ ounce Martini & Rossi Bianco vermouth;

¾ ounce Campari aperitif;

1⁄8 ounce The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley Orange Zest;

3 drops Fee Brothers Lemon bitters;

Orange peel.

Recipe

Combine Tequila, vermouth, Campari, orange zest and bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir for 20 seconds and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange peel.