You'll want to travel for these.
By Aly Walansky — Written on Nov 28, 2018
We love our tequila shots or a frozen margarita on a summer day, but there's so much to do with tequila that we have never considered. Spots around the country are making some pretty creative and interesting cocktails, all using the very versatile (and delicious!) tequila.
Sure, we'll continue to have our frozen alcoholic slushies by the beach all summer and do tequila shots just because sometimes you really need one, but if you want to really expand your appreciation of a terribly underappreciated cocktail ingredient, these expertly mixed tequila cocktails are a great way to start.
And, of course, if you are going to go wild, go for the good tequila, because you are absolutely worth it.
1. Winter Old Fashioned
At Marshall’s Landing, Chicago, the Winter Old Fashioned is a tequila spin on a beloved classic. Made with Hornitos tequila, a mix of winter spices (cinnamon/star anise/nutmeg), and angostura bitters, the cocktail is served amid views of the Chicago River from the city’s famed Merchandise Mart.
2. Daisy Pusher
At Fort Willow, Chicago, the Daisy Pusher is one of their most popular drinks. With enough heat to warm anyone up during a Chicago winter, the tequila cocktail is made with a spicy blend of jalapeño tequila and guava juice, mixed with the smoky flavor of mezcal. Guests can even sip it while lounging on a swing in the treehouse-themed bar.
3. Prickly Pear Margarita
At La Comida in Las Vegas, located in the heart of bourgeoning Downtown Las Vegas, they serve the Prickly Pear Margarita, a cocktail as flavorful as it is pretty. Made with blanco tequila, sour mix and fresh prickly pear puree, the cocktail is simply garnished with salt and lime.
4. Greek Freek
Opa! One of Las Vegas’ newest Strip restaurants, Greek Sneek, offers the aptly named Greek Freek. Made with Don Julio blanco, Skinos Mastiha liqueur, fresh lime juice, and muddled cucumber, this is a cocktail you won't soon forget.
5. Cocorita
A tropical treat for winter, the Cocorita at Cabo Wabo Cantina on the Las Vegas Strip is made with Cabo Wabo blanco tequila, lime juice and coconut cream. The cocktail is served on the rocks and garnished with toasted coconut.
6. Spicy Cucumber Margarita
At MB Steak in Las Vegas, what goes better with steak than tequila? At brothers' David Morton and Michael Morton’s MB Steak in Las Vegas, one of the best-selling cocktails is the Spicy Cucumber Margarita. Made with habanero- and jalapeño-infused Milagro Silver Tequila, it's mixed with a fresh blend of cucumber, lime and mint.
7. Tequila Smash
From Hamptons in Sumter, SC, this cocktail is made with tequila, orange and lemon wheels, Cointreau, and savory sage, making it a perfect tequila cocktail. The delightfully herbaceous sage flavor and the citrus balance well with the tequila, and it's so easy anyone can perfect this drink at home.
8. Madero
El Chingon, a "Bad Ass" Mexican restaurant located in San Diego’s bustling Gaslamp Quarter, is designed to capture the spirit of Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa, and his pistoleros. Each margarita comes with the choice of tequila, mezcal, sotol or raicilla. El Chingon's signature cocktail is the Madero: Azunia blanco tequila, house-made watermelon cordial, chimoy and tajin rim.
9. Jalapeño Cucumber Mojito
Bad to the Bone BBQ, the first “real pit BBQ” restaurant located in Orange County, offers guests a spicy Southern-inspired tequila cocktail perfect to pair with their traditional BBQ dishes. The Jalapeño Cucumber Mojito is made with Jose Cuervo Silver, triple sec, agave nectar, lime juice, sweet and sour, fresh jalapeño, and fresh cucumber with a chili lime rim.
10. Jessica’s Hibiscus
Death by Tequila, Encinitas’ new Baja-inspired restaurant-bar concept, has an impressive list of more than 100 tequilas that lives up to the restaurant’s name! Jessica’s Hibiscus, made with Herradura silver, lime, pineapple and hibiscus, combines tropical, floral flavors in a drink as pretty as it is refreshing.
11. Frothing in Puerto
Also at Death by Tequila, this cocktail is made with Gracias a Dios mezcal, lemon, vanilla, pineapple and egg white, adding a festive feel to a tequila spirit. Egg white in a cocktail sound odd to you? It's not. In fact, it's an ingredient that goes back generations. You'll see why when you try it!
12. Singapore Sling
Singapore Sling at Monkey King, the Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, combines tequila with tropical, fruity flavors reminiscent of the location that inspired it. The cocktail is made with Azunia blanco tequila, lime, benedectine, pineapple, cherry and R&D house bitters.
13. The Stalker
This cocktail at San Diego’s BANKERS HILL Bar + Restaurant, a gourmet-American eatery located in downtown San Diego, combines jalapeño-infused tequila, lime, celery syrup, with smoked salt and fresh greens on top to create a green drink that’s both vibrant and refreshing to sip.
14. Cihuacoatl
This cocktail from Oxomoco in NYC is made with tequila reposado, Cynar, grapefruit and Canela. The grapefruit will play so well with the tequila, it'll maybe become a new staple in your (liquid) diet.
15. Sophia the Sophisticate
At Barrio in Chicago, this drink is one of the top three cocktails sold, which means the tequila-based drink often outsells a standard vodka and soda drink. The drink includes its main component, Patron Reposado, which is mixed with guava, muddled strawberries, lime juice, and a chili-lime sea salt is used as a rim to the cocktail, garnished with a strawberry.
16. Rosemallow Daisy
At Bastion in Nashville, the Rosemallow Daisy is made with tequila, lime, spice and hibiscus, making for a fresh, fun twist on the traditional margarita.
17. Mistletoe Margarita
Santa Baby's Christmas Bar in Chicago comes to town every year for the holiday season, where they serve up festive drinks for those of us who like our Christmas spirit with a side of booze. The bar's signature Mistletoe Margarita is a sweet drink made with Hornitos tequila, Midori, triple sec, lime juice, apple juice, and garnished with maraschino cherries. Complete with multiple bars, high-key Christmas decor, and tons of holiday activities, this place is not so much a bar as it is a full on winter wonderland.
Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her at alywalansky@gmail.com.