25 Best Drinks To Mix With Tequila
If you think tequila is only for margaritas, or shots bookended with salt and lime, think again. There are plenty of myths about tequila, not to mention confusion about tequila vs. mezcal, but many people don't know that it's an incredibly versatile and delicious spirit.
Tequila is made by fermenting juice from the Mexican blue agave plant. The liquor is usually clear, unaged, and between 40 and 50% alcohol (that's 80 to 100 proof!). The name comes from the town of Tequila, in Jalisco, the Mexican state where it is produced (via Britannica). Blue agave plants have a pineapple-shaped base that fills with sweet sap, or agua miel (honey water) as the plant matures. The sap is extracted, fermented, and then twice-distilled for purity.
Much like champagne, tequila can only be called tequila if it meets certain conditions. According to VinePair, true tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave, and produced in Jalisco, Mexico, or certain municipalities in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. That "100% agave only" rule means that some beverages we might assume are tequila (hello, Jose Cuervo Especial!) are actually not. To determine authenticity, look for the ingredients on the label. If your tequila contains anything other than 100% blue agave, it's not tequila. If it contains a worm, it's also not tequila — only mezcal contains worms.
Once you've verified your tequila, though, how best to drink it? Here are the 10 best drinks to mix with tequila.
Tomato juice
No matter how healthy your lifestyle, it's inevitable that occasionally you will find yourself needing a drink to go along with breakfast. Whether you're throwing a birthday brunch for your bestie or in need of a little hair of the dog, you cannot go wrong mixing tequila and tomato juice.
According to Healthline, tomato juice is high in many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium — perfect if you're a little bit ... dehydrated. Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant, which we like to think has beauty benefits even when paired with alcohol. Not only is the tequila and tomato juice mix basically good for you, it's also delicious.
Energetic morning people might try adding some lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, black pepper, and a stick of celery. When this concoction is mixed with vodka, it's a Bloody Mary. When you mix it with tequila, it becomes a Bloody Maria, and far superior as a brunch accompaniment.
Grapefruit juice
Good tequila can be subtle, earthy, or even slightly sweet. Good grapefruit juice has a nice tart kick to it. Combine the two, and you have a match made in heaven (if you don't have too much of a sweet tooth).
Grapefruit juice is very high in vitamin C, per Healthline, so a tequila and grapefruit juice combo isn't just perfect for sipping on the porch of a long weekend afternoon, it will also help you fight off a cold. It's important to note that grapefruit interacts negatively with many medications, so you should always check with your doctor before getting the juicer and Patròn out.
Grapefruit is also the basis of what Liquor.com calls Mexico's national cocktail: the Paloma. A highball made with tequila, grapefruit soda or grapefruit juice and seltzer, and a squeeze of lime, the Paloma should definitely be at the top of your summer cocktail list. It's refreshing without being too sweet, and adding a pinch of chili salt gives a Paloma a gorgeous spicy kick.
Soda water
This one is for your friend who's doing keto. They've made it to drinks night, but their daily carb limit is maxed out. Enter the tequila highball, because tequila has no carbs (via Healthline). Therefore, even the low-carb amongst us are free to do as The New York Times Cooking suggests and mix tequila, soda water, and a squeeze of lime and sip, happy in the knowledge that their macros are unaffected.
Even if you're not on the keto train, a tequila highball is a great way to enjoy a high-quality tequila — the flavor can really come through with such a subtle mixer. Alternatively, you can elevate a mid-grade tequila with a fancy soda water!
Just make sure you use soda water, or club soda, or even seltzer — never tonic water (at least when you're making keto drinks). As Healthline explains, tonic water has added sugar, which means it has carbs, unlike the other carbonated waters.
Aloe vera
You may know aloe vera as that goo you put on your sunburn, or your plant friend's fave succulent, but did you know that it also comes in a juice — and that juice can be mixed with tequila to great effect?
Aloe vera juice has a citrusy, slightly bitter flavor, although many pre-mixed juices are sweetened, so be aware of the ingredients if you're not looking for a sugar bomb. Healthline notes that aloe vera contains high amounts of antioxidants, which as far as we're concerned makes a tequila and aloe vera mix basically a health drink.
However, if you're simply looking for a new way to make margaritas, you should give aloe a go. This aloe vera margarita recipe from Wicked Spatula is perfect for an after-dinner digestif or three, combining the stomach-calming powers of both tequila and aloe.
Who knows, it might even work for sunburn, too.
Coconut water
If you like to keep a hint of tropical warmth close to your heart, then you probably already drink coconut water. Or, maybe you're just one of those strange people who claim not to like the taste of plain water.
