What to Mix with Tequila (Besides Margarita Mix!)
Updated: Jan. 05, 2022
Tequila goes in more than just margaritas (although it's delicious in them)! Find out what to mix with tequila, from juices to syrups and more.
Everybody knows tequila! It’s the smooth liquor we all love in an icy margarita. However, tequila is much more than that! This capable liquor has a versatility that rivals vodka, which is why it works as well in fruity drinks as it does in carnitas or fruit salads.
But those are just the tip of the iceberg! Get a bunch more mixer ideas ahead.
Milk
This one might sound a little strange, but cream is sometimes a welcome guest at a cocktail party (think of White Russians or ice cream drinks). To make Leche Mexicana, a cream-based tequila drink, add 2 oz. creme de cocoa, 1½ oz. tequila and 1 oz. of half-and-half to a shaker with ice—shake, strain and serve!
Egg
Yes, with the right combination eggs work with tequila, too. This cocktail, known as the Tequila Sherry Flip, is a more rigid recipe than the rest on this list. In other words, we wouldn’t recommend immediately experimenting with this one until you’ve had it once or twice. You’ll need an ounce of smooth sherry, an ounce of tequila, an egg and a dash of nutmeg. Combine the first three ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.
Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit juice is best mixed as 3 parts juice and 2 parts tequila. Seltzer or club soda can provide a nice base and enhance the flavor, while a lime slice is great at adding complexity to the grapefruit taste. Use grapefruit soda with tequila and it’s called a Paloma. So refreshing!
Club soda
Unlike seltzer water, club soda contains trace minerals that bring out the best in your drink’s flavor (but they’re interchangeable in a pinch). Both flavored and nonflavored tequila benefit from club soda’s ingredients. Simply pour equal parts in a glass over ice and enjoy!
Agave syrup
Since tequila itself is made from agave, it’s no wonder that it pairs so well with agave syrup. This sweetener takes a bit of the bite of tequila away while still allowing the spirit to retain its essence. Combine ½ oz. syrup for every 2 oz. tequila and feel free to add in other fruit juices or even just a squeeze of lime.
Orange juice
The time-tested mixer to rule all mixers, a tall glass of orange juice with 2 oz. tequila is more than enough to get a party going.
Tomato juice
Want a Bloody Mary but you’re out of vodka? No worries, tequila works just as well in its place. Fill a glass with two parts tomato juice and one part tequila, then season to taste using Tabasco sauce. If you don’t have Tabasco, Worcestershire and a dash of pepper will do. You can always follow this recipe for our Bloody Maria, too!
Ginger beer
We know that ginger beer plays well with vodka in the Moscow Mule. The spicy mixer also works with tequila. Serve two parts ginger beer with one part tequila over ice then garnish with a lime and a pinch of salt.
Lemonade
Lemonade and tequila is smooth and sweet. Like most tequila mixed drinks (including every one on this list!), feel free to add a dash of lime juice to make the mix more sour, or a pinch of salt to better bring out the flavor. Mix in whatever ratio you like, but one part tequila to three parts lemonade is perfectly refreshing. Our recommendation? Start with homemade lemonade.
Tonic water
Tequila isn’t as popular with tonic water as gin, but there are plenty of cocktail lovers who enjoy a nice carbonated—and slightly bitter—drink. To get the right balance, mix 4 oz. tonic with 2 oz. tequila—serve over ice with lime wedge to curb the bitterness.
