✔ Updated · 28 cocktails with measurements, tequila guide, alcohol-free option
Tequila is a Mexican spirit distilled from blue Weber agave, and it is one of the easiest spirits to mix: bright and peppery when unaged (blanco), rounder and a little vanilla-like when barrel-rested (reposado and añejo).
The five most popular tequila cocktails are the margarita (tequila, lime and orange liqueur), the paloma (tequila, lime and grapefruit soda), the tequila sunrise (tequila, orange juice and grenadine), ranch water (tequila, lime and sparkling mineral water) and the Mexican mule (tequila, lime and ginger beer). Use blanco tequila for bright, citrusy drinks and reposado or añejo for stirred, spirit-forward ones.
- Easiest: ranch water or a tequila soda, just 3 ingredients.
- Most popular: the classic margarita.
- Best for sipping slowly: the Oaxaca old fashioned.
- All contain alcohol: adults of legal drinking age only. Mocktail option below.
Below are the 28 best tequila cocktails, each with measurements for one drink, from the classic margarita and paloma to ranch water, the Mexican mule, a tequila spritz and a smoky Oaxaca old fashioned. Every drink on this list contains alcohol (most tequila is 40% ABV, or 80 proof) and is for adults of legal drinking age only. Not drinking? There's an alcohol-free paloma mocktail at the end.
Types of Tequila for Cocktails
I always look for bottles labeled 100% agave; they taste cleaner than mixto tequilas, which can contain up to 49% other sugars. Mezcal is a related agave spirit, usually with a smoky flavor from roasting the agave in earthen pits.
| Type | Aging | Flavor | Best in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blanco (silver) | Unaged or rested under 2 months | Bright, peppery, fresh agave | Margaritas, palomas, ranch water |
| Reposado | 2 to 12 months in oak | Smoother, light vanilla and spice | Mules, Cadillac margarita, Mexican martini |
| Añejo | 1 to 3 years in oak | Rich caramel, oak and spice | Old fashioneds, stirred drinks, sipping |
| Extra añejo | Over 3 years in oak | Deep, dessert-like | Usually sipped neat |
Margaritas and Variations
Each recipe makes one drink; 1 oz is about 30 ml. Use fresh lime juice, shake hard with plenty of ice and strain over fresh ice. I squeeze my limes right before shaking. Agave syrup means agave nectar thinned 1:1 with water.
1. Classic Margarita
Shake 2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz lime juice, 3/4 oz orange liqueur and 1/4 oz agave syrup; strain into a salt-rimmed glass.
2. Tommy's Margarita
A simpler, agave-forward margarita with no orange liqueur: shake 2 oz blanco, 1 oz lime juice and 1/2 oz agave syrup; serve on the rocks.
3. Cadillac Margarita
Shake 2 oz reposado, 1 oz lime juice and 1/2 oz orange liqueur, strain over ice, then float 1/2 oz Grand Marnier on top.
4. Spicy Jalapeño Margarita
Muddle 3 jalapeño slices in a shaker, add 2 oz blanco, 1 oz lime, 3/4 oz orange liqueur and 1/2 oz agave; shake and strain.
5. Watermelon Margarita
Shake 2 oz blanco, 2 oz fresh watermelon juice, 3/4 oz lime juice and 1/2 oz agave syrup; serve over ice with a chili-salt rim.
Get the recipe →
6. Pineapple Margarita
Shake 2 oz blanco, 2 oz pineapple juice, 3/4 oz lime juice and 1/2 oz orange liqueur; garnish with a pineapple wedge.
Get the recipe →
7. Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Blend 2 oz blanco, 1 oz lime, 3/4 oz orange liqueur, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1/2 oz agave and 1/2 cup ice until slushy.
Get the recipe →
Highballs and Long Drinks
Tall, fizzy and lower in alcohol per sip, these are built right in the glass over ice. A Paloma is my summer favorite.
8. Paloma
Mexico's favorite tequila highball: 2 oz blanco, 1/2 oz lime juice and a pinch of salt, topped with 4 oz grapefruit soda over ice.
9. Tequila Sunrise
Pour 2 oz blanco and 4 oz orange juice over ice, then slowly add 1/2 oz grenadine so it sinks into a red sunrise.
10. Ranch Water
A West Texas favorite: 2 oz blanco and 3/4 oz lime juice over ice, topped with 4 to 6 oz sparkling mineral water.
11. Mexican Mule
A tequila Moscow mule: 2 oz blanco or reposado and 1/2 oz lime juice, topped with 4 oz ginger beer in a copper mug.
12. Batanga
A simple Mexican classic: 2 oz blanco and 1/2 oz lime juice in a salt-rimmed glass over ice, topped with cola and stirred.
13. El Diablo
Shake 1 1/2 oz reposado, 1/2 oz crème de cassis and 1/2 oz lime juice, strain over ice and top with 3 oz ginger beer.
14. Cantarito
Built in a clay cup: 2 oz blanco, 1 oz orange juice, 1/2 oz each lime and grapefruit juice, salt and grapefruit soda.
15. Juan Collins
A tequila Tom Collins: 2 oz blanco, 1 oz lemon juice and 3/4 oz simple syrup over ice, topped with 3 oz club soda and a lemon wheel.
16. Tequila Spritz
Build 1 1/2 oz blanco, 1 oz Aperol and 1 oz grapefruit juice over ice in a wine glass, then top with 3 oz chilled prosecco.
