May 5, 1862 marks victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces in the Battle of Puebla, which is celebrated annually in Puebla as El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla.

Though there is limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of Mexico, it’s celebrated most-widely in the United States as Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is of course celebrated on May 5. How will you celebrate? Most imbibe the “traditional” Margarita on this celebrated day in history. However, there are a multitude of other types of non-traditional Margaritas and Cinco de Mayo-inspired cocktails. Make one of the below cocktails and say cheers to the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo!

Liquid Ice Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz 123 Tequila
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 1 oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
• Lemon Lime Gatorade
• Can of Liquid Ice

Preparation: Fill glass with ice, add tequila, lime juice and Cointreau, top off Margarita glass with a splash of gatorade and the rest with Liquid Ice, floating the can on top. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Purchase Liquid Ice “The Ultimate Mixer” HERE

Hard Rock Cafe has put a unique spin on the Margarita with the new Aero Mexico Flight. Aero Mexico Flight uses three mini dessert glasses to create separate margaritas in each glass.

Air Mexican Flight

Uses 3 mini dessert glasses to create separate margaritas in each

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Avion Silver Tequila
• 1/4 oz Cointreau Orange Liqueur
• 3 oz HRC Margarita Mix
• ½ oz Float Monin syrup (One flavor added to each dessert glass with a choice of Watermelon, Mango, Cucumber, Blue Curacao, Pomegranate or Wildberry
  Garnish each glass with salt rim and a lime wedge)

Instructions:

1. 1/2 oz Monin Habanero Lime
2. 1/2 oz Blue Curacao
3. 1/2 oz Monin Desert Pear

Preparation: Combine first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into three individual dessert glasses. Add floats to each of the three salt-rimmed dessert glasses. Garnish with a lime wedge.

If you are in or near the Windy City, a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is Ay Chiwowa. One of Chicago’s favorite Mexican restaurants, Ay Chiwowa is a neighborhood tequila and taco tavern, offering over 90 different tequilas, kegged craft cocktails and innovative takes on classic Mexican street fare. If you are nowhere near Chicago, Ay Chiwowa has shared with us a couple of their delicious cocktail recipes below!

Ay Chiwowa Mexi Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Lunazul blanco tequila
• Squeeze of fresh orange wedge to taste
• Top with diet ginger beer (4-6 oz depending on taste)

Preparation: Combine the tequila, fresh orange juice and ginger beer over ice in a glass. Stir as desired.

Ay Chiwowa Paloma

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 oz Lunazul Blanco
• 1/2 oz Rosemary Simple Syrup
• Grapefruit Wedge Squeeze
• Jorritos Grapefruit soda Topper

Preparation: Double Rocks Glass, optionally rim with salt, and fill with fresh ice and add tequila and simple syrup. Add a squeeze of grapefruit juice and top with soda.

If you are in New York, celebrating Cinco De Mayo at W Downtown could send you all the way to W Mexico City. On Monday, May 5th, W New York – Downtown will be serving the Vendado Cocktail (Spanish for blindfold and a signature drink from W Mexico City) with a miniature Piñata all night long. One lucky guest will find a two night stay certificate for W Mexico City inside their piñata. See recipe for Vendado below!

Ay Chiwowa’s Rompope Martini

• 2 oz of Rompope
• 1 oz of Rumchata
• 2 oz of Tequila Reposado
• 12 oz of Hershey’s chocolate syrup

Preparation: In a mixing glass add ingredients in chronological order starting with your Rompope and adding chocolate syrup last over ice. Shake vigorously for at least 5 seconds and strain into a Martini glass. For best results use chocolate syrup at room temperature and chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a chocolate syrup rim dusted with cinnamon sugar.

Ay Chiwowa Michelada

• 1/2 oz Worcestershire
• 1/4 oz Maggi Sauce
• 1 oz lime juice
• 3 dashes of tabasco
• pinch of black pepper

Preparation: Mix all ingredients in a shaker and then pour over ice in a pint glass; top with pacific beer

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo at W New York – Downtown could send you all the way to W Mexico City! On Monday, May 5th, W New York – Downtown will be serving the Vendado (Spanish for blindfold and a signature drink from W Mexico City) with a miniature Piñata all night long. One lucky guest will find a two night stay certificate for W Mexico City inside their piñata!

Venado

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz of Mezcal
• 3/4 oz of Lime Juice
• 1/2 pieces of Kiwi
• 2 spoons of Sugar
• 2 pieces of Raspberries
• 6 leaves of Peppermint

Preparation: Muddle kiwi, sugar and raspberries in the bottom of a glass. Add remaining ingredients, ice and stir. Garnish with peppermint leaves and a slice of lime.

Hornitos Tequila is revolutionizing the shot occasion with the Hornitos Lime Shot. With a pleasingly light and smooth body, Hornitos Lime Shot is a blend of 100% blue agave tequila, natural lime flavor and a touch of alt.

