Mexican Fiesta Drink Ideas
Mexican Fiesta Party Cocktail Ideas
Tequila and Kahlua are both manufactured in Mexico and dominate your options for Mexican Fiesta cocktails. Margaritas are a popular choice for a south of the border themed party. We have compiled some margarita variations and additional cocktail options below including:
- Pre-made Signature Margaritas
- Tequila Mixed Drinks
- Kahlua Mixed Drinks
- Martinis & Up Drinks
- Tequila Straight
- Types of Tequila
- Jell-O Cactus Shooter
- Rimming the Glass
Margaritas are expected at a Mexican Fiesta and are easy to mix in large batches the day before the party. You may want to create a flavored option, in addition to, or instead of, a traditional lime margarita.
Pre-mixing your drinks helps to:
Pre-mixing your drinks helps to:
- Ensure everyone's drink tastes fabulous
- Control costs
- Reduce time mixing cocktails during the party
Trailer Park Punch
24 oz
3 cups
3 cups
2 cups
1 cup
3 cups
3 cups
2 cups
1 cup
Frozen limeade, thawed
Tequila
Water
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Tequila
Water
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Mix all ingredients and adjust for taste,
primarily for the balance of sweet (liqueur) and sour (lime juice).
Serve in a margarita, stemmed, or double old-fashioned glass, rimmed with salt.
Garnish with a lime or orange.
Traditional Margarita
6 cups
4 cups
4 cups
4 cups
4 cups
Tequila
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Mix all ingredients and adjust for taste,
primarily for the balance of sweet (liqueur) and sour (lime juice).
You may also use simple syrup as a sweetener.
Serve in a margarita, stemmed, or double old-fashioned glass, rimmed with salt.
Garnish with a lime or orange.
Variations
Blue Margarita
Substitute blue curacao for orange liqueur.
Raspberry Margarita
Substitute Chambord or Razzmatazz Schnapps for orange liqueur.
Melon Margarita
Substitute Midori for orange liqueur.
Watermelon Margarita
Substitute watermelon schnapps for orange liqueur.
Peach Margarita
Substitute peach schnapps for orange liqueur.
Finish with a dash of grenadine and stir slightly.
Margarita Recipe #2
6 cups
2-1/2 cups
2-1/2 cups
2-1/2 cups
2 cups
2-1/2 cups
2-1/2 cups
2-1/2 cups
2 cups
Tequila
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Lemon juice
Simple Syrup*
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Lemon juice
Simple Syrup*
Mix all ingredients and adjust for taste.
Serve in a margarita, stemmed, or double old-fashioned glass, rimmed with salt.
Garnish with a lime or orange.
Pomegranate Margarita
4 cups
2 cups
2 cups
1 cup
2 cups
2 cups
1 cup
Tequila
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Pomegranate juice, unsweetened
Lime juice
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Pomegranate juice, unsweetened
Lime juice
Mix all ingredients and adjust for taste.
Serve in a margarita, stemmed, or double old-fashioned glass, rimmed with salt.
Garnish with a lime or orange.
Margarita
There are many versions of the Margarita, most vary in the proportions of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice.
Cointreau is recommended for orange liqueur and simple syrup may also be used as a sweetener.
1-1/2 oz
1-1/2 oz
1 oz
1-1/2 oz
1 oz
Tequila
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Orange liqueur or triple sec
Lime juice
Shake ingredients and pour over ice in a margarita, stemmed or double old-fashioned glass.
Garnish with a lime or orange slice.
Tequila Sunrise
You may substitute Chambord raspberry liqueur instead of Grenadine.
2 oz
4 oz
3/4 oz
4 oz
3/4 oz
Tequila
Orange juice
Grenadine syrup
Orange juice
Grenadine syrup
Shake the tequila and orange juice in a cocktail shaker and pour over ice in a highball glass.
Slowly add the grenadine, which will sink to the bottom then rise creating a sunrise effect.
Garnish with an orange wedge and maraschino cherry on a toothpick.
