20 Latin American-Style Drinks

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

Recipe: Sunset Margarita

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

Recipe: Fritz's Sonoran Sunset

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

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

Recipe: Tommy's Margarita

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

Recipe: White Peach Sangria

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

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate

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

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

Recipe: Melon Agua Fresca

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

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

More: Mango-Mint Agua Fresca

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

Recipe: Berry-Melon Agua Fresca

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

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

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

Recipe: Margarita Cooler

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

Recipe: Raspberry "Sangre" Margaritas

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

Recipe: Cinnamon-scented Rice Milk

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

Recipe: Thyme for Mezcal

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

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

Recipe: The Smokin’ Word

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