Follow the Spirits to Cinco de Mayo

It’s funny how my favorite holidays seem to be based around food and drink. Cinco de Mayo is no exception. While I am perfectly happy with a shot of tequila or a mango margarita, I also welcome some new uses for the Mexican spirit.

Here’s some recipes to try in celebration of the fifth of May…

To start your day:

Bloody Maria

1 oz Tequila

6 oz Tomato juice

Horseradish, tabasco sauce, worcestershire sauce, lime juice, celery salt and pepper to taste

Celery stick

Pour ingredients into a shaker.

Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with ice.

Garnish with a celery stick instead of a stirrer.

For the afternoon on the porch:

Blue Lagoon Margarita

1 1/2 oz

3/4 oz Blue Curacao

1/2 oz Pineapple juice

Splash of Lemon/lime soda

Splash of Lime juice

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake well and strain into a rocks glass.

Before dinner:

Mojito Lamaica

2 oz Casa Noble Crystal Tequila

2 oz Hibiscus simple syrup (see below)

3 Mint leaves

½ oz Lime juice

½ oz Lemon Juice

Lime wheel for garnish

Hibuscus Simple Syrup-

2/3 cup Sugar

2/3 cup Water

¼ Cup Dried hibiscus flowers

In a saucepan, combine water and sugar and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.

Remove from heat and stir in dried hibiscus.

Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Strain into a glass jar and cover.

Refrigerate until needed (for up to two weeks).

Fill cocktail shaker and double rocks glass with ice and mint sprigs.

Add tequila, hibiscus syrup, lime juice and lemon juice and shake vigorously.

Strain into glass and garnish with lime.

For dessert:

Brave Bull

2 oz Blanco Tequila

1 oz Kahlua

Pour tequila into an old fashioned glass filled with ice.

Add Kahlua and swirl to mix ingredients.

If for some reason you aren’t a big tequila fan, try this:

South American Margarita

1.5 oz KAPPA Pisco

0.5 oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge

0.5 oz Agave nectar

1 oz Lime juice

Lime wheel for garnish

Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice.

Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

Garnish with lime.