Cinco de Mayo in Place

Patrón Tequila

Cinco de Mayo—or any day—is a great reason to mix up some Margaritas and delicious food with south-of-the-border flair.

While we are at our own “casa,” we can still raise a glass with delicious drinks such as a classic Margarita made with silver tequila or Patrón’s “Perfect” version, which uses reposado or “rested” tequila, to lend a rich flavor. For an added twist on the theme, try the Cucumber-Coconut Margarita in the following recipes courtesy of Patrón Tequila.

If you want more ideas, Patrón’s Instagram is doing a live Virtual Bar experience on May 5 starting at 4 p.m. central time for a five-hour session featuring 20 bartenders across the country. The bartenders will be shaking up easy-to-make Margarita recipes using ingredients you likely have in your kitchen all while providing tips and tricks for the perfect at-home cocktail experience.

You will likely want some delicious food to go with your cocktails, so I have also highlighted more than a dozen recipes that will not only round out the celebration but provide dinner ideas for days to come.

Patrón Classic Margarita

Makes 1

1½ ounces Patrón Silver Tequila
1 ounce Patrón Citrónge Orange
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
¼ ounce simple syrup
Lime wedge, for garnish
Kosher salt, for rimming (optional)

Salt half the rim of a rocks glass with kosher salt, if desired. Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in the glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Patrón Tequila

Cucumber-Coconut Margarita

Makes 1

1½ ounces Patrón Silver Tequila
2 ounces coconut water
½ ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
7 thin slices of cucumber, 3 for garnish

Combine all ingredients (including 4 of the cucumber slices) in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a highball glass. Garnish with remaining 3 cucumbers.

Patrón Tequila

Perfect Patrón Margarita

Makes 1

1½ ounce Patrón Reposado Tequila
1 ounce Patrón Citrónge Orange
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
¼ ounce simple syrup, to taste
Lime wheel, for garnish
Kosher salt, for rimming (optional)

Salt half the rim of a Martini glass with kosher salt, if desired. Combine ingredients in the cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill. Strain into a salt-rimmed martini or rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Photography Terry Brennan Food Styling Lara Miklasevics

Party Pairings

Check out these recipes to make Cinco de Mayo in place a fiesta!

Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts and Good to Be Green Cocktail
Add vitamins and minerals to happy hour with nutrient-dense avocados in a twist on traditional guacamole, and get some of those same nutrients whipped up in a cocktail.

Baja Style Fish Tacos
Light and crispy fish tacos are dressed with fresh green salsa and a lime-infused coleslaw.

Beef with Tequila, Tomato, and Orange
Slow-cooked beef gets a mysterious subtle fruitiness from a splash of tequila. This dish is great on its own or as the perfect filling for tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.

Chicken Mole Verde Enchiladas
In this dish, tortillas are layered to make stacked enchiladas in an almond and green chile sauce; it’s much easier and less messy to put together than the rolled kind.

Chipotle Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles consists of corn tortilla strips sautéed with other foods such as chilies, tomatoes, or green salsa, and topped with cheese and shredded chicken or beef.

Garlic and Pepper Tortilla Chips
Mexican food expert Rick Bayless has a quick and easy way to jazz up regular chips with natural ingredients you’re likely to have on hand.

Mini Sopes with Carne Asada, Avocado and Queso Fresco
Sliced avocados make for a rich and tasty topping to mini sopes filled with sautéed carne asada, black beans, and queso fresco.

Quick Tostadas
Easy and adaptable to different tastes, tostadas make a warming meal—not to mention a great pairing for Margaritas.

Shrimp, Avocado, and Assorted Greens Over Black Beans with Spicy Salsa
This Mexican-influenced entree salad is also extremely versatile: Substitute chicken, pork chops, or flank steak for the shrimp, and you have a totally transformed meal.

Tacos Al Pastor
Flavorful chili marinated pork jazzes up tacos way beyond ground beef.

Tortilla Soup with Pasilla Chile, Fresh Cheese, and Avocado
A small bowl of tortilla soup is a great way to begin a meal, but this soup by Mexican food expert Rick Bayless is satisfying enough to be the main attraction.

Wild Mushroom Queso Fundido
There’s nothing like a warm, oozy cheese dip with some corn chips or tortillas, especially with this recipe by chef and cookbook author Rick Bayless, which kicks it up a notch.

Thirsty for More?

Try these cocktail recipes:

The Paloma
This deceptively simple Margarita-esque drink combines all four tastes recognized by Western science with the elusive “fifth taste.”

Jimmy’s Perfect Margarita
You don’t really need an occasion to enjoy a Margarita, do you? Nix it up with the recipe for Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville definitive house Margarita.