Cinco de Mayo is falling on a Tuesday this year. And, of course, the preceding weekend is the Kentucky Derby. But! It’s tequila season!!! Don’t let a Tuesday get in the way of your Cinco de Mayo celebrations. I have 8 cocktails for you to make over the weekend, to incorporate into your happy hour at home and beyond. You should be making these cocktails all spring with fresh ingredients and a fine Tequila live Avion. These Reposado cocktails will carry you into the summer.

First up is the Thai Basil Smash, Really simple to make with subtle complexities. The Absinthe and Basil pair really will in the cocktail together.

Thai Basil Smash:

2oz. Avion Reposado Tequila [Or Avion Silver]

1oz. Fresh Lime Juice

1oz. Simple Syrup

1 Barspoon Absinthe

4 or 5 Large Thai Basil Leaves

*Muddle basil in your shaker tin. Add remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a small Thai Basil Bouquet.

This next cocktails is for the big kids. We’re not messing around here. Just sweet enough, smokey and slightly bitter.

Smoke & Fire:

2oz. Avion Reposado Tequila

1oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice

1/2oz. Lime Juice

1/2oz. Agave Syrup

1/2oz. Campari

2 Dashes Jalapeño Tincture

1 Pinch Maldon Salt [Or other flakey sea salt]

Smoked Paprika

*Add all ingredients to shaker minus paprika. Fill with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist and a few shakes of smoked paprika.

**For the jalapeño tincture, place 1 split pepper (with seeds) in to 1 cup of vodka. Let sit for 1 week. Remove pepper after a week and place the tincture into a bottle with a dasher/dropper.

Tiki Margarita:

2oz. Avion Reposado Tequila

3/4oz. Orgeat

3/4oz. Fresh Lime Juice

*Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake until chilled and double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

Border Frappe

Created by NYC mixologist Esteban Ordóñez

2 oz. Tequila Avión Silver

3/4 oz. Lime juice

1 tbsp. Black currant jam

Blackberry and lime wheel for garnish

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker, shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a Collins or highball glass. Garnish with blackberry and a lime wheel.

Mile High
Created by NYC mixologist Esteban Ordóñez
2 oz. Tequila Avión Silver
1 oz. Pineapple juice
1/2 oz. Agave nectar
1/2 oz. Fresh lime juice
2 Jalapeños wheels
Pineapple wedge or lime wheel for garnish

Lightly muddle jalapeño wheels and agave nectar in a shaker. Add the remaining ingredients, fill with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a large rocks glass that has been rimmed with a mixture of chili powder and salt. Garnish with a lime wheel or pineapple wedge.

Avión (PO) Loma
Created by Mixologist Justin Dano of Pounds and Ounces in New York City
1.5 oz. Avión Silver
1/2 oz. Lime Juice
1/4 oz. Lemon Juice
3 oz. Grapefruit Juice
2 Slivers Muddled Jalapeño
Soda Water
Ancho Chile Salt, Jalapeño, and Grilled Lemon Wedge for garnish

Combine all ingredients and shake. Salt rim of glass with chile salt. Pour contents of shaker into glass and top with soda. Garnish with grilled lemon and jalapeño.

Spicy Sage Margarita
Created by Mixologist Justin Dano of Pounds and Ounces in New York City
2 oz. Avión Silver
3/4 oz. Jalapeño-Infused Elderflower Liqueur
1/2 oz. Orange Juice
1/4 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Lime Juice
3/4 oz. Simple Syrup
3 Sage Leaves
1 Sage Leaf and Salt for garnish

Muddle sage in a shaker. Add all ingredients. Shake. Double strain. Pour over ice in salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with sage leaf.

Avión Paloma
Created by Tequila Avión
2 oz. Tequila Avión Silver
1 oz. Grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. Fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. Simple syrup
Splash of club soda
Grapefruit slice for garnish

Build ingredients over ice in a Collins glass and stir to chill. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Enjoy these cocktails for your Cinco de Mayo celebration and all the way through Spring. Cheers!