Either way, you should know that the nutty, sweet taste of coconut water is only missing one thing: a shot of tequila. The Cleveland Clinic notes that coconut water contains electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium, all of which are great to have in the beverage you drink after exercising really, really hard — and that includes dancing on the table.
Real Simple even claims that their coconut water margarita is guaranteed hangover-free, a declaration that is surely worth extensive investigation. As always, you should definitely read the label to make sure that your coconut water is 100% made up of the water that comes from coconuts and contains no added sugars or preservatives. The tequila should preserve it just fine.
Pineapple juice
There may be debates about pineapple's place on pizza, but the pineapple and tequila debate has been well and truly settled in favor of yes. These two liquids go together like a dream, the natural sweetness of the pineapple kicking the earthy tequila taste down a notch for a delicious and easy mixed drink.
Add a squeeze of lime to lift the flavors, as Patrón tequila recommends, and enjoy over ice. According to Web MD, pineapple juice is high in vitamins A and C, as well as B vitamins and essential metals like manganese and copper. It's also anti-inflammatory, containing an enzyme called bromelain, which helps the body reduce swelling, as well as fighting pain.
There has been research into using bromelain to treat asthma, as well as common colds and allergies, as it is effective at clearing congestion, which is great news for hay fever sufferers. We're always looking for another beverage that's perfect for drinking in the garden!
Orange juice
You may have heard of that classic cocktail, the screwdriver: It's just vodka and orange juice. Well, how about a tequila screwdriver? The orange juice is doing most of the heavy lifting here, so it's pretty delicious with a nice, smooth tequila added.
The real question is this: Do you prefer a screwdriver with pulp, or no pulp? Some people don't mind a drink that's a little chewy, but if you hate the feeling of pulp in the morning, take that tequila screwdriver a step further and add some grenadine. Voila! You've made a tequila sunrise, named for the pretty yellows, oranges, and reds that layer neatly in your glass — as long as you don't give in to temptation and mix the three liquids.
As Liquor.com explains, it's best to start with the tequila, then the OJ, and finally the grenadine — its comparative density means that this pomegranate-based syrup will sink to the bottom of the glass, forming a nice red layer and making a pretty ombré on its way through the orange juice. Delicious!
Cola
Legend has it that the tequila and cola combo was invented in the town of Tequila. As Taste Tequila explains, the cocktail — known as the Batanga — was first mixed by Tequila native Don Javier Delgado Corona, the owner of a small cantina.
The cantina is still there, still popular with tourists, and now named after that legendary barman. It's called La Capilla De Don Javier, which translates to the chapel of Don Javier. Talk about a fitting tribute to a tequila genius.
The word Batanga is apparently Spanish slang for thick in the middle, and the cocktail is named for a La Capilla regular with a sense of humor, whose self-declared nickname was batanga (via Drizly). Of course, you're welcome to mix cola with tequila and ice any time, but to make a Batanga you'll need about half a lime's worth of juice and a salt rim.
Don't forget to pour one out for Don Javier, and remember that batanga is beautiful.
Watermelon
Finally, there is a use for all that watermelon you have leftover from that weekend barbecue: Cut out the flesh and purée it in a blender. The high water content in the melon will keep your puree nice and liquidy, perfect for adding to a glass of ice and tequila.
If it's a little too lumpy, you can always push it through a sieve after blending it. Like many other fruits, watermelons have serious amounts of vitamin C, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties (via Healthline). And if you're an active type, take note. Watermelon contains citrulline, an amino acid that has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and even improve athletic performance.
There's no reason not to go on that run you planned if you had a watermelon and tequila cocktail the night before. Cut the sweetness of the watermelon with a little lime and a pinch of salt, as The New York Times recommends, and you have the perfect summer drink.
Lemon
We all know that the lime has the monopoly as the go-to citrus accompaniment to tequila, but hear us out: Lemons are also a great combination when it comes to the blue agave liquor. A really nice, smooth tequila with a squeeze of lemon is perfect to sip on a quiet Sunday, especially if you're a fiend for the sour taste profile.
For a sweeter lemony hit, try a Juan Collins. As Tipsy Bartender explains, simply mix tequila, simple or agave syrup, lemon juice, and top with soda water. Lemon juice is a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and folate, per Live Science.
In fact, lemons might be one of the most useful ingredients we have. You can clean with them, they make most everything taste better, from soup to cupcakes, and they're the perfect accompaniment to most every drink.
That said, we think that when life gives you lemons, you should definitely put them in your tequila first.
