What’s a Cinco de Mayo party without great drinks? Just in time for the weekend, we offer you some delicious recipes and recommendations for your fiesta (or for any Friday get together—who doesn’t love a spontaneous cocktail night?) Last week we presented a checklist for a fun and festive Cinco de Mayo party; so now that you’ve got the invites covered, and the music is ready to go, it’s time to focus on the drinks! Today we give you a traditional and modern version of two classic party drinks, margaritas and sangria.
Classic Margarita
Of course the three major ingredients in a classic margarita are going to be tequila, triple sec, and lime juice—this we can agree on. Where people start to quibble is on the ideal proportions, which is ultimately a matter of taste. The recipe we offer, adapted from Bon Appetit, is almost perfectly balanced between sour and sweet, and goes well with food.
6 oz. Tequila
6 oz. Triple Sec
5.5 oz. Fresh lime juice
Sliced lime
Sea salt for rim
Pour all ingredients over ice into a cocktail shaker, wait for condensation to appear on the outer metal of the shaker, and strain into govino shatterproof, re-useable go anywhere wine/cocktail glass. Garnish with salt (wondering why we recommend sea salt? Check out this Sea Salt article from our epicurean writer Amy Huggins-Gaw). Serves four.
Vanilla Bean Margarita
This sweet twist on the classic cocktail is best drunk with savory snacks, like guacamole and corn chips to balance out the sugar. Adapted from Forbes, this piece involves flavoring the base of the drink with the insides of a vanilla bean (found at natural foods stores or some larger chain groceries in the spice isle). We switched out white sugar for agave nectar, because agave has a 40 percent lower glycemic index than sugar, making it safer for diabetics and those sensitive to spikes in blood sugar.
8 oz. tequila
8 oz. fresh lime juice
4 oz. Triple Sec
4 oz. Vanilla Bean simple syrup
For the syrup, combine two cups water with two cups agave nectar, and heat on low until the nectar is dissolved. Wait for mixture to cool.
Combine all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker and pour into glasses. We suggest govino go anywhere wine glass. Serves four.
Classic Sangria
4 oz. Brandy
1 Bottle dry red wine, such as Rioja
4 oz. Citrus seltzer water
4 oz. 100% Orange juice
2 Granny Smith apples, sliced
1 Orange, sliced
1 Lemon, sliced
1 Lime, sliced
1 oz. Agave nectar
In a large bowl, combine agave, brandy, wine, and orange juice. Stir until agave is dissolved. Add all fruit slices. Refrigerate until well chilled. Add seltzer water, and serve over ice.
White Peach Sangria
3 oz. Brandy
1 Bottle dry white wine
2 oz. Agave nectar
4 oz. Citrus seltzer water
8 oz. 100% Pineapple juice
8 oz. 100% Orange juice
2 Granny Smith apples, sliced
1 Orange, sliced
1 Lemon, sliced
1 Lime, sliced
3 oz. Peach puree (peel and mash peaches by hand or in a food processor)
Instructions are same as above. Add pineapple juice initially. Serve over ice.
Salud!
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