Boozist

5 ways to celebrate National Tequila Day at home

national tequila day

tequilacopterIt’s another fake holiday, and this time we’re celebrating everyone’s favorite succulent… agave. That’s right, it’s the paradoxical National Tequila Day. The day when the United States celebrates the national spirit of Mexico. Semantics aside, we love tequila and will take any excuse to drink it.

A shot of well tequila with a lick of salt and bite of lime might be sufficient, but you can do better. National Tequila Day is technically a holiday after all.

Padre Azul + Sangrita

national tequila day
This is one of the best looking bottles on the shelf right now and is an exception to our rule that cool bottles mean bad spirits (we’re looking at you, Jazz Vodka). It’s a little sweet which makes it easy to drink as a shot or interesting in a cocktail. They put together a sangrita recipe that’s a perfect chaser for said shot or as a companion for slow sipping.

  • 1 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 oz. real pomegranite-based grenadine
  • 1/4 tsp. ancho chile powder or 3 dashes hot sauce
  • 1-2 slices jalapeño

Blend all ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper. Chill for 20 minutes. Serve with a glass of Padre azul Blanco, Reposado or Añejo and an optional slice of lime.

Avocado Mezcalita

national tequila day
Don’t be confused by the name, this cocktail still celebrates National Tequila Day. Much like squares are rectangles, tequila is mezcal. And what could go better with tequila than guacamole? This is the first I’ve heard of blending avocado into a drink, and I’ve admittedly not tried it, but it sounds incredibly good. Pineapple and avocado is a great pairing, so I see no circumstance in which this drink from the Grand Velas Los Cabos resort falls flat.

  • ¼ Avocado
  • 2 oz Fresh pineapple juice
  • 8 Mint leaves
  • ¾ oz honey
  • 1 ½ oz White tequila

Add ice, and liquefy all ingredients until stiff. Serve and enjoy.

Avion Sunset

national tequila day
Avión has updated their packaging with fancy canisters and bits to highlight that they’re a single-estate tequila, but the liquid in the bottle hasn’t changed. That’s a good thing as it’s long been one of our go-to tequilas. We’re on a big Lillet kick at the moment, so this Avión Sunset is the perfect addition to our National Tequila Day menu.

  • 2oz. Avion Silver or Avion Reposado Tequila
  • 1oz. Lillet Rouge
  • Squeeze a half-lime
  • 2oz. Ruby Red grapefruit juice
  • ¼ oz. Agave Nectar

In a highball, add ice and one ounce Lillet rouge. In a cocktail shaker, add the remaining ingredients. Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into the highball slowly, as to not incorporate the Lillet (keep it layered). Garnish with the half-lime.

Blackberry Mint Margarita

national tequila day
We first learned about Pueblo Viejo when they sponsored a Boozist Instagram post for the World Cup. It’s not easy to find, but it’s a solid tequila in the bargain price range (around $17). It has a lot of ripe agave which stands up well when you’re adding in big flavors like blackberry. Just don’t hold our National Tequila Day recycling against us.

  • 1.5 oz tequila
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 8 blackberries
  • 10 fresh mint leaves

Muddle 6 blackberries and mint with simple syrup in shaker. Add tequila, lime, and fill 2/3 with ice. Strain into glass. Garnish with final two blackberries. Drink. Repeat.

Dirty Martinez

national tequila day
They say there are only about a dozen original cocktails and that everything else is a riff. Case in point: the martini, one of if note the best-known cocktail in the world, is likely a riff on the Martinez. That would make this a double riff as the original Martinez was made with gin and had no trace of olives. Between the stemmed glass and George Clooney’s tequila, it’s just about the classiest way we can think of to celebrate National Tequila Day.

  • 2.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
  • 1 oz. Olive Juice
  • 3 Green Italian Olives

Combine all ingredients into tin shaker and add ice. Shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds, then fine strain into small martini glass. Garnish with 3 green Italian olives through skewer.

National Tequila Day Cocktails