National Tequila Day is July 24th. To celebrate, many people will make margaritas. Philadelphia bartender Barry Johnson, aka Bartender Barry, says this is just one of many ways to use tequila. He has prepared some cocktails for the occasion. The first two are more straightforward while the second two are more adventurous and of course a margarita is on the list.
Warm to HerreIt’s hot here… and we’re not talking about the temperature. Spice up your margarita game (literally) just in time for National Tequila Day.
July 24th is National Tequila Day! What better way to celebrate than with a spin on the most popular tequila cocktail: the margarita.
The base spirit for this drink is Olmeca Altos Tequila Plata, our favorite blended tequila, of course. We swapped out the lime juice for lemon juice to help brighten the cocktail along with the grapefruit juice. Plus, our honey habanero syrup helps lift the drink by adding a subtle spice to the cocktail without it being overpowering.
This drink is served in an antique or double-rock glass. A Himalayan rose rim and grapefruit wedge are optional garnishes.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. Olmeca Alts Tequila Silver
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz. Cointreau
1/4 oz. honey habanero syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare honey habanero syrup by seeding and cutting a habanero pepper
Place havanero pepper, 2 cups honey, and 1 1/2 cups water in a saucepan
Bring the mixture to a boil
Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 15 minutes
Allow mixture to cool completely before using
Add grapefruit wedges, Cointreau and honey habanero syrup to a shaker and mix well
Add the rest of the ingredients
Add ice and shake for 20 seconds or until the outside of the shaker is ice cold
Double strain into a wine or Collins glass filled with ice
MeliponaWho would have thought that the best honey in the world would be produced by a stingless bee? Check out our Melipona, our Mexican-inspired cocktail dedicated to the smooth and slightly sour Yucatan elixir.
Melipona, also known as the Mayan stingless bee, has been used to produce what is known as the best honey in the world for over three thousand years. Although traditionally used for medicinal purposes, this silky honey is as delicious as it is therapeutic. Several scientific studies have shown that honey from stingless bees offers more antioxidant and inflammation-reducing properties than honey produced from stinging bees. In particular, melipona honey has, and is still being used today by Mayan healers to treat eye, hearing, respiratory, digestive and postpartum conditions. Like Melipona honey, this cocktail is absolutely irresistible.
The base spirit of this drink is Olmeca Altos Tequila Plata. Grown in the highlands of Mexico’s Los Altos, Altos Tequila Plata is slightly citrusy and sweet with a fruity aroma. These flavors pair perfectly with fresh lemon juice and a splash of Cointreau. To take things to the next level, we made a homemade honey ginger syrup to further complement the Tequila.
This drink is served in a coupe glass.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. Olmeca Alts Tequila Silver
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. honey and ginger syrup
1/4 oz. Cointreau
INSTRUCTIONS
Add all ingredients to a shaker
Shake for 20 seconds or until the outside of the shaker is frosty
Strain into a cocktail glass or old fashioned glass filled with ice
The Black WidowThis cocktail is as bold as the famous spider that bears the name. About the size of a paper clip, black widows have a venom 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake. But don’t worry: just like a Scorpio, black widows don’t become aggressive unless they feel threatened.
The base spirit of this cocktail is tequila. Distilled from the blue agave plant, tequila can only be made in designated areas of Mexico. Be careful, not all tequilas are created equal. In fact, to be called tequila, a spirit must be made with at least 51% blue agave (among some other requirements). Otherwise, it is known as mixed.
This cocktail gets its beautiful red hue from Campari, the quintessential Italian aperitif. Made with orange peel, cherry, and a blend of herbs and spices, this sweet and sour orange liqueur may seem unapproachable at first. However, when mixed with the right ingredients, it’s the perfect way to expand your palate.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. Tequila
1 oz. countryside
1.5 oz. pomegranate juice
1/2 oz. ginger agave syrup
1 part agave nectar
1/4 ginger, peeled and diced
1/4 part water
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare ginger agave syrup by adding 1 part agave nectar, 1/4 part water, and 1/4 part diced and peeled ginger to a small saucepan.
Allow to simmer for 5 minutes
Remove from heat and let cool completely
Once cooled, strain the ginger from the syrup and store the syrup in a clean glass container for later use.
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass
Fill with ice and swirl for 30 revolutions
Strain into an old-fashioned double glass with a large sphere or ice cube
Garnish with crystallized ginger candies
Tall, dark and handsomeSmoky, creamy and incredibly smooth – if you’re an adventurous drinker, my Tall, Dark & Handsome is just for you.
The base spirit of this cocktail is mezcal. Similar to tequila, mezcal is made from agave. However, while tequila can only be made from blue agave, mezcal can be made from any type of agave. Remember that all tequilas can be considered a mezcal, but not all mezcals are tequila. Noted for its sweet, smoky flavor profile, mezcal is one of my favorite spirits.
Condensed milk is added for richness and as a sweetener, and cocoa powder is added for the love of chocolate, of course.
This drink is served in a Nick and Nora glass or glass.
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz. mezcal
1.5 oz. orgeat of pistachios
1.5 oz. condensed milk
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
INSTRUCTIONS
Make pistachio orgeat according to this recipe from Serious Eats.com or any one you prefer (just change the almonds to pistachios)
Add all ingredients to a shaker
Add ice
Shake for 30 seconds
Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora or coupe glass
Decorate with grated chocolate
Whether it’s enjoyed in cocktails like the ones mentioned above or any other libation, National Tequila Day is a great time to try something new.
