May 5 · Cocktail Guide
Cinco de Mayo Cocktails
A complete guide to Cinco de Mayo cocktails — 7 margarita recipes (classic, strawberry, spicy, pineapple, blood orange, and more), 3 palomas, and a Modelo michelada. Every drink is finished with dehydrated citrus garnishes that hold up from the first pour to the last.
Category · 7 Recipes
Margaritas: A Cinco De Mayo Favorite
Lime is the base of every classic margarita variation. A dehydrated wheel on the rim holds up the full night without turning brown.
Shop Dehydrated Lime →Classic Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec)
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- Kosher salt for rim
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Method
- Salt half the rim of a rocks glass.
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the lime wheel.
Strawberry Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 3 fresh strawberries
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz orange liqueur
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- CGC Strawberry Rimming Sugar
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Method
- Rim the glass with Strawberry Rimming Sugar.
- Muddle strawberries in a shaker.
- Add remaining ingredients with ice. Shake hard.
- Double-strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the lime wheel.
Coconut Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz cream of coconut
- 0.5 oz coconut rum (optional)
- Toasted coconut flakes for rim (optional)
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Method
- Rim the glass with toasted coconut.
- Shake all ingredients hard with ice — cream of coconut needs force.
- Strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the lime wheel.
Spicy Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz orange liqueur
- 0.5 oz agave syrup
- 3 slices fresh jalapeño
- Tajín for rim
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Method
- Rim a rocks glass with Tajín.
- Muddle jalapeño in a shaker.
- Add remaining ingredients with ice. Shake hard.
- Double-strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the lime wheel.
Passion Fruit Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz passion fruit puree
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz orange liqueur
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Method
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the lime wheel.
Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1.5 oz fresh pineapple juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz orange liqueur
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- Tajín for rim (optional)
- 1 dehydrated pineapple wedge
Method
- Rim the glass with Tajín or salt.
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the pineapple wedge.
Pro Tip
Use fresh pineapple juice. Canned adds a metallic note that blanco tequila will expose immediately.
Blood Orange Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1.5 oz fresh blood orange juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz orange liqueur
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- CGC Blood Orange Salt for rim
- 1 dehydrated blood orange wheel
Method
- Rim a rocks glass with Blood Orange Salt.
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with the blood orange wheel.
Other Popular Margarita Flavors
- Mangoadd 1 oz mango puree, cut orange liqueur to 0.5 oz.
- Jalapeño-Cucumbermuddle 3 cucumber slices + 2 jalapeño; skip orange liqueur.
- Hibiscusswap agave for 0.75 oz hibiscus syrup.
- Tamarindadd 1 oz tamarind paste thinned with water. Use Tajín rim.
- Watermelonadd 1.5 oz fresh watermelon juice, increase lime to 1 oz, skip agave.
Tacos to Pair With
Fresh corn tortillas. Warm over a gas burner for 10 seconds per side.
Carne Asada
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb skirt or flank steak
- Juice of 3 limes + 1 orange
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp each cumin, chili powder, salt
- 1/4 cup cilantro, 2 tbsp olive oil
- 12 corn tortillas
- Onion, cilantro, lime, salsa verde
Method
- Whisk marinade. Marinate steak 2–4 hrs.
- Sear 3–4 min per side. Rest 8 min.
- Slice thin against the grain.
- Warm tortillas. Top & serve.
Baja Fish
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb white fish in strips
- 1 cup flour + 1 cup cold beer
- 1 tsp each paprika, garlic, salt
- Oil for frying
- Slaw: cabbage, mayo, lime, honey
- Crema: sour cream, lime, cumin
- Tortillas, pickled onion, cilantro
Method
- Whisk flour, spices, beer into batter.
- Heat oil to 375°F.
- Fry fish 3–4 min until golden.
- Layer fish, slaw, crema, cilantro.
Al Pastor
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 lb pork shoulder, thin sliced
- 3 guajillo + 2 ancho chiles
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 3 tbsp vinegar
- 2 tbsp achiote, 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp each cumin, oregano, salt
- 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
- Tortillas, onion, cilantro, salsa verde
Method
- Toast chiles, soak 15 min.
- Blend with juice, vinegar, spices.
- Marinate pork 4+ hrs (overnight).
- Sear hot, chop fine. Assemble.
Category · 3 Recipes
The Paloma: Bitter & Sweet
Classic, spicy, and watermelon — all built on fresh grapefruit and a salt rim.
Shop Dehydrated Grapefruit →Classic Paloma
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 4 oz grapefruit soda (Jarritos or Squirt)
- Pinch salt
- 1 dehydrated grapefruit wheel
Method
- Salt the rim of a highball glass (optional).
- Fill with ice.
- Add tequila, lime, and salt.
- Top with grapefruit soda. Stir gently.
- Garnish with the grapefruit wheel.
Spicy Paloma
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila (or mezcal)
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz agave syrup
- 3 slices jalapeño
- Club soda to top
- Tajín for rim
- 1 dehydrated grapefruit wheel
Method
- Rim a highball glass with Tajín.
- Muddle jalapeño in a shaker.
- Add tequila, lime, grapefruit juice, agave, and ice. Shake.
- Double-strain into the glass over fresh ice.
- Top with club soda. Garnish with the grapefruit wheel.
Watermelon Paloma
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 2 oz fresh watermelon juice
- 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.25 oz agave syrup
- Club soda to top
- Salt for rim
- 1 dehydrated grapefruit wheel
Method
- Salt the rim of a highball glass.
- Shake tequila, watermelon juice, grapefruit juice, lime, and agave with ice.
- Strain into the glass over fresh ice.
- Top with club soda.
- Garnish with the grapefruit wheel.
Category · 1 Recipe
Michelada
Modelo Especial is the standard beer for a michelada. A dehydrated lemon wheel adds the perfect contrast and elevates the classic beverage.
Shop Dehydrated Lemon →Modelo Michelada
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Modelo Especial, cold
- 2 oz Clamato
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes Maggi seasoning (or soy sauce)
- 4 dashes hot sauce (Valentina or Cholula)
- Pinch kosher salt
- Tajín for rim
- 1 dehydrated lemon wheel
Method
- Rim a pint glass with Tajín.
- Fill with ice.
- Add Clamato, lime, Worcestershire, Maggi, hot sauce, and salt. Stir.
- Pour in the Modelo slowly.
- Garnish with the lemon wheel.
Shop the Full Set
Every Garnish on This Page
Lime · Lemon · Grapefruit · Pineapple · Blood Orange · Strawberry Sugar · Blood Orange Salt
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