Drinks Cocktails Tequila Cocktails 18 Tequila Cocktails Every Home Bartender Should Make Whether you're feeling a sweet or savory cocktail, tequila is likely the answer. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 10, 2023 Trending Videos Photo: Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon While we love a good sipping tequila, there's something to be said for pairing this classic agave-based spirit with simple ingredients like orange juice and grenadine to make a show-stopping Tequila Sunrise, or picking up a bottle of Cointreau and some jalapeño peppers to whip up a Spicy Margarita. Tequila is incredibly versatile, and can shape-shift into the perfect, boozy base for sweet and savory cocktails alike. Read on for 16 of the best tequila cocktails that are easy enough for home bartenders of any level to make, and will surely please a crowd (or, at the very least, take the edge off of a particularly taxing work week). 01 of 18 Spicy Margarita Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon How do you make the most famous, classic tequila cocktail even better? Add a jalapeño pepper. Get the Recipe 02 of 18 Ranch Rosé Photo by Sarah Crowder / Food Styling by Chandra Ram Ranch Water, a refreshing concoction of tequila, fresh lime juice, and sparkling water, is a tequila highball said to have been created by cattle ranchers in West Texas in the early 1960s. The addition of a splash of the French aperitif Lillet Rosé to this cocktail lends it gentle floral flavor notes and a pink hue, while the blood orange syrup adds more sweetness and tart citrus notes, not to mention a striking boost of color. Get the Recipe 03 of 18 Honey Trap Honey Trap cocktail. GUILLERMO RIVEROS Smoky, sweet, tart, and pleasantly warming, the Honey Trap is the perfect autumnal cocktail for a tequila lover. Get the Recipe 04 of 18 Here Comes the Sun Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Piquant heat from tequila infused with fresh jalapeño and Aperol infused with fresh Thai chiles is rounded out by sweet prickly pear syrup in this Bloody Mary recipe. Get the Recipe 05 of 18 Cinnamon & Tequila Carey Jones It’s rare to see tequila in a hot drink, but pairing the spirit with cinnamon and ginger makes this winter tipple special. Get the Recipe 06 of 18 Tequila Sunrise Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Is it summer yet? We're ready, and so is this Tequila Sunrise cocktail, which calls for three ingredients and a chill mindset. Get the Recipe 07 of 18 Verbena-Infused Tequila and Tonic Aubrie Pick This fresh cocktail balances light citrus and herbal notes from the infused syrup with bubbly club soda and smooth, blanco tequila. Substitute gin for a more prominent botanical flavor. Get the Recipe 08 of 18 Salt Air Margarita © Tina Rupp Chef José Andrés uses Sucro, a powdered emulsifier beloved by avant-garde chefs, to make the salty foam topping. Get the Recipe 09 of 18 Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails © John Kernick When watermelon is in abundance, this is a great way to use it. Bobby Flay purees seedless watermelon chunks, then strains the juice through a sieve and mixes it with silver tequila, sugar syrup, blueberries, mint and fresh lime juice. Get the Recipe 10 of 18 Añejo Manhattan © Frances Janisch Cocktail consultant Ryan Magarian garnishes this drink with a tequila-marinated dried cherry wrapped in a mole-spiced sausage slice. Get the Recipe 11 of 18 Gingerbread Margarita Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis This winter margarita has a warm, cozy, cake-spice panache that wouldn't be out of place at a holiday party. The spiced syrup is key: It intensifies the orange flavors of the cocktail while adding a seasonal spice hit that brings much-needed warmth during the winter months. Get the Recipe 12 of 18 Chipilo Cocktail Matt Taylor-Gross This bright, tequila-based aperitif is perfect for your next dinner party. Get the Recipe 13 of 18 Grilled Pineapple Tequila Punch Greg Dupree In this Grilled Pineapple–Tequila Punch, the sweet and smoky notes of grilled pineapple meld deliciously with tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde (a spicy, crisp poblano liqueur), and splashes of pineapple and lime juices. Get the Recipe 14 of 18 Montenegro Paloma Carey Jones Adding amaro to this classic tequila cocktail makes for a refreshing, sweeter riff. Get the Recipe 15 of 18 La Rosa Tart hibiscus tea gives this drink its striking rose color. Get the Recipe 16 of 18 Paloma Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Judy Haubert Fresh grapefruit juice is the star of this Paloma cocktail that was served at Jimmy's (now closed) in Aspen, CO. Shaken with flavorful reposado tequila, a squeeze of lime, and lots of ice, the drink is topped with splashes of lemon-lime and club sodas for a not-too-sweet version that is sure to refresh. Get the Recipe 17 of 18 Classic Margarita Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter There's a right and a wrong way to make the classic cocktail. Get the Recipe 18 of 18 Tequila-Watermelon Aguas Frescas with Prosecco ADRIAN GAUT In this refreshing cocktail, Prosecco adds a lively spritz to a light, watermelon-forward Margarita. If you happen to have a juicer on hand, you can certainly use it here. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit