Even coronavirus can't shut down a Cinco de Mayo celebration at home. And if you're looking for new cocktails to spin up with ingredients you either already have or can order online, recipes are abundant.
Of course, the classic margarita always does well, but why not try it with a twist? Or a traditional paloma with your own fruity take?
Business Insider curated the top 16 novel recipes to try from restaurants, bars, and tequila makers all over the states —and beyond.
In a blender, add watermelon, lime juice, tequila, and 6 oz. ginger ale (half of a can)
Blend until watermelon is incorporated
Add ice if a thicker consistency is preferred, and blend until smooth
Serve and garnish with watermelon slices
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15. Hint of Ginger Margarita
Hint of Ginger Margarita.
Reed's
To get back to basics, whip up this simple margarita that packs a sweet punch of ginger, recommended by all-natural American ginger ale company Reed's.
Salt the rim of a rocks glass (wet the rim with water or lime juice, the dip evenly onto a plate of coarse salt)
Stir together all ingredients in separate glass
Pour over ice into rocks glass
Garnish with a slice of ginger or lime
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14. Classic Mojito
A classic mojito.
Max Nussbaum
New York-based mixologist Max Nussbaum recommends trying a classic mojito, which is traditionally made with white rum — but can be substituted with gin or vodka if you have either on hand. He also recommends squeezing fresh lime juice if you can — it'll make an huge difference.
Ingredients:
2 oz. rum
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Club soda
Limes
Fresh mint leaves and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
Muddle fresh mint leaves at the bottom of the cocktail shaker (you can use the handle of a wooden spoon if you don't have a muddler)
Add all ingredients to shaker and shake vigorously
Serve over ice
Garnish with lime slice and mint sprig
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13. Ryegarita
Ryegarita.
Sagamore Spirit
If you want to stick to margaritas but trade out tequila for something different, try this recipe from Sagamore Spirit using their Signature Rye Whiskey for a warm and earthy twist.
Ingredients:
1 oz. Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey
1 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. agave nectar
Crushed ice
Jalapeño and lime for garnish
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice
Serve over crushed ice in a coupe glass
Garnish with sliced jalapeño and a slice of lime
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12. Cucumber Mint Margarita
Cucumber Mint Margarita.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
Nothing beats the classic combination of cucumber and line. Mix them together with Casamigos Silver tequila for a refreshing margarita.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Casamigos Silver
1/2 oz. Dolin Blanc Vermouth
.75 oz. lime juice
.75 oz. cucumber and mint infused agave
Cucumber slices and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice
Double strain with a standard strainer and a fine mesh strainer
Serve in a rocks glass with ice, add garnish
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11. Hibiscus Ginger Margarita
Hibiscus Ginger Margarita.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
If you prefer a fruitier option, try this margarita flush with flavors of hibiscus, orange, and lime.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Casamigos Tequila
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. Combier Orange Liquer
1/2 oz. hibiscus cordial
Raspberries for garnish
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients vigorously in a cocktail shaker with ice
Double strain with a standard strainer and a fine mesh strainer
Serve in a rocks glass over ice
Garnish with raspberries
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10. Piña Picante
Piña Picante.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
For the perfect combo of sweet and spicy, with an extra kick of energy, try this popular cocktail from Miami-based eatery Bodega Taqueria y Tequila.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Cazadores Tequila
1/2 oz. pineapple juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
1 oz. jalapeño infused agave syrup
2 oz. Red Bull Tropical
Instructions:
Build all ingredients in a glass with ice and stir together
Top with Red Bull
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9. Spicy Grapefruit Sour
Spicy Grapefruit Sour.
Los Arango / Beautiful Booze
If margaritas aren't your thing, consider a twist on the sour into something more refreshing — and swap tequila for the whiskey.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Corralejo Reposado Tequila
1 oz. grapefruit juice
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. jalapeño simple syrup
1 egg white
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients
Strain out ice and shake hard again
Strain into your glass and garnish
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8. Margarita de Miel
Margarita de Miel.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa
Normally the welcome cocktail at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya near Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Margarita de Miel features lavender-infused honey. Although the resort has beehives churning fresh honey on spot, an alternative like honey from your local grocer can make a similarly sweet treat.