Prickly pear juice
The prickly pear cactus has been a staple of Mexican cuisine for generations and is the state plant of Texas. It is among the types of cactus that are actually edible.
The desert weather succulent, known as nopal, is thought to contain anti-inflammatory properties and regulate blood sugar (via Healthline). With colors ranging from grassy green to bright fuchsia and a tangy, sweet flavor similar to zesty watermelon, the fruit is often made into jams, juices, and syrups. It is perfect for a vibrantly prickly pear margarita.
We recommend using a silver or blanco tequila, like Casa Azul or Prospero, adding one part with one part triple sec and 1 part prickly pear juice or 1/2 part syrup. The prickly pear will naturally give the drink a deep pink to purple color, making the margarita as pretty to drink as it tastes delicious.
Though you can juice the fruit at home and cook it into syrup, we recommend using a pre-packaged product. The prickly fruit contains needles, known as glochids, which can puncture the skin if not handled carefully. And the fruit is packed with seeds. Instead, leave it to the pros to produce, allowing you to enjoy a cocktail with your fingers intact.
Ginger ale/Ginger beer
Spicy ginger beer and ginger ale are delicious accompaniments to tequila. In addition to being a refreshing carbonated beverage, they both offer many health benefits. According to Healthline, in addition to being a tasty soda, ginger ale can help treat nausea, fight inflammation, keep you hydrated, and help cure a hangover.
The difference between ginger ale and ginger beer is that the beer is generally spicier with a more pronounced ginger flavor. The spice comes from the beer being a brewed and fermented drink that includes ginger, sugar, yeast, and water. In contrast, ginger ale typically adds natural flavors to sugar and carbonated water. The beer also has a drier flavor than the slightly more sweet ale.
Whether you prefer a strong ginger taste, or something milder, both are delicious with tequila. We recommend an herbaceous, peppery blanco, like Flecha Azul tequila, which enhances the natural spiciness of the carbonated ginger drink, giving a honeyed, roasted agave, and freshly cracked pepper note to a Moscow mule cocktail.
Vermouth
Whether you prefer sweet or dry vermouth, both will impress when accompanied by tequila. For fans of dry vermouth, substitute a quality blanco tequila, like Cantera Negra Silver, for gin or vodka in a traditional martini with a twist.
It is the perfect aperitif to start an evening. The tequila has a sweetness from slow-roasting the agave, accentuated by the fruit's natural peppery characteristics, enhancing the classic cocktail's overall flavor.
Those who prefer sweet vermouth choose a quality selection of aromatized wine, like La Copa or Carpano Antica Formula vermouth. Mix it with slightly aged reposado tequila, creating a twist on a Manhattan cocktail. Like rye, the traditional liquor for a Manhattan, reposado ages in oak barrels for a designated time. For reposado, it is two to 12 months. It has an earthy, herbal note that melds with sweet vanilla and butterscotch flavors.
Add a few dashes of orange bitters to both cocktails, adding fruity freshness to the well-rounded drinks. Top the latter with an orange peel and enjoy a nightcap at the end of the evening.
Espresso
The espresso martini is one of the most popular cocktails in the country. It traditionally commixes espresso with coffee liqueur, simple syrup, and vodka.
However, swapping the vodka for tequila gives the drink a well-rounded, complete flavor profile where each ingredient's flavors shine through. While vodka tends to have a neutral taste, tequila has a definitive flavor that enhances the espresso's bitterness while standing out.
Blanco or reposado will work nicely in an espresso martini, with Blanco delivering notes of sweet roasted agave, earthy fresh herbs, and pepper. For a sweeter tequila taste, reposado will provide vanilla, spice, and caramel notes, marrying with the liqueur's sweetness, balancing the espresso's bite.
The cocktail is easy to make by adding one part of cold espresso, Kahlua, and Cierto reposado to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until very cold and strain into a coupe glass.
We recommend indulging in only one. Studies have shown that mixing alcohol and caffeine can have adverse side effects like causing dehydration while giving you a caffeine high that leads to more prolonged drinking bouts.
Lemon-lime soda
Tequila is one of the best drinks to mix with Sprite or other lemon-lime sodas. Sprite has the flavors we naturally love with tequila, including lemon-lime citrus and sugar. Sprite with tequila is especially handy when you are in the mood for a margarita but lack all the necessary ingredients.
The tequila-based drink is similar to a Tom Collins cocktail. It has a sparkling pop, combining two ounces of tequila with four or five ounces of Sprite, and served in a tall ice-filled glass. Though the soda's flavor is abundant with citrus, it is still relatively clean, so we recommend using quality silver tequila.
