Your “Sick Day on the Rocks” Tequila Menu. Guaranteed.
We shot, er, delicately sipped 4 flights one night only to discover why this bottled Grim Reaper is Spanish for, “There’s no way you’re making it to work tomorrow.” The upside? All-new, off-roaded recipes to inspire your next dinner party or “honey, I’m home” Tuesday night cocktail.
If God didn’t want us to drink tequila, why did he make Mexican food? That’s the theory we used when beginning our trek for the perfect cocktail pairings to a Latin-inspired menu.
One rule: no margaritas, sort-of margaritas, twists on margaritas, or “hey doesn’t this remind you of a” margarita. And a guideline: We once heard a tequila master say that he starts riffing on new drinks by thinking of the spirit as a vodka. Point taken.
Try our creations below or experiment with your own concoctions. Either way, you should know that the night will be solid evidence that life is about the journey, not the destination.
The venom in this shooter — cayenne — keeps even introverts working the bar for a refreshing chaser.
Meet our fave four:
1. Open door, insert shooter.
Greet guests at the door with the black-widow spider of shots: You realize it’s a predator, but for some reason you mistakenly believe you’ve made an intimate connection. Two minutes later, it nails you. This is what we call insurance that your party is off to a good start.
Some Like It Caliente
- 1 part Reposado Tequila
- 1/4 part Cassis
- Dash of cayenne
- Stir tequila and cassis. Pour into a shooter and top with a sprinkle of cayenne.
- Also use as a bad-day-at-work elixir — it mind-erases like magic.
2. Cheers the fiesta.
Officially kick off the night with a tequila take on a champagne toast. You’ll get the bubbles from the Mango Jarritos soda — in a pinch, use mango nectar and soda or a splash of mango-flavored seltzer.
Pom Fiesta
- 2 parts Blanco Tequila
- 3/4 part Triple Sec
- 1/2 part lime juice
- Dash orange bitters
- Finish with splash of Jarritos Mango soda
- Shake and serve up.
- Garnish with orange twist.
- This doubles as the perfect brunch spritzer (forget we ever used the term “spritzer”) when you’re over the bellini and mimosa scene.
3. Chase your tapas.
Polanco
- 2 parts Reposado Tequila
- 3/4 part apricot liqueur
- 1/2 part lime juice
- Dash grapefruit bitters
- Dash blue agave nectar
- Shake and serve up with a salt rim.
- Garnish with optional lime wedge.
- Serve this up on date night with some lusty music.
4. Soak up the meal.
Spicy food needs a spirit that holds up to the heat. This one is almost refreshing when cooling a habanero mouth buzz.
The Spice Extinguisher-ita
- 2 parts Blanco Tequila
- 1 part Mango Jarritos
- 1/4 part gum syrup (or blue agave)
- 1/4 part lime juice
- 1/4 part apricot liqueur
- Dash orange bitters
- Shake, strain and serve up or on the rocks.
- We’re switching out our margarita habit for this mama.
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