Tasty Mexican Drinks

Thomas J. Story

Minty Mojitos

The secret to a good mojito is lots of fresh mint. Habana Restaurant in San Francisco goes through 100 pounds of mint a week to make 1,000 mojitos.

Levende Lounge, also in San Francisco, crushes even more fresh mint leaves for each drink.

Inspired by both recipes, we developed this simplified home-style mojito that follows their minty lead.

Recipe: How to make minty Mojitos

Sunset Margarita

Our version of the classic Mexican cocktail has a fruity finish.

Recipe: Sunset Margarita

Thomas J. Story

Fritz's Sonoran Sunset

Prickly pear and grapefruit juice work well to complement a good tequila in this desert thirst quencher.

Recipe: Fritz's Sonoran Sunset

Photo by Alex Farnum; written by Christine Ciarmello

Sangrita de Toro

A spicy take on a Bloody Mary, with tequila instead of vodka. The chile salt makes enough for about 6 cocktails.

Recipe: Sangrita de Toro

Photo by Jeffery Cross

Tommy's Margarita

Sometimes simple is the way to go. This basic margarita showcases high-quailty blue agave tequila.

Recipe: Tommy's Margarita

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Garnish mugs with whipped cream and shaved chocolate if you like.

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Grapefruit Margaritas

Ruby grapefruit juice gives an extra tangy bite to the standard marg, while a sugar-rimmed glass helps to sweeten things up.

Recipe: Grapefruit Margaritas

PHoto by James Carrier

Melon Agua Fresca

Very ripe cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon all work deliciously in this refreshing drink.

Recipe: Melon Agua Fresca

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

White Peach Sangria

Fresh white peaches and white wine offer a crisp, lighter alternative to sangria's traditional red blend.

Recipe: White Peach Sangria

Photography by Andrea M. Gómez

Cranberry Margaritas

Save yourself from mixing drinks through your whole party by sticking to one cocktail for everyone.

Plan for three to four drinks per person for a two- to three-hour party, and offer pitchers of chilled water garnished with fresh citrus slices, basil, or mint, as an alternative.

Recipe: Cranberry Margaritas

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Mango-Mint Agua Fresca

Tiny flecks of fresh mint add a cooling zip to this take on agua fresca with mangoes.

More: Mango-Mint Agua Fresca

Photo by Dan Goldberg

Berry-Melon Agua Fresca

Sweet-tart agua frescas, served all over Mexico, make a great foil to hot and spicy dishes.

Recipe: Berry-Melon Agua Fresca

Iced Mexican Chocolate

Need a decadent dessert to follow a Mexican meal? These low-fat shakes will cool you off and fill you up, but won't fill you out.

Recipe: Iced Mexican Chocolate

Photo by Geoffery Nilsen

Prickly Pear Margaritas

Prickly pears (also called cactus pears, Indian figs, and tunas) can often be found in the fresh produce section of grocery stores and Latino markets.

Recipe: Prickly Pear Margaritas

Margarita Cooler

Nibble on the refreshing watermelon ice cubes in between sips of this tart drink.

Recipe: Margarita Cooler

Leigh Beisch

Raspberry "Sangre" Margaritas

Blended raspberries and tequila make a terrific variation to the usual daquerie.

Recipe: Raspberry "Sangre" Margaritas

Photo by James Carrier

Cinnamon-scented Rice Milk

Also known as horchata, this milky drink is just the cooling antidote for a spicy Mexican meal.

Recipe: Cinnamon-scented Rice Milk

Photo by John Lee

Thyme for Mezcal

Mezcal, tequila’s moody brother, ditches its rough reputation and stars in this spring-fresh cocktail.

Recipe: Thyme for Mezcal

Photo by John Lee

Smoky Negroni

Like tequila, mezcal is made from agave, except the plant is roasted in a stone-lined pit. The result: an overt smokiness that packs a bold punch. Enjoy mezcal's unique flavor profile in this twist on the negroni.

Recipe: Smoky Negroni

Photo by John Lee

The Smokin’ Word

Take super-smoky mezcal, throw in a hit of cherries, and you've got one bold drink.

Recipe: The Smokin’ Word

20 Latin American-style drinks

Minty Mojitos

Sunset Margarita

Fritz's Sonoran Sunset

Sangrita de Toro

Tommy's Margarita

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Grapefruit Margaritas

Melon Agua Fresca

White Peach Sangria

Cranberry Margaritas

Mango-Mint Agua Fresca

Berry-Melon Agua Fresca

Iced Mexican Chocolate

Prickly Pear Margaritas

Margarita Cooler

Raspberry "Sangre" Margaritas

Cinnamon-scented Rice Milk

Thyme for Mezcal

Smoky Negroni

The Smokin’ Word