Ingredients:
2 oz. lavender honey simple syrup
3 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
1.25 oz. silver tequila
1/4 oz. lime syrup
Instructions:
Shake and serve on the rocks
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7. Hill Country Prickly Pear Margarita
Prickly Pear Margarita.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
Based in San Antonio, Hyatt Regency Hill Country's signature prickly pear margarita provides Texas-style twist to the classic cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Codigo Rosa Tequila
2 oz. sweet and sour
1 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. prickly pear syrup
Squeeze of lime juice
Instructions:
Build all ingredients in a shaker over ice
Shake vigorously and strain into a salt-rimmed glass
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6. Cucumber-coconut Margarita
Cucumber-coconut Margarita.
Patrón Tequila
If spicy isn't your thing, try sweet with famed tequila-maker Patrón Tequila's recommendation.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz.PATRÓN Silver
2 oz. coconut water
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
7 thin slices of cucumber, 3 for garnish
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (including 4 of the cucumber slices) in a cocktail shaker
Shake vigorously with ice to chill
Strain onto fresh ice in a highball glass
Garnish with remaining 3 cucumbers
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5. Texas Margarita
Texas Margarita.
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
A refreshing twist on the traditional margarita, this is a simple recipe that calls for ingredients that are typically already in one's home. The Texas Margarita originates from The Mansion Bar at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and packs a jalapeno punch.
Ingredients:
2 oz. favorite tequila
1 oz. fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. Cointreau
1/2 to 3/4 oz. (adjust for sweetness) jalapeno agave
1 lime
Instructions:
Place all ingredients into shaker tin
Shake vigorously
Pour into glass rimmed with Tajin
Garnish with lime wedge
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4. 1 Tequila, 2 Tequila
1 Tequila, 2 Tequila.
Gurney’s Star Island
Hailing from Showfish at Gurney's Star Island Resort & Marina in Montauk, New York, this spicy mix would be great to show off at your next virtual party.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. blanco-infused pepper tequila
1/2 oz. Reposado tequila
1/2 oz. fresh lime
1/2 oz. agave mixture
2 strawberries (green tops cut off)
Garnish with Aleppo pepper/kosher salt rim
Instructions:
Take a lime wedge and coat 1/3 of the rim (about ½ inch deep) of your glass; dip it into your salt/spice rim
Muddle strawberries in your mixing tin, add the rest of your ingredients with ice to the tin
Shake and then strain over fresh ice into your rimmed glass
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3. Surf Liner
Surf Liner.
Rosewood Miramar Beach
All the way from Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California, its maker described this concoction as "an earthy and smoky cucumber Mezcal margarita." This margarita is meant to remind drinkers of the Pacific air at the beach.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Del Maguey Vida or mezcal of choice
1 oz. lime juice
3/4 oz. agave syrup
3/4 oz. cucumber juice
3 drops habanero tincture
Garnish with cucumber peel roll-up and mint sprig
Instructions:
Add all the ingredients in a shaker tin
Fill the shaker tin with ice cubes
Shake well and double strain
Pour over rocks.
Garnish with cucumber peel roll up and mint sprig.
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2. Strawberry Basil Paloma
Strawberry Basil Paloma.
Los Arango / Beautiful Booze
Make your paloma a touch earthier with basil, like this recipe recommended by Los Arango Tequila.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Los Arango Reposado Tequila
1 oz. grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. agave syrup
2 chopped strawberries
5 basil leaves
Soda to top
Smoked sea salt for rim
Instructions:
Rim your glass with smoked sea salt
Combine all ingredients except soda in a cocktail shaker with ice
A classic Cinco de Mayo sipper, the Paloma is commonly referred to a the "working person's drink." So if you're looking for something fruity and spicy to take a load off, try a recommendation from famed Correlejo Tequila using natural ingredients around the house.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Corralejo Silver Tequila
1/2 oz. grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 sliced Serrano pepper
3/4 oz. agave syrup
Pineapple soda (to top)
Tajín (for rim)
Instructions:
Rim your glass with Tajín
Add all ingredients except the pepper into a cocktail shaker with ice
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