The best tequila and mezcal tipples to bring a true taste of Mexico this Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated every year to commemorate the Mexican army’s triumph over the French at the Battle of Puebla back on 5^th May 1862. The repercussions of overcoming the empire undoubtedly facilitated a resurgence of Mexican culture, so while the event today feels thankfully far removed from the 19^th-century bloodshed, it does still seem a fitting time to pay tribute to the best of the country’s produce. There’s no better way to do this than by raising a toast with a glass of the best tequila or mezcal. Her is a selection of our favourite spirits and cocktails to see you through your mid-week merriment.

World of Zing Tequila Lovers’ Collection

Look no further than World of Zing, pioneers of craft bottled cocktails, for your Mexican medicine. Their pre-made Tequila tipples are ready and waiting to help kick off your fiesta in style. Shake things up this Cinco De Mayo with the World of Zing Tequila Lovers Cocktail Collection, containing four delicious concoctions: Persian Lime and Nori Margarita; Passionfruit Margarita; Lemondrop Chilli Margarita; and Smoked Hibiscus Margarita. The set is available here for just £16. Pritesh Mody, pioneer of craft bottled cocktails and founder of World Of Zing has also provided the recipe for the Lemondrop Chilli Margarita, a classic with a fiery twist:

Ingredients:

40ml Storywood Speyside 14 Tequila 
20ml Cointreau
30ml Lime juice
10ml Agave syrup
1/4 teaspoon of @SingleVarietyCo Lemondrop Chilli Jam

1. Shake all of the ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a margarita glass or ice-filled tumbler.
3. Garnish with a lemon.

Cazcabel’s Mexican Fiesta

Cazcabel Tequila are hosting a Mexican Fiesta, filled with tequila cocktails and La Lotería at 6.30pm on Thursday 6^th May. The two-hour event will be hosted by Cazcabel Tequila’s Global Brand Ambassador, Nate Sorby, with tickets available via Design My Night for £25 per person. Each virtual event participant will be sent a Cazcabel Tequila Fiesta pack, which includes ingredients to make the innovative and unique Cazcabel Honey & Nectarine Margarita and paloma cocktails which can be sipped and savoured. The pack also includes 50ml miniatures of each of Cazcabel Reposado Tequila, Cazcabel Coffee Tequila and Cazcabel Coconut Tequila along with a “La Tabla” bingo sheet to play La Lotería for an authentic Mexican experience. Throughout the event, Sorby will teach you how to make Cazcabel cocktails which can be enjoyed whilst playing La Lotería. Book your ticket here.

Storywood Speyside Paloma

Storywood Tequila, the world’s first tequila aged in whisky casks, have teamed up with their good friends at Two Keys to create a Paloma Kit for you to mix this delicious cocktail at home in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Storywood Tequila have added a uniquely Scottish twist on this classic cocktail. The limited-edition kits can be purchased for a week from the 3^rd May for £39.99 and include one 70cl bottle of Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado and four 200ml Two Keys Pink Grapefruit mixers. The pack is available to purchase here. Alternatively, pick up your own ingredients and follow the recipe below:

Ingredients:

50ml Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado
100ml Two Keys Pink Grapefruit Mixer
A squeeze of fresh lime 

Method:

1. Build all the ingredients in a tall glass over ice cubes.
2. Garnish with a wedge of pink grapefruit with an optional salt, sugar and chilli powder rim.

La Hacha’s Mirror Margarita

London’s only agaveria, La Hacha, are also offering up their world-class concoctions for delivery nationwide. Their award-winning cocktail, the Mirror Margarita, is a twist on the classic that may make you rethink one of the nation’s favourite drinks. When served, this crystal-clear liquid looks like a glass of water, but in reality it’s a smooth tequila tipple offering up the perfect balance of sweet and sour notes. Each 500ml bottle, priced at £35, contains four large cocktails, each with a double shot, expertly mixed and ready to pour over ice and enjoy. Each bottle of Mirror Margarita is made using only the best ingredients: Arette Blanco Tequila, homemade Hacha sour mix, cane syrup and mixed grapefruit oils. Order a bottle online here.

El Sueño Paloma

El Sueño is the new premium mixto tequila that’s affordable, sustainable and ideal for concoctions. Forget shots with lemon and salt at the end of the night’s drinking: El Sueño is a tequila for the 21^st century, specifically crafted to go perfectly in long drinks and cocktails such as margaritas; tequila and tonic; and tequila and ginger ale. It’s also perfect for sharing al fresco with friends this Cinco de Mayo. Given the current gathering restrictions, we recommend buying a bottle here and then trying this perfectly measured recipe, which is enough to make a paloma for six.

237ml El Sueño Silver
470ml Ruby red grapefruit juice
470ml Soda water
118ml Lime juice
1 Sliced ruby red grapefruit
1 Sliced lime

Ice

1. Place fruit slices in a large pitcher and cover with ice.
2. Pour over juices, tequila and club soda and stir.
3. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses and garnish with lime and grapefruit pieces.

Ayuuk Margarita

Ayuuk is the premium mezcal-inspired spirit from “flavour company” Empirical. The distinctive spirit is made using the smoky and earthy pasilla mixe chilli which is exclusively sourced from a small Oaxacan village in Mexico. It has similarities to mezcal and so can be used to make wonderfully exciting cocktails. Empirical Ayuuk is priced at £48.45, available to purchase here. Try it in their Ayuuk Margarita, the perfect way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo: 

Ingredients:

40ml Ayuuk
20ml Orange liqueur
20ml Lime juice
Salt and black lime mix for rim

1. Pour Ayuuk, orange liqueur and lime juice into a shaker.
2. Add ice and shake.
3. Rim glass with lime wedge then coat with salt and black lime mix.
4. Add ice into the glass.
5. Fine strain.

VIVIR Paloma

VIVIR Blanco Tequila, which has won awards at the Bartenders Brand Awards 2020 and Great Taste Awards 2019, was created after a year of development and over 100 iterations. The crisp fresh spirit has sweet vegetal notes from the fully-matured agave with hints of vanilla and heather honey. VIVIR Blanco is well suited in any classic Tequila cocktail, such as a Paloma. VIVIR Blanco is priced at £34.95 available to purchase here. Try out the recipe below, perfect for enjoying with friends and family:

Ingredients:

50ml VIVIR Tequila Blanco or Reposado
10ml Agave syrup
10ml Lime juice
60ml Pink grapefruit juice
Soda water or grapefruit soda to fill glass
Wedge of pink grapefruit to garnish

Method:

1. Wipe a slice of lime around the rim of a highball glass, then dip into sea salt so the rim is coated.
2. Grab a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
3. Add all ingredients except the soda water. Shake for around 20 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker feels cold.
4. Place some ice into your prepared highball glass, pour in your cocktail and top up with soda water or grapefruit soda.
5. Add the pink grapefruit wedge and enjoy.

The editorial unit