20 Cinco de Mayo Drinks to Make This Year

Updated January 09, 2020
Credit: Meredith Food Studios

While we love a good margarita (this big-batch recipe is a keeper), don't limit yourself on Cinco de Mayo. There are plenty of other cocktails that deserve a spot on your menu. Refreshing palomas (we've got recipes that will satisfy fans of pomegranate and lime), agua frescas (La Croix is our a secret ingredient!), and sangrias (have you tried our Rosé Sangria?!) will steal the show this year. No matter what you're looking for, there's something for everyone in our collection of Cinco de Mayo drinks. 

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Easy Margaritas for a Crowd

Credit: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist

Easy Margaritas for a Crowd Recipe

Look no further than these large-batch margaritas when you're hosting your next big fiesta and can't spend hours juicing limes. This margarita recipe is a revelation--the secret ingredient is a can of frozen limeade concentrate which, once emptied, doubles as a measuring cup for the remaining ingredients.

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Super Skinny Margarita

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Super Skinny Margarita Recipe

Sweet, sour, strong, and delicious, this low-carb margarita is so much better than the fake (and overly sweet) sweet and sour mix. Margaritas are typically dense with calories, but this one is made with Stevia and fresh lime juice, which covers up any aftertaste.

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La Croix Margaritas

Credit: photo by sara tane

La Croix Margaritas Recipe

For a lighter spin on the classic margarita, look no further than a can of lime La Croix of your favorite lime-flavored seltzer water of choice. With no added sugar, this skinny version is super easy to make and comes with significantly less guilt.

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Honeydew-Jalapeño Margaritas

Honeydew-Jalapeño Margaritas Recipe

Meet your new favorite poolside cocktail. This slushy sipper offers sweet, floral honeydew flavor with a nice slow burn from jalapeño-infused tequila.

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Tequila-Spiked Watermelon

Credit: Photo by Alex Tepper

Tequila-Spiked Watermelon Recipe

Before biting into a sweet slice of watermelon, you should really soak it in tequila. Essentially a cocktail poured over the fruit, tequila-spiked watermelon is so much better a brunch side than a pile of the plain fruit. But don’t just freely pour hooch over watermelon.

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Tequila Sunset with Stars

Credit: Greg Dupree

Tequila Sunset with Stars Recipe

If you like a tequila sunrise, you'll love this Tequila Sunset. Our secret ingredient? Orange-flavored La Croix. This super easy cocktail is sure to be a hit at your next Cinco de Mayo party.

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Paloma Punch

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey

Paloma Punch Recipe

We revamped the classic grapefruit and tequila cocktail into an utterly festive, crowd-pleasing punch. It couldn’t be easier to mix up this eye catching big-batch cocktail, which makes it perfect for just about any occasion—from the Super Bowl to a bridal shower. 

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Pomegranate Paloma

Credit: Greg DuPree

Pomegranate Paloma Recipe

Classic palomas call for grapefruit soda. Here, we use fresh grapefruit juice for a fruit-forward beverage with less sugar and more vitamin C. Pomegranate juice boosts fruity flavor and packs a punch of heart-healthy polyphenols.

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Sparkling Lime Paloma

Credit: Stephen Devries; Prop Styling By Lindsey Ellis Beatty and Rachael Burrow; Food Styling By Erin Merhar

Sparkling Lime Paloma Recipe

We love a twist on a classic, and this Sparkling Lime Paloma is no exception. The cult-favorite soda Topo Chico is the star of the show in this tequila cocktail.

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La Croix Watermelon Agua Fresca

Credit: Sara Tane

La Croix Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe

Similar to a margarita, this tequila-based cocktail gets an upgrade with fresh watermelon juice. Ultra-refreshing and hydrating, this summertime cocktail is the perfect combination of citrusy bubbles, seasonal summer produce, and a splash of booze.

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Blackberry-Hibiscus Agua Fresca

Credit: Greg Dupree

Blackberry-Hibiscus Agua Fresca Recipe

This Blackberry-Hibiscus Agua Fresca is the perfect drink for summer. A labor of love, this cocktail is worth every step.

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Cantaloupe-Mint Agua Fresca

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cantaloupe-Mint Agua Fresca Recipe

Cantaloupe and mint are two of the most refreshing flavors of the season. We combine them, along with a generous amount of lemon juice and tequila, in this recipe to create a cool, invigorating summer drink.

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Sparkling Sangria

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Sparkling Sangria Recipe

Flavor this cava-and-brandy-based sangria with blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, nectarine, and apricot nectar for a sweet summer cocktail that tastes as good as it looks.

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Cranberry Sangría Punch

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Cranberry Sangría Punch Recipe

This wintry, ruby-red spin on sangría is a staff favorite but comes with a warning: It goes down easy. Make it a day ahead, and add the Champagne right before serving.

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Rosé Sangria

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Rosé Sangria Recipe

Perfect for any spring or summer gathering, this bubbly, refreshing rosé sangria is as easy to make as it is to sip. The fruity base of berry puree and vodka could easily be prepped ahead of time and chilled so that all that’s left to do is pour in your sparkling water and rosé right before serving.

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Horchata

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Horchata Recipe

This creamy and rich homemade horchata recipe is surprisingly easy to make at home; all you need are a few basic ingredients, a blender, and a mesh strainer. With a subtle sweetness and warming cinnamon spice, this easy horchata would be delicious with a little dark rum mixed in. 

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Green Michelada

Credit: Photo by Kelsey Hansen

Green Michelada Recipe

Somewhere in the land between a bloody mary and a green juice lies the green michelada. Slime-green and topped with fizzy beer, you may not know what to do with this drink if one is handed to you, so allow me to be of service: gulp it.

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Sparkling Chimayó Cocktails

Credit: Douglas Merriam; Jan Gautro

Sparkling Chimayó Cocktails Recipe

Created at the Restaurante Rancho de Chimayó (CHEE-my-yoh) north of Santa Fe, this drink makes use of the area's abundant apple cider.

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Pineapple Craft Cocktail with Lime Sea Salt

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Pineapple Craft Cocktail with Lime Sea Salt Recipe

When poured into a glass bottle, this tangy mixer makes a fantastic hostess gift, especially when it’s packaged with a batch of Lime Sea Salt and a bottle of tequila. This holiday season, instead of gifting peppermint bark or bourbon balls (although both delicious), give your friends and neighbors a unique homemade gift that they’ll love.

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Straw-beer-ita

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Straw-beer-ita Recipe

This fun take on a margarita is super simple thanks to an unlikely ingredient. The lemon juice and beer combine to tone a classic margarita down a little, leaving a drink that's light and not too sweet. 

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