With Cinco de Mayo quickly approaching, you should already be planning out how you’re going to celebrate your favorite (and probably only) Mexican-themed holiday. Just like with St. Paddy’s Day, Cinco de Mayo has become synonymous with drinking and for a lot of people, Cinco de Mayo means margaritas.
But what if you don’t like tequila? What if you’re just in the mood for trying something a bit different this year?
Whiskey Lover’s Margarita
Ingredient List:
- 2 oz Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel
- 1 oz Orange Liqueur
- Juice of half lime
- Juice of quarter orange
- Tablespoon simple syrup, such as Orange-Lime Oleo Saccharum
- Salt for rimming glass
- Ice
Some of us love the flavor of margaritas but can’t handle the tequila. If that’s you, then you’ve got to try this whiskey-centered alternative to the classic margarita.
With a recipe coming straight from Jack Daniels, this cocktail is strong and perfectly crafted to get you feeling good and festive with your favorite dark liquor.
Michelada
Ingredient List:
- Mexican lager beer (Modelo is typical)
- Clamato or tomato juice
- 3-4 splashes hot sauce, more or less to taste.
- 2 splashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 splashes of Maggi sauce (or soy sauce)
- Juice of one lime
- Tajín seasoning (or salt) for the rim
- Ice
A beer cocktail that is extremely popular all over Mexico, Micheladas are a bit like a Bloody Mary, minus the hard liquor. With lots of savory, salty, and spicy ingredients and refreshing Mexican beer, Micheladas are the perfect drink to complement tons of Mexican food.
Plus, they’re great for curing a hangover!
Fuzz Kill
Ingredient List:
- 2 0z Peach & Habanero Infused Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum
- 4 oz. Coconut Water
- Juice of 1/2 of a lime
- 1 oz Peach syrup
- Sugared rim
A drink invented at HeadQuarters Beercade, this refreshing rum cocktail has all the notes of a Mexican drink without the tequila. The peach and habanero infused rum adds a big punch of spice while the coconut water helps it stay refreshing.
Easy to make and delicious, all of the ingredients are simply shaken with ice and poured into a sugar-rimmed glass. If you serve this at your Cinco de Mayo party, you’ll look fancy…as long as you only drink a couple of them.
Three Amigos
Ingredient List:
- 2 Mexican beers
- 1 1/3 cups limeade
- Ice
Three ingredients combine in this drink to make for an extremely tasty (and surprisingly hydrating) pitcher of booze.
Martha Stewart’s recipe calls for Modelo or Corona, but any Mexican beer should do the trick. Make it with fresh limes in order to get the best taste!
Swim-Up Bar Pina Coladas
Ingredient List:
- 6 ounces light rum
- 2 cups pineapple-coconut juice (found in most grocery stores)
- Ice to top of blender
- Pineapple slices for garnish
- Dash of nutmeg
Although it’s traditionally thought to be a Cuban drink, a well-made Pina Colada can fit in just fine at a Cinco de Mayo themed party.
You need to get out the blender to make this concoction but if you’ve got the time and the proper ingredients, it’s well worth the hassle. You can add more rum if you’d like, but know that when you do, you’ve got to add more ice to make sure it blends properly. Make sure and use fresh pineapple, not canned!
What drinks without tequila do you enjoy drinking on Cinco de Mayo? Let us know in the comments below!