Tequila Fiesta

• 1 1/2 parts Hornitos® Plata Tequila
• 3/4 part lime juice
• 3/4 part pineapple juice
• 1/4 part agave
• Pinch of cilantro leaves

Preparation: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass.

Spicy Sombrero

• 1 part Hornitos® Plata
• 2 parts lemonade
• 3-4 dashes of green hot sauce
• Salt/smoked paprika rim

Preparation: Rim shot glass with salt and smoked paprika. Mix chilled lemonade, chilled Hornitos® Plata and hot sauce in mixing glass and pour into shot glass

Tequila Expert and Milagro Brand Ambassador Jaime Salas, who grew up part-time in Mexico’s tequila producing region of Jalisco, has thoughtfully crafted four authentic cocktails using Milagro Tequila and Ancho Reyes, a chili liqueur from the city of Puebla made from their signature crop, the beloved ancho chile.

Not only is Jaime a tequila expert and connoisseur, but he’s incredibly knowledgeable on the history of Cinco de Mayo as well as the celebration traditions and significance of tequila on the holiday. Looking for additional information or an exclusive recipe for your readers? Just ask; we’ll have Jaime or one of our other brand ambassadors create something special for you – using the freshest, seasonal ingredients.

Milagro Ancho Paloma

created by Milagro Brand Ambassador Jaime Salas

• 1 1/2 parts Milagro Reposado
• 1/2 part Ancho Reyes
• 1/2 part Fresh Lime Juice
• 3 parts Grapefruit Soda

Preparation: Using a lime wedge, wet the rim of the glass and salt half of the rim. Add ice, Ancho Reyes, and grapefruit soda. Squeeze a wedge of lime and discard. Garnish with a thin grapefruit wheel.

Conquistador

created by Milagro Brand Ambassador Jaime Salas

• 1 1/2 parts Milagro Reposado
• 1/2 part Ancho Reyes
• 1/2 part Crème de Cacao
• 1/2 part Manzanilla Sherry
• 1 dash Angostura Orange Bitters

Preparation: Chill coupe glass with ice and water and set aside. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until well chilled and diluted. Discard chilling ice from the coupe. Strain ingredients into chilled coupe. Using a vegetable peeler, remove a long piece of orange peel. Express the oil over the cocktail, rub the peel around the rim of the glass, and place atop the cocktail

Ancho Margarita

created by Milagro Brand Ambassador Jaime Salas

• 1 1/2 parts Milagro Silver Tequila
• 3/4 parts Ancho Reyes
• 1 part Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 part Agave Nectar

Preparation: Using a lime wedge, wet the rim of an old fashioned glass, salt it, and set aside. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake, and double strain over fresh ice into the glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Ancho Old Fashioned

created by Milagro Brand Ambassador Jaime Salas

• 1 part Milagro Silver Tequila
• 1 part Ancho Reyes
• 1/4 part Rich Simple Syrup
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 Angostura Orange Bitters
• 1 hand cut ice cube

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a mixing beaker. Add regular ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a double old fashioned glass over large hand cut ice block. Using a vegetable peeler, remove long orange and lemon peels. Express each over the top of the cocktail and rub them together around the rim of the glass. Roll peels together into a rosette and place atop the cocktail.

Just as Mexican food in the US has evolved to become upscale and even gourmet, so too have margaritas, especially when made with authentic ingredients straight from Mexico. This classic cocktail is one of the most popular drinks in America, and you can create your own authentic version right from home with only a few simple ingredients.

Give your margarita an authentic twist by using not only top-quality 100-percent agave tequila, but also genuine Mexican orange liqueur – Patrόn Citronge. This premium reserve, extra fine orange liqueur made in Jalisco, Mexico is characterized by its clear, bright color and exudes an aroma of fresh, sweet and bitter oranges with floral notes. Its crisp and fresh orange flavor will give your margarita the perfect balance of sweet and sour, making it the ideal cocktail to serve at your Cinco de Mayo party.

Patrón Perfect Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Patrón Reposado
• 1 oz Patrón Citrónge
• Fresh lime juice
• Splash of orange juice
• Lime wheel for garnish

Preparation: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all of the ingredients. Shake well and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

Cilantro Margarita

Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz Patrón Reposado
• 1/2 oz Patrón Citrónge
• 1/2 oz Lime juice
• 1/2 oz Agave syrup*
• 5 Leaves of cilantro
• Quarter lime wedge for garnish

Preparation: Muddle the cilantro with the agave syrup in a shaker tin. Add Patrón Reposado, Patrón Citrónge, lime juice and ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass (salted rim optional). Garnish with lime wedge.

*Agave Syrup: combine equal parts agave nectar and hot water, stir until honey is dissolved, then chill.

Patrón Pomegranate Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 oz Patrón Silver
• 1/4 oz Patrón Citrónge
• 1 oz Fresh squeezed pomegranate
• 1/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh lime juice
• 1/4 oz Simple syrup
• Lime wheel for garnish
• Sprig of mint for garnish

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice cubes, and shake well. Serve straight up in a chilled martini glass or on the rocks in old fashioned glass. Garnish with half-salt rim, lime wheel, and a fresh sprig of mint.