We like Don Julio. It is a traditional offering with roots dating back over 80 years to when Don Julio began distilling tequila at the age of 17.
The blanco tequila provides layers of fresh grapefruit, orange, and lime with sweet vanilla and honey from slow-roasting the agave. Pair with citrusy ceviche to drive home the lemon-lime flavors.
Apple juice
Whether you prefer apple juice or apple cider, both are delicious with tequila. The difference between apple cider and apple juice is that cider is typically bottled unfiltered, unpasteurized. It also has a much shorter shelf life due to the lack of pasteurization and is often lower in sugar and slightly cloudy when compared to juice.
Apple juice is usually sweeter, as sugar is typically added. It also goes through pasteurization and filtration, creating the classic apple juice flavor and texture we grew up loving.
Mixing apple juice and bourbon is a common combination for cool-weather cocktails. The apple-based beverage enhances the dried fruit and toasted warm spice flavors of the aged brown spirit. Swapping the bourbon with a quality aged reposado tequila, like Clase Azul, gives the fall drink similar to warm spice notes from the spirit's barrel aging, with sweet roasted agave flavors of authentic tequila.
We suggest stirring one part tequila with two parts apple juice in a rocks glass over ice and garnish with a squeeze of lime. Or warm fresh apple cider in a mug with tequila and garnish with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick for an autumnal hot toddy.
Mango nectar
There is a delicious snack served from fruit carts on the streets of Mexico that includes strips of fresh pineapple, mango, jicama, watermelon, and cucumber with dashes of chamoy sauce, squeezes of lime, and sprinkles of the chile-lime seasoning, Tajín. Chamoy is a thick, syrupy Mexican condiment made from dried fruits, like apricots or plums, with dried chile peppers, sugar, salt, and citrus.
The fruit salad is so delicious because the chamoy brings a spicy, salty, tangy note to the sweetness of the fruit. The drink version of the snack is the mangonada. It combines mango nectar with chamoy, lime, and ice to create a sweet, tart, and fruity frozen mocktail.
Adding tequila to the mix creates a crave-worthy adult slushie with a smoky character that rounds out the sweetness. It also adds a peppery note that melds with the spicy chamoy.
We recommend blending the mango nectar, tequila, and lime with ice, then drizzling the chamoy in to create ribbons of red throughout the drink. Garnish with a tamarind straw dipped in chamoy and dusted in Tajín.
Sherry
Drinking sherry with tequila may sound far-fetched. However, when mixed into egg nog, you have one of the most unique, delicious combinations that will become the signature cocktail of winter holiday parties.
The recipe became a classic at Portland's Clyde Common restaurant when bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler included añejo tequila and amontillado sherry in his egg nog recipe. The añejo ages one to three years in oak barrels, which gives the Blue Weber agave spirit notes of toasted spice, candied orange peel, dried fig, and rich caramel. Amontillado sherry, which ages both oxidatively and biologically, brings in a rich yeasty nuttiness that melds with the richness of the eggs and cream.
We recommend a high-quality but affordable añejo and amontillado — as you blend the spirits with several intense flavors, using overly expensive tequila doesn't make sense — like Gran Centenario Añejo and Vina AB amontillado from Gonzalez Byass.
Lemonade
Many liquors can match well with a simple classic lemonade's tangy, tart, sweet, sunshine-filled flavors. It is delicious with bourbon in a whiskey sour, delightful with vodka in a lemon drop, and highly refreshing with gin.
However, tequila and lemonade are the ultimate combination. The flavor is similar to a margarita, but with more sweetness.
Lemons have a softer sour taste than limes. Combining fresh lemon juice with sugar and water creates a refreshing drink with a candied citrus flavor. We recommend using Meyer lemons to make the lemonade as they are a bit sweeter and have less acid than traditional lemons. They have fragrant floral and herbal notes that match with tequila. However, either will work.
Mix two ounces of tequila with five or six ounces of lemonade in a tall ice-filled glass or Mason jar. Garnish the drink with a sprig of fresh mint, transforming lemonade into a summer treat with a feeling of nostalgia.
Olive juice
Who says vodka and gin get to have all the fun? Tequila is the ideal base for your olive-juice-infused martini.
Known around Texas as the Mexican martini, the cocktail originated in Austin at the almost 50-year-old Cedar Door bar. The combination is a riff on a traditional dirty martini and a top-shelf margarita, including tequila, triple sec, a splash of olive juice, and a squeeze of orange and lime.
