12 Cinco de Mayo Cocktails That Are Way Better Than Your Average Margarita

Cinco de Mayo is just over a month away, which means it's time to start planning how you're going to celebrate—and yes, it's okay to join in the tequila-drinking festivities, so long as you understand the history behind the holiday.

Just a friendly reminder that May 5 does fall on a Saturday this year, so prepare your drink menu in advance. Rather than shake up a traditional margarita, opt for one of these exotic-tasting cocktails inspired by Mexican culture.

1. Mexican Sunset 

Ingredients:

1 oz. Amaretto

1 oz. Peach Schnapps

3 oz. Silver tequila

6 oz. Pineapple juice

½ oz. Grenadine

Slice of lime

Maraschino cherries

Directions:

Fill a shaker with ice, then add in the Amaretto, Peach Schnapps, tequila, and pineapple juice and shake. Pour the mixture over ice, then slowly add grenadine down the sides of the glass. Top with cherries and lime.

Created by Aubrey, Real Housemoms

2. Pink Señorita

Ingredients:

2 oz. Tequila

4 oz. Pink grapefruit juice

1 oz. Simple syrup

Splash of cranberry juice

Fresh mint

Directions:

Fill a shaker with ice, then add tequila, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice, then pour a splash of cranberry juice over the top. Garnish each cocktail with fresh mint.

Created by Keith, Superman Cooks

3. Fresh Pineapple Margarita

Ingredients:

1 cup Fresh (or frozen, thawed) pineapple chunks

1 oz. Fresh-squeezed lime juice

1 oz. Fresh-squeezed orange juice

⅛ to ¼ cup Sugar

2 oz. Silver tequila

1 ½ oz. Orange liqueur (Cointreau)

1 tbsp Kosher salt

1 tbsp Coarse/sparkling sugar

Lime wedges and pineapple chunks for garnish

Directions:

Start by using a blender to turn pineapple chunks into a smooth purée. Next pour the purée, lime juice, orange juice, sugar, tequila, and orange liqueur into a shaker. Add ice and shake for one minute, until well chilled. Squeeze fresh lime juice on a plate, and a combination of salt and sugar on another. Dip the rim of each glass into the lime juice, then the salt/sugar mix. Fill each glass with fresh ice, and pour the concoction over it. Garnish with lime wedges and pineapple chunks.

Created by Liz, Love Grows Wild

4. Blood Orange Mojito 

Ingredients:

6 Sprigs of mint and more for garnish

1 oz. Blood orange juice, freshly squeezed

1 tbsp Lime juice, freshly squeezed

1 oz. Light rum

2 tbsp Simple syrup

Seltzer water

Directions:

Pour blood orange juice, lime juice, and simple syrup into a glass. Add springs of mint and muddle into the mixture. Then add the rum and fill the rest of the glass with seltzer water.

Created by Kat and Melinda, Home Made Interest

5. Mango Margarita

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Mango purée*

1 oz. Blanco tequila

¼ oz. Clear, orange-flavored liqueur (Triple Sec)

¾ oz. Fresh lime juice

2 Fresh basil leaves, torn

1 oz. Club soda, chilled

Directions:

Add the suggested amount of mango purée (see below for directions on how to make your own), tequila, orange-flavored liqueur, lime juice, and torn basil leaves to cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, then cover and shake vigorously. Strain into cocktail glass filled with fresh ice and top with club soda. Garnish each cocktail with mango puree and basil leaves.

*How to make Mango Purée:

Place 1 ½ cups chopped fresh mango, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1/3 cup water in blender. Cover and blend on high speed until smooth. Transfer to storage container, cover, and refrigerate up to three days. (Makes about 1 ½ cups.)

Created by Andrea Correale, Elegant Affairs

6. Frontera Highball

Ingredients:

1 ½ Altos reposado

1 oz. Oloroso sherry

½ Ancho Reyes Ancho Chile Liqueur

½ oz. Fresh lemon juice

3 – 4 Mint leaves

Soda

Speared brandied cherries and mint for garnish

Directions:

Pour all ingredients in shaker (except for soda) and shake until chilled. Strain into a highball glass over ice, then add the soda and garnish.

Created by Kevin Denton, mixologist for Pernod Ricard Nationa

7. Sparkling Paloma

Ingredients:

2 Parts mezcal

Small scoop grapefruit sorbet

Squeeze of lime juice

1 tsp Agave

2 Parts grapefruit Sparkling Ice

Directions:

Pour all the ingredients in a glass with a Kosher-salted rim, mix, and enjoy.

Courtesy of Sparkling Ice

8. Matcha Margarita 

Ingredients:

1 oz. Cointreau

2 oz. Blanco tequila

¾ oz. Fresh lime juice

1 tsp Matcha green tea powder

Jalapeños optional

Directions:

Shake Cointreau, tequila, fresh lime juice, and matcha in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wheel. Top with jalapeños for extra spice.

Courtesy of Cointreau

9. Grilled Grapefruit Margarita

Ingredients:

1 ¾ oz. Riazul silver tequila

½ oz. Grapefruit juice

1 oz. Lime juice

½ oz. Agave

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, add ice, and shake in a cocktail shaker. Strain over fresh ice in a glass with a salted and sugared rim. Garnish with grilled grapefruit.

Courtesy of Dos Caminos

10. Corona Sunrise 

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Casa Noble Crystal

1 oz. Grenadine

2 oz. Orange juice

1 Orange wheel

1 Corona Extra

Directions:

Start by combining Casa Noble and orange juice in a pint glass. Then add grenadine and ice. Fill the rest of the glass full with a chilled Corona Extra. Garnish the glass with a fresh orange wheel.

Courtesy of Horses and Heels

11. Le 'Rita

Ingredients:

12 – 15 Muddled blueberries

1 oz. Sauza tequila

½ oz. Agave syrup

1 oz. Lime juice

1 oz. Triple Sec

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, add ice, and shake. Strain over ice in a glass and garnish with lime and blueberries.

Served at LeGrande at The Time New York

12. The Resting Garden Margarita 

Ingredients:

1 ¾ oz. Patrón Reposado

½ oz. Patrón Citrónge Mango

1 oz. Fresh lemon juice

¾ oz. Agave syrup

6 Sage leaves (2 for garnish)

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill. Holding a fine mesh strainer in one hand, "double strain" the drink by pouring it through into an ice-filled old fashioned glass. Garnish with two sage leaves and a grilled mango slice.

Created by Ryan Brown, Anise