No Tequila? No Problem! Five Alternate Cocktails to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is here! If you’re out of tequila, not to worry! We have pulled together some Tequila alternatives to celebrate.
Sharing a libation from Jason Hedges at Laurent Tourondel Hospitality using France’s native spirit, Cognac, in addition to the four recipes from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, Ketel One Vodka, Zacapa Rum, and Porter House Bar & Grill.
Please see below for fun sips that you can make at home to celebrate Cinco de Mayo without tequila along with insights about the best swaps for the spirit from Jason Hedges, Award-Winning Mixologist, Lynnette Marrero, and Director of Operations for Restaurant Associates, Thierry Sighel.
Cheers!
Victory Royale
Recipe Courtesy of Jason Hedges, Beverage Director at Laurent Tourondel Hospitality and Co-Founder of Bar-IQ.Com
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Cognac
- .75 lime juice
- .5 oz Cointreau
- .5 oz honey syrup
- Top with sparkling wine
Garnish:
Orange Twist
Method:
- Shake all ingredients with ice except for the sparkling wine.
- Double strain into coupe and top with sparkling wine.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. With a potential tequila shortage looming here is a play on a classic Margarita using France’s native spirit, Cognac! – Jason Hedges
G&T Punch
Recipe Courtesy of Christian Orlando, Beverage Manager for Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
Ingredients:
- 1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin
- .5oz Ume Japanese Plum Liqueur
- .5oz Lime Juice
- 3oz Fever Tree Tonic
- Garnish: Lime Wheel
Method:
- In Collins/Highball glass, pour lime juice.
- Add ice to the rim of the glass. Pour tonic.
- Gently pour empress gin, followed by Ume.
- The result will be a 3-layer cocktail, garnish with a lime wheel.
The Ume enhances this already elevated Gin and Tonic with notes of delicate stone fruit and a vibrant purple, making for the perfect way to celebrate the springtime holiday! – Christian Orlando
Ketel One Summer Mary
Recipe Courtesy of Ketel One Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1.5 Oz Ketel One Vodka
- 3.3 Oz Pineapple Juice
- 1 Stalk of Coriander leaves
- 1 Stalk of Mint Leaves
- Jalapeño slices
- .3 oz Apple Cider Vinegar
- Bar spoon of agave syrup
Garnish:
Mint Bouquet
Method:
- Take a clean Highball Glass, blend all ingredients in a juicer, and pour over ice.
- Finish with a mint bouquet.
Zacapa Rum Sour
Recipe Courtesy of Zacapa Rum
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Zacapa No. 23 Centenario Rum
- 3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
- Mint, Citrus Wedge and/or Edible Flower Garnish
Method:
- Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake hard and pour over ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with mint and citrus.
Lynnette Marrero, Brand Ambassador for Zacapa Rum, shared that sours are one of the oldest cocktail families and are very popular because they are the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavors, just like Margaritas typically are! She advises that one can make the sour with any spirit but the Whiskey Sour became one of the most famous. Lynnette describes that Zacapa Rum is perfect in this cocktail because its extensive aging process in American and Spanish Oak barrels imparts the rum with beautiful spice notes, caramel, vanilla, and other notes also seen in whiskey.
Last Word
Recipe Courtesy of Porter House Bar & Grill
Ingredients:
- ¾ oz Faccia Brutto Spirits Centerbe
- ¾ oz Maraschino Liquor
- ¾ oz Lime Juice
- ¾ oz Stray Dog Gin
- Garnish: Lime Wheel
The Last Word cocktail served at Chef Michael Lomonaco’s Porter House Bar & Grill and close neighbor Center Bar, isa fun interpretation of a classic. The signature cocktail is built around a new gin made in Greece by a local New Yorker using foraged botanicals and mead.
Thierry Sighel, Regional Director of Operations for Restaurant Associates, shares that with the potential tequila shortage, The Daiquiri is a great substitute as it contains lime and a sweetener just like a Margarita, but replaces the tequila with rum. The same stands for a Whiskey Sour, replacing the tequila of a Margarita with whiskey, and adding in an egg white.
Please drink responsibly!
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