While Memorial Day may be considered the official start to summer, Cinco de Mayo has become the pregame event to warmer weather and festive get-togethers. Especially this year, as more citizens get vaccinated and the coronavirus pandemic abates, people are looking forward to celebrating.

May 5th is a great reason to enjoy some Mexican food, Margaritas and/or beer. We’re seeing lots of creative cocktail recipes with tequila and mezcal; here are seven recipes we like.

Tales of the Toro 
(shown atop)
2 oz. Patron Añejo tequila
1 oz. Bourbon
½ oz. Homemade camomile cordial
3 dashes of Plum bitters
1 dash of Angostura bitters   

Mixologist Austin Zimmer created this recipe for Casa Del Toro taqueria in New York.

Paloma
2 oz. Lalo tequila
1 ½ oz. Hand-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice
½ oz. Simple syrup
½ oz. Hand-squeezed lime juice
Richard’s Sparkling Rainwater

Combine ingredients (except sparkling water) and shake. Pour into Collins glass and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a lime wedge and a pinch of salt sprinkled on top.

The mixologists at Josephine House in Austin, TX, created this recipe.

Besos de Mezcal
2 oz. Mezcal Los Javis Joven
¾ oz. Fresh lime juice
½ oz. John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum liqueur
½ oz. Ancho Reyes Verde liqueur
¾ oz. Liquid Alchemist Tamarindo syrup

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a pansy flower.

The mixologists at Madre, which has three locations in the Los Angeles area, created this recipe.

El Coco Carlos
2 oz. Flecha Azul Reposado Tequila 
1 oz. Coconut water
¾ oz. Fresh lime juice
½ oz. Agave syrup
Orange wedge

Start by muddling an orange wedge in your shaker, then combine the rest of the ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a salted rocks glass over one giant cube. Garnish with an orange spiral.

Chas Martin and Benji Homsey, owners of The Charles restaurant in Dallas, created this recipe. 

Strawberry Orchid
2 oz. Blanco tequila 
1 oz. Fresh lime juice 
½ oz. Agave nectar 
1 oz. Strawberry purée 
2 dashes Balsamic vinegar 
10 mint leaves 

Combine tequila, lime juice, agave and mint and muddle. Add strawberry purée and balsamic and shake with ice. Strain into a new glass with fresh ice.

The mixologists at The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park in El Paso, TX, created this recipe.

Veracruz Smash
1 oz. Galliano L’Autentico
1 ½ oz. Tequila Blanco
5 Mint leaves
3 Lemon wedges
1 Sugar cube

Muddle the fruit and sugar, add all ingredients, shake and fine strain into a filled crushed ice glass. Garnish with mint sprig and lemon wedge.

The mixologists at Galliano created this recipe.

Tamarindo Lindo Margarita 
1 ½ oz. Tequila
½ oz. Lime juice
2 oz. Tamarind pulp
½ oz. Cointreau
½ oz. Agave

Rim an Old Fashioned glass halfway with tajin, chili and salt, and fill with ice. Measure ingredients into a pint mixing glass. Fill with ice and shake. Strain into Old Fashioned and garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel.

The mixologists at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico created this recipe.