We recommend using a reposado or añejo tequila, giving the liquor a depth of spicy, dried fruit flavors. The salty, briny green olive juice will cut through the richness of the spirit, with the orange-infused triple sec enhancing its fruity characteristics.
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake until very cold before straining into a salt-rimmed martini glass. Serve with a skewer of plump green olives. Or, add one more flavor note by stuffing the olives with jalapeno or garlic.
Tonic water
Combining tequila with tonic is a straightforward match made in heaven. Tonic water has a light bitter taste that will awaken the palate as an aperitif before dinner, making it an ideal combination.
Tonic water has been around for centuries thanks to its medicinal qualities as it contains quinine, a standard treatment for malaria. Quinine comes from the bark of the Cinchona tree found in South America and the Caribbean. The quinine gives the tonic a bitter flavor.
When mixing a drink with tonic water, we recommend an aged tequila, like Cierto Reposado. It brings smoky, sweet agave notes with butterscotch and caramel, with an unctuous, well-rounded palate. The richness of the tequila will cut through the bitterness of the tonic, creating a balanced cocktail. We also recommend adding a few lime wedges adding a zesty note of vitamin C-filled citrus, helping you stave off scurvy while protecting you from malaria.
Tea
With so many styles and flavors of tea and ways to enjoy them, the combo of tea and tequila is a quaffable delight, from aromatic herbal teas to energizing green, bold black, and spicy chai tea. We love fruity, floral hibiscus tea made into a lime-infused agua fresca with silver tequila, like Casamigos Blanco. The combination creates a refreshing adult agua de Jamaica. It has a pop of pepper, zing of citrus, and a gorgeous magenta color.
Arnold Palmer was a Ketel One vodka fan. However, he likely never tried his signature drink with tequila. After hitting the links, the El Arnoldo is the ideal thirst-quencher. Combine equal parts iced black tea and lemonade with vanilla and roasted spice-filled reposado.
Spicy chai melds beautifully with añejo tequila, with the caramel, dried fruit, and spice notes in the liquor accentuating the chai's bold flavors laced with cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and more, adding healthy spices and herbs to your tequila cocktail.
Green juice
We are always looking for ways to add more nutrients to our cocktails. Mixing fruit and veggie-packed green juice with peppery tequila is the ideal combination.
Green juice can contain a broad mix of ingredients, often including cucumbers and celery, which are great for hydration, and vitamin-packed spinach and kale, which give the deep green color. They also include items that pair naturally with tequila, like sweet pineapple, spicy ginger, tangy lemon, and tart apples.
We recommend juicing everything first to make the green juice. Then pour the liquid into a blender with two parts silver tequila, like Cierto Blanco, and ice to create a frozen green margarita.
If you are a fan of spicy foods, add fresh jalapeno pepper to the juice, or combine an avocado into the drink to make it creamy and rich with a boost of healthy fats. With a vibrant green color and sweet, spicy flavor, the cocktail will marry well with the flavors of smoked chicken tacos or beer-battered fish tacos.
Beer
Enjoying liquor with beer is a familiar idea. The Boilermaker and Flaming Dr. Pepper have been a feature cocktail of neighborhood pubs and college campus nightlife for decades. Likewise, tequila and beer make a perfect combo, especially when you add a little salt and lime.
The drink known as a corrido prohibido cocktail calls for a shot of tequila with a refreshing Mexican beer, like Dos Equis lager. The name corridos refers to a type of Mexican music that tells a narrative, which doesn't have much to do with the cocktail. Even still, the drink is delicious.
To make the drink pour the duo into a salt-rimmed pint glass with a squeeze of lime. We recommend a silver tequila filled with pepper and citrus notes, like Patron. It will harmoniously meld with the floral hop notes in the beer and zesty lime, creating a thirst-quenching combo enjoyed over ice. Pair with a platter of chicken-and-poblano tamales.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented, fizzy tea that adds a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast to brewed black or green tea and sugar. The tea is left to ferment, where the yeast eats the sugars like you would when fermenting wine. It also makes an incredibly nutritious drink, as the health benefits of drinking kombucha are plentiful.
Healthline reports that drinking kombucha may help prevent diabetes and cancer while delivering probiotics to enhance gut health. Many kombucha options go through a secondary fermentation, adding fruits and flavors, like lemon, ginger, berries, and more.
Like mixing regular iced tea with tequila, kombucha with tequila becomes a refreshing, thirst-quenching cocktail with just the proper bite of bitterness. Kombucha goes one step further, providing a pop of effervescence, lifting the palate and the overall flavor profile. Mix kombucha with blanco tequila and a big squeeze of lime for a zesty take on a traditional margarita.