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3 drinks that will turn you into a tequila fan
Bright, fresh and full of character, blanco tequila is a cocktail favourite for good reason. Usually unaged, it lets the natural flavours of blue agave shine through, bringing crisp citrus, peppery spice and herbal notes to every pour. Its clean, vibrant profile makes it perfect for classics like margaritas and palomas, as well as easy spritzes, spicy serves and fresh fruit cocktails. Whether you like it zesty, smoky, sweet or seriously refreshing, blanco tequila is a versatile base for mixing drinks that feel lively, modern and made for sharing.
How to make Gilly's Highball Maximo Tequila
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 1 tbs sea salt flakes
- 2 lime wedge (1 to rim the glass, 1 to serve)
- Ice cubes, to serve
- 30mL El Arquero Blanco
- 60mL pineapple juice
- 60ml soda water
Method
- Run the lime wedge around the rim of a serving glass. Dip in the salt mixture to coat, then fill with ice.
- Add the tequila, pineapple juice & soda into the glass
- Squeeze lime juice from wedge into drink
Enjoy!
How to make a paloma margarita
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 1 tbs pink salt flakes
- 2 Ruby Red grapefruit wedges
- Ice cubes, to serve
- 40ml Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila
- 1 tbs Cointreau liqueur
- 60ml Ruby Red grapefruit juice
- 1 tbs vanilla-flavoured syrup
Method
- Place salt on a small plate. Run one grapefruit wedge around the rim of a serving glass and dip into the salt and fill with ice. Set aside.
- Place the tequila, Cointreau, grapefruit juice, vanilla syrup and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake until well combined. Strain into the glass with extra ice and garnish with grapefruit.
Tip Look for vanilla-flavoured syrup in the tea and coffee aisle.
How to make a frozen watermelon margarita
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 50g chopped watermelon
- 1 tbs sea salt flakes
- 1 lime wedge
- 40ml El Jimador Blanco
- 1 tbs Cointreau liqueur
- 60ml lime juice
- 1 tbs caster sugar
- Ice cubes, to serve
- 2 mint leaves, finely chopped
- 1 small watermelon wedge, to serve
Method
- Place the chopped watermelon on a tray and freeze for 4 hours or until firm. Place the salt on a small plate. Run the lime wedge around the rim of the serving glass and dip into the salt to coat. Place in the freezer to chill.
- Place the watermelon, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, sugar and ½ cup ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Add mint and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared glass and garnish with a watermelon wedge. Serve immediately.
Don’t forget to decorate the rim
You can’t serve a margarita without a salt rim! Sure it looks great, but this added flourish serves a serious flavour purpose. Salt is said to intensify the existing sweet and sour flavours that are present in the cocktail, making the margarita experience even more delicious. The beauty of the margarita rim is that its flavours are just as interchangeable as the cocktail’s ingredients themselves – sprinkle on some chilli if you’re a spice fanatic (try tangy Mexican tajin), or swap it for sugar if you’re more of a sweet tooth.
Arm yourself with the essentials
A quality tequila makes all the difference when it comes to a margarita, so every bar cart deserves a decent bottle. As well as the smooth-tasting, El*Arquero Blanco Tequila, try VIVIR Tequila Blanco, an award-winning Tequila Blanco, made from 100% estate-grown Highland Blue Weber Agave. Or El Jimador Blanco, a fresh and zesty take on tequila that’s made with 100% hand-harvested blue Weber agave and double distilled for extra sparkling clarity.
There are plenty of new takes on the traditional spirit that are just as worthy of your attention. Turn to Vivir Reposado for a tequila blanco that is rather unconventionally aged in American oak bourbon barrels to enhance the earthy notes of the agave and adds the indulgent flavours of vanilla, caramel and melted butter. This is the kind of drink designed to make a decadent take on the margarita, or to be enjoyed simply with ginger beer or ginger ale.
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