Pineapple & Black Pepper Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Patrón Silver
• 1/2 oz Patrón Citrónge
• 1 oz Lime juice
• 1 oz Pineapple juice
• Dash of agave syrup
• Black pepper
• Pineapple wedge for garnish
• Lime slice for garnish

Preparation: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass before icing, mixing and double straining to a cocktail glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and lime slice.

Primo Cherry Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Patrón Reposado
• 3/4 oz Patrón Citrónge
• 2 oz Fresh cherry juice
• 2 oz Simple syrup
• 2oz Fresh lime juice
• Lime wheel for garnish

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass. Shake and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Bohemia Sangrita

Makes 4 drinks

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup pomegranate juice, cold
• 3/4 cup Bohemia beer, cold
• 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate (thawed but not diluted)
• 2 teaspoons Chipotle Hot Sauce

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small pitcher. Mix well.
2. Serve in small cordial or shot glasses alongside a separate glass of high-quality tequila blanco.
3. Enjoy by alternately sipping the sangrita and tequila.

Herradura Margarita

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Herradura Reposado
• 3/4 oz triple sec
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• Salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a shaker filled with ice, put all ingredients and shake. Filter through ice and serve in a glass.
2. Frost the glass with salt to decorate.

Paloma Lime

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz el Jimador Blanco
• 7 oz lemonade
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 pinch of salt
• Lime wedges

Instructions:

1. In a glass filled with ice, pour the tequila El Jimador Blanco, lemonade and lime juice. Mix and finish with a pinch of salt.
2. Add lime wedges for garnish.

On May 1st, Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn kicked off Tequila Don Julio’s Cinco de Mayo send off party for the Airstream Speakeasy, a bespoke mobile bar that will be making its journey across the U.S. this summer. During an exclusive preview hour, guests enjoyed authentic Mexican fare from Los Tacos, specialty cocktails and met the crew to learn more about their unique vision turned reality. With a passion for excellence shared by our late founder Don Julio González, this custom bar was handcrafted to bring people together with premium cocktails. The traveling speakeasy will pop-up at events starting with Cinco de Mayo in NYC and ending with Mexican Independence Day in Dallas, leaving a trail of crafted cocktails in its wake!

The crew will be spreading the passion of Tequila Don Julio, showing that the extra steps that we take in creating our tequila are what set us apart from the rest. Don Julio González himself said “When you have passion, you have everything.” and the Airstream Speakeasy will be connecting with people all over the U.S. to share our passion and learn about others.

Tequila Don Julio Cocktails Served at the Cinco de Mayo Celebration on May 1, 2014

Don Julio Margarita

Served on the VIP Boat Ride and on tap on the Airstream Speakeasy

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila Don Julio Blanco
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
• Lime Wedge

Preparation:

1. Combine Tequila Don Julio Blanco, fresh lime juice and agave nectar into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Ideal Serving Glass: Rocks Glass

Yield: 1 drink, no drink contains more than 0.6 fluid oz of alcohol

Reposado Paloma

On tap on the Airstream Speakeasy

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 ounces Tequila Don Julio Reposado
• 2/3 ounces Grapefruit Cordial
• 1/2 ounces Fresh Lime Juice
• Soda Water
• Candied Grapefruit Peel

Preparation:

1. Combine Tequila Don Julio Reposado, grapefruit cordial and fresh lime juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain into a highball glass over ice.
3. Top with soda water.
4. Garnish with candied grapefruit peel.

Ideal Serving Glass: Highball Glass

Yield: 1 drink, no drink contains more than 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol

212

Shaken as needed and served from the Airstream Speakeasy

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 oz Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
• 2/3 oz Italian Aperitif
• 1 1/3 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
• Grapefruit Peel

Preparation:

1. Combine Tequila Don Julio Blanco, Italian aperitif and fresh grapefruit juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
3. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.

Ideal Serving Glass: Rocks Glass

Yield: 1 drink, no drink contains more than 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol

If you’re sick of frozen or sickly sweet margaritas, try a more sophisticated take this Cinco de Mayo with a White Lady, often referred to as “the margarita’s cousin.” Swapping the gin for tequila and lemon juice for lime (who can actually afford lime juice with the shortage these days anyway?), Here is Tanqueray No. Ten’s take on the recipe. The only gin made using whole citrus fruit (including white grapefruit, lime, and orange), Tanqueray No. Ten gives this classic cocktail an extra kick of fresh citrus flavors:

Tanqueray White Lady

• 1 oz Tanqueray No. Ten
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Simple Syrup

Preparation: Shake all ingredients together with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Also, don’t forget to check out the current issue of Chilled Magazine which features the Most Interesting Man. Happy Cinco de Mayo!