Grenada Substitute grapefruit juice for orange juice.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Pink Limeade
3 oz
2 oz
1 1/2 oz
1/2 oz
2 oz
1 1/2 oz
1/2 oz
Lemon-Lime Sweet & Sour Mix**
Tequila
Cranberry juice
Lime juice
Tequila
Cranberry juice
Lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake well.
Pour over ice into a highball glass.
Garnish with a slice of lime.
Salty Chihuahua
Substitute Ruby Red grapefruit juice for a sweeter pink version.
We'll call it a "Bruiser" after Elle Wood's chihuahua in "Legally Blonde".
2 oz
3-4 oz
3-4 oz
Tequila
Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice
Mix and pour over ice in a double old-fashioned glass rimmed with salt.
Squeeze a lime wedge into the drink and drop into the glass.
Mexican Madras
2 oz
3 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 oz
3 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 oz
Tequila
Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Lime juice
Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Lime juice
Mix and pour over ice in a double old-fashioned glass.
Garnish with a lime or orange slice.
Cactus Banger
Replacing vodka with tequila makes the classic Harvey Wallbanger a Cactus Banger aka Freddy Fudpucker.
Blood orange or tangerine juice makes a nice upgrade for the orange juice.
2 oz
4 oz
1/2 oz
4 oz
1/2 oz
Tequila
Orange juice
Galliano liqueur
Orange juice
Galliano liqueur
In a highball glass, stir together the tequila and orange juice.
Fill the glass with ice and float the Galliano on top.
Serve immediately.
Bloody Maria
Substitute tequila for the vodka in the classic Bloody Mary, then add your favorite fixins.
Clamato instead of tomato juice creates a tasty variation.
2 oz
4 oz
1/2 oz
3 dashes
2 Tbsp
4 oz
1/2 oz
3 dashes
2 Tbsp
Tequila
Tomato juice
Lime juice
Worcestershire sauce
Salsa or pico de gallo
Tomato juice
Lime juice
Worcestershire sauce
Salsa or pico de gallo
In a shaker half-filled with ice, add the tequila, tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire, and salsa, then shake well.
Pour the cocktail in a highball glass rimmed with salt.
Squeeze a lime wedge into the drink and drop into the glass.
For some extra kick, add hot-powdered red chile or chili pepper to the salt before rimming the glass.
Black Russian
2 oz
1 oz
1 oz
Vodka
Kahlua
Kahlua
Pour ingredients over ice in a short glass and stir gently.
White Russian
2 oz
1 oz
3 oz
Dash
1 oz
3 oz
Dash
Vodka
Kahlua
Cream or Milk
Ground nutmeg
Kahlua
Cream or Milk
Ground nutmeg
Combine vodka, Kahlua, and cream or milk with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Shake well and pour into a highball glass.
Top with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg.
Mudslide
2 oz
1 oz
1 oz
2 oz
Dash
1 oz
1 oz
2 oz
Dash
Vodka
Kahlua
Irish cream liqueur
Cream or milk
Ground nutmeg
Kahlua
Irish cream liqueur
Cream or milk
Ground nutmeg
Combine vodka, Kahlua, Irish cream, and cream or milk with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Shake well and pour into a highball glass.
Top with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg.
La Cucaracha
Translation: The Cockroach
1-1/2 oz
1 oz
Splash
1 oz
Splash
Tequila
Kahlua
Bacardi 151 (optional)
Kahlua
Bacardi 151 (optional)
Combine the tequila and Kahlua over ice in a short glass.
Optionally add a splash of Bacardi 151 and light the drink on fire.
Old Lay
1-1/2 oz
3/4 oz
1/4 oz
Splash
3/4 oz
1/4 oz
Splash
Tequila
Triple sec
Lime juice
Grenadine
Triple sec
Lime juice
Grenadine
Pour ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well.
Strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a lime slice or maraschino cherry on a toothpick.
Tequila Cocktail
2 oz
1/2 oz
1 oz
1/2 oz
1 oz
Tequila
Lime juice
Grenadine
Lime juice
Grenadine
Pour ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well.
Strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a lime slice or maraschino cherry on a toothpick.
Cinco de Mayo
2-1/2 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
Tequila
Rose's lime juice
Grenadine
Rose's lime juice
Grenadine
Pour ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well.
Strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a lime slice or maraschino cherry on a toothpick.
Peach Mexitini
Create a variety of fruit Mexitinis by substituting fruit liqueurs for the peach schnapps.
2 oz
1 oz
1/2 oz
1 oz
1/2 oz
Tequila
Peach schnapps
Lime juice
Peach schnapps
Lime juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.
Strain and pour into a martini glass.
Garnish with a slice of lime or peach slice.
Tequila Straight
Setup:
- Shot glass filled with tequila
- Fresh lime, in quarters
- Sea salt
- Lick the back of your hand in the area just above the thumb.
- Immediately, pour some salt on the wet area so it sticks.
- With the same hand, hold the lime wedge with your fingers.
- With the opposite hand, hold the tequila shot.
- Lick the salt off of your hand, drink the entire shot of tequila, then bite into the lime wedge in one continuous motion.
- Optionally, you may chase with tomato juice.
- Repeat.
Types of Tequila
Tequila is distilled from the Blue Agave plant, primarily in the Mexican state of Jalisco. There are 2 categories of tequila:
- 100% Agave -- distilled only from the sugars of the Weber Blue Agave
- Mixed or Mixto -- made from at least 51% agave sugars
- Blanco / White / Silver -- clear, unaged tequila usually bottled right after distilling.
- Joven / Gold -- Blanco tequila made to look aged by adding flavors and colorings, such as, caramel color, oak tree extracts, glycerin, and sugar syrup.
- Reposado -- Rested or aged 2 to 12 months in wood barrels.
- Añejo - Extra Aged or Vintage, refers to tequila aged over 1 year in barrels that do not exceed 600 liters.
- Extra Añejo - Ultra-Aged is a new classification (2006) referring to tequilas aged more than 3 years. Extra Añejo is more of a mahogany color than amber.
Passing trays of Jell-o shooters make a fun party event to keep the crowd entertained and are much tidier than tequila shots.
To really wow the crowd, chill the Jell-o shooters in limes to create a fantastic presentation of lime wedge shooters that are fun, easier to eat, and guaranteed to impress.
To really wow the crowd, chill the Jell-o shooters in limes to create a fantastic presentation of lime wedge shooters that are fun, easier to eat, and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz boiling water
- 4 oz cold water
- 6 oz package of lime gelatin
- 12 oz silver tequila
- 4 oz triple sec
- 2 oz lime juice
To prepare:
- Pour the gelatin in a heat-proof bowl and add the boiling water, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved.
- Add the cold water, let cool completely.
- Stir in the tequila, triple sec, and lime juice until well combined. Note: The alcohol will evaporate out of the tequila if you add before the gelatin has cooled.
- Pour the mixture into plastic 2 oz cups, shallow pan or lime halves (see below).
- Chill until firm, 4-6 hours.
Plastic cups: Buy small plastic cups and pour individual shots into each and refrigerate to set.
Square blocks: Pour liquid gelatin into an appropriate-sized pan to a depth of about one inch. Refrigerate overnight. Cut gelatin into one-inch square blocks.
Lime slices: Cut limes in half and hollow out pulp leaving the rind shell. Fill each lime-rind-half to the top and refrigerate overnight. Cut each lime rind in half to make 2 wedges per half.
Square blocks: Pour liquid gelatin into an appropriate-sized pan to a depth of about one inch. Refrigerate overnight. Cut gelatin into one-inch square blocks.
Lime slices: Cut limes in half and hollow out pulp leaving the rind shell. Fill each lime-rind-half to the top and refrigerate overnight. Cut each lime rind in half to make 2 wedges per half.
To rim the glass:
- Moisten the rim of a your cocktail
glass with a lime wedge.
- Fill a saucer or bowl with sea salt or kosher salt.
- Roll the outside rim of the glass in the salt to cover.
- Shake off excess.
*Simple Syrup is a mixture of equal parts sugar and water. It is easiest to make by heating the water to dissolve the sugar. Let it cool before using.
** Lemon-Lime Sweet & Sour Mix is a mixture of 1/4 lemon juice, 1/4 lime juice and 1/2 simple syrup.