15 Best Tequila Drinks To Order At A Bar (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Tequila is often considered a party drink, as opposed to the more “elegant” and “refined” spirits like whiskey or cognac. The spirit is a constant staple in bars, with many fun and delicious cocktails using it as an integral ingredient.
If you’re a fan of this blue agave-based alcoholic drink, here are the best tequila drinks to order at a bar.
Top 15 Tequila Drinks To Order At A Bar (Must-Try)
15. Tequila Sunrise
The Tequila Sunrise got its name from the drink’s color gradient — it resembles that of a beautiful sunrise.
This long drink is made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine served in a tall Highball glass.
It’s served as is, no stirring necessary — because you don’t want to mess with the colors that make the drink unique.
14. Salty Chihuahua
The Salty Chihuahua is reminiscent of the classic Margarita recipe, with a few slight differences.
It’s made by combining tequila, triple sec, and grapefruit juice (instead of lime juice in a Margarita). [1]
The drink is traditionally served with a salted rim, hence its name.
13. Tommy’s Margarita
Tommy’s Margarita further simplifies the already-simple process of making Margaritas, which is perfect for those without a lot of ingredients on hand.
This easy-peasy tequila cocktail drink makes use of two parts tequila, one part fresh lime juice, and a bit of agave syrup.
The agave syrup will complement the natural blue agave flavor of the tequila, but if you don’t have that available, simple syrup will do okay.
12. Dulce de Tequila
Dulce de Tequila translates to “Tequila Candy” in English, but it’s nowhere near as sweet as it sounds.
This drink is traditionally served in shots and is made by combining tequila, Cointreau (a strong, orange-flavored liqueur), cognac, lime juice, and agave nectar.
You can already tell this drink is lip-smackingly sweet and sour from the ingredients alone. But what’s the best soda to mix with tequila?
11. Bloody Maria
Bloody Maria is Bloody Mary’s Mexican sister. As the name suggests, it’s made with tequila instead of vodka, alongside other savory mixers like tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce.
Between you and me, we never went back to Bloody Mary after we’ve tried it with tequila — the spirit’s earthy profile complimented the other savory ingredients beautifully.
10. Brave Bull
The Brave Bull is a different iteration of the Black Russian — it uses tequila instead of vodka as the primary alcoholic ingredient.
As a result, the coffee liqueur and agave profile form a distinct blend you won’t find in any other cocktail drink.
Of course, with only two ingredients in this cocktail, we advise you to go with pricier blanco tequilas that use 100 percent pure blue agaves, instead of cheap bottom-shelf ones. The quality of the ingredients will make or break this drink.
9. Jalisco Maid
The Jalisco Maid, simply known as Jalisco, is the perfect choice for those who don’t like overtly fruity cocktails.
It’s made using ingredients with more neutral flavors, such as citrus, mint, and cucumber.
Start by muddling some mint leaves to extract their essential oils, adding blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup, and topped with a cucumber wheel.
Doesn’t that drink sound super refreshing?
8. Leche Mexicana
The Leche Mexicana is a creamy cocktail drink that bartenders love building. It’s made with simple ingredients like tequila, half-and-half, and creme de cocoa.
Its mellow sweetness also means it can double as dessert, so if you’re looking for an after-dinner drink, this is a fail-proof option.
Read: Top Low-Calorie Tequilas To Order
7. Tequini
As the name suggests, the Tequini is a variation of the classic Martini, which replaces gin with tequila.
You can either go with sweet or dry vermouth, and either one will create beautiful layers with the agave-based alcohol.
This cocktail drink is great to order at a bar if your palate wants something out-of-the-box. [2]
6. Envy Cocktail
The most striking thing about an Envy Cocktail is its electric blue-green hue, thanks to the blue curacao used, a Caribbean liqueur made with the dried peel of the Laraha citrus fruit.
Other ingredients include tequila (of course) and pineapple juice, combined inside a cocktail shaker.
This is not to be mistaken with another popular cocktail called Green with Envy, which uses coconut rum instead of tequila.
It can be even more confusing as some people use the nickname Envy for both cocktail drinks. Check out some 2-ingredient tequila drinks here.
5. Tequila Negroni
Instead of gin, the Tequila Negroni uses tequila as its base alcohol. The cooked agave flavor gives the Tequila Negroni a distinctive earthy flavor.
Other ingredients include Campari and sweet red vermouth, served in a lowball glass with a fresh orange peel.
Read: Popular Tequilas Below $50
4. Jalisco Stroll
The bartenders will love it if you ask them for a Jalisco Stroll because it sounds like you know your cocktails well.
Aside from blanco tequila, Campari, and dry vermouth, it asks for the addition of a concentrated saline solution, made by mixing four ounces of water with one ounce of salt.
This solution allows the cocktail’s flavors to pop out even more.
3. El Diablo
The El Diablo cocktail takes its name seriously — aside from having a hellfire red hue, its bold flavors will also knock you out.
This cocktail combines reposado tequila, lime juice, ginger beer, and creme de cassis, a blackcurrant-flavored liqueur recognized for its deep red color and robust taste.
It takes a specific kind of palate to love this drink, and if you prefer strong, bold flavors, you’ll definitely love this cocktail.
2. La Rosita
Like the Tequila Negroni, the La Rosita is another variation of the classic Negroni.
It uses the same ingredients, including dry vermouth, Campari, and Angostura bitters, alongside reposado tequila instead of gin.
We have to say that we like this aperitivo better than its classic build, as the blue agave flavor adds a special touch to the overall drink.
1. Margarita
The number one tequila drink to order at a bar has got to be the classic Margarita.
It’s one of the most popular tequila cocktails, made by combining three parts tequila, two parts lime juice, and some Cointreau (or triple sec), and served in a salt-rimmed Margarita glass.
It can also be served to you shaken, stirred, or blended, depending on your preference.
We find that the Margarita is also pretty palatable and won’t overwhelm beginners, and is layered enough for those with a more sophisticated palate.
FAQs
How do you order tequila drinks?
It depends on whether you want the tequila in shots, on the rocks, chilled, or in cocktails.
If you want the tequila in shots, it’s best to order it with lime and salt. If you want to order tequila cocktails, you can specifically ask the bartender which cocktail you want.
What’s the best fruity tequila drink to order at a bar?
The Tequila Sunrise is a great fruity tequila drink to order at a bar. The long drink has plenty of orange juice and grenadine for a fruity, tangy feel.
Final Thoughts
It’s best to be as specific as possible when ordering tequila drinks, as there is often a lot on the bar’s menu. Whip out this list the next time you’re unsure which tequila drink to order at a bar!
The Tequila Sunrise, El Diablo, and Leche Mexicana are all great tequila drinks, but probably the best one to order at a bar is the classic Margarita, made by combining tequila, lime juice, and triple sec.
It can also be served shaken, stirred, or blended, depending on your preference.
Its friendly flavor profile allows it to be enjoyed by a wide range of people, whether you’re a cocktail aficionado or just starting out.
What do you think? Did we include your favorite tequila drink on our list? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off below.
References:
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/salty-chihuahua
- https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/20637/tequini/