Sours and Shaken Cocktails
17. Tequila Sour
Dry-shake 2 oz blanco, 3/4 oz lime juice, 3/4 oz agave syrup and 1 pasteurized egg white, then shake with ice; top with bitters.
18. Siesta
A pink, bittersweet sour: shake 1 1/2 oz blanco, 1/2 oz Campari, 1/2 oz grapefruit juice, 1/2 oz lime and 1/2 oz simple syrup.
19. Mexican Martini
An Austin favorite: shake 2 oz reposado, 1 oz orange liqueur, 1 oz lime, 1/2 oz orange juice and olive brine; add olives.
20. Matador
A tropical tequila sour: shake 1 1/2 oz blanco, 3 oz pineapple juice and 1/2 oz lime juice; strain into a chilled glass.
21. Bloody Maria
A Bloody Mary made with 2 oz blanco tequila, 4 oz tomato juice, lime, hot sauce, Worcestershire, horseradish and celery salt.
22. Toreador
A 1930s classic sour: shake 1 1/2 oz blanco, 1/2 oz apricot brandy and 1/2 oz lime juice with ice; strain into a chilled coupe.
Spirit-Forward and Creative Cocktails
23. Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Stir 1 1/2 oz reposado, 1/2 oz mezcal, 1 teaspoon agave nectar and 2 dashes Angostura bitters with ice; garnish with orange peel.
24. Añejo Old Fashioned
Stir 2 oz añejo tequila, 1 teaspoon agave nectar, 2 dashes Angostura and 1 dash orange bitters over a large ice cube.
25. Tequila Negroni
Swap gin for tequila: stir 1 oz blanco or reposado, 1 oz Campari and 1 oz sweet vermouth with ice; serve with an orange slice.
26. Smoky Mezcal Margarita
Shake 1 1/2 oz blanco, 1/2 oz mezcal, 1 oz lime, 3/4 oz orange liqueur and 1/4 oz agave; strain into a chili-salt-rimmed glass.
27. Blue Margarita
Shake 2 oz blanco, 1 oz lime juice, 3/4 oz blue curaçao and 1/4 oz agave syrup; strain into a salt-rimmed glass over ice.
28. Tequila Espresso Martini
Shake 1 1/2 oz reposado, 1 oz fresh espresso, 3/4 oz coffee liqueur and 1/2 oz simple syrup hard with ice; strain and garnish with coffee beans.
Get the recipe →Alcohol-Free Option: Paloma Mocktail
For guests who aren't drinking, drivers, or anyone under the legal drinking age, this mocktail keeps the paloma's tart grapefruit flavor with no alcohol. Rub a glass rim with lime and dip it in salt, fill it with ice, then add 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 1 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz agave syrup and a pinch of salt. Stir, top with 3 oz sparkling water and garnish with a grapefruit wedge. A non-alcoholic agave spirit can stand in for tequila if you want a closer match.
More alcohol-free ideas: our virgin margarita, virgin sangria mocktail and blue lagoon mocktail.
Tips for Better Tequila Cocktails
- Squeeze citrus fresh. Bottled lime juice tastes flat and bitter. One lime gives about 1 oz of juice.
- Measure with a jigger. Balanced cocktails depend on ratios, and free-pouring makes drinks much stronger than intended.
- Shake hard, stir gently. Shake drinks with citrus for 10 to 15 seconds; stir spirit-only drinks like the old fashioned and negroni.
- Rim half the glass. Salt or chili salt on half the rim lets each sip be salty or not.
- Drink responsibly. A standard margarita holds about 2 oz of 80-proof tequila plus liqueur, more than one standard drink. Pace yourself, offer water and food, and never drink and drive.
More Cocktails and Drinks
Looking for something sweet? Try tequila jello shots, drinks made with 1800 coconut tequila, a white Christmas margarita or a sugar cookie martini. For an alcohol-free classic, see our horchata.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 most popular tequila cocktails?
The margarita, paloma, tequila sunrise, ranch water and Mexican mule are the most widely ordered tequila cocktails. All are quick to make with blanco tequila, fresh lime and one or two mixers, and each contains alcohol, so they are for adults of legal drinking age.
What mixes well with tequila?
Fresh lime juice, grapefruit soda, orange juice, pineapple juice, ginger beer, sparkling mineral water and agave syrup all pair well with tequila. Orange liqueur, Campari and sweet vermouth work in stirred or shaken cocktails, and a pinch of salt brings out the agave flavor.
What is the best tequila for cocktails?
A 100% agave blanco tequila is the most versatile choice for margaritas, palomas and other citrus drinks. Reposado adds a smoother, slightly oaky note to mules and the Cadillac margarita, while añejo suits stirred drinks like the old fashioned.
What is the easiest tequila drink to make?
Ranch water is about as easy as it gets: pour 2 oz blanco tequila and 3/4 oz lime juice over ice and top with sparkling mineral water. A tequila soda or a Batanga with cola are similarly quick, three-ingredient drinks.
How much alcohol is in a margarita?
A classic margarita with 2 oz of 80-proof tequila and 3/4 oz orange liqueur contains roughly 1.6 to 1.8 US standard drinks, depending on the liqueur. Larger restaurant margaritas often contain more. Drink responsibly, and try the paloma mocktail for an alcohol-free option.
