Tequila, which is produced exclusively in specific regions of Mexico by distilling the blue agave plant, boasts complex flavors that are difficult to make the most of. Most bottles carry sweet, spicy and vegetal notes, but some may also have deeper tones of vanilla or caramel.
Unless you’re drinking shots to get the party started or you’re enjoying a very fine bottle of aged tequila neat, you’ll want to mix this complex alcohol with another flavor to take the edge off. Of course, the most common way to do so is to mix tequila into a margarita, but there are so many more options available.
In general, a great tequila mixer will have one or more of the following flavor profiles:
- Citrus
- Sour
- Spicy
- Salty
That leaves plenty of options to explore, from traditional lime juice to ginger ale. So, grab one of the best bottles of tequila and order a few of these 11 mixers for a fun and flavor-filled cocktail experience.
1. Tres Agaves Margarita Mix
BEST OVERALL
You say tequila. We say margarita. This classic cocktail is normally made with tequila, triple sec and lime juice, but with the Tres Agaves Margarita Mix, all you need is the mixer and tequila (salted rim optional). Tres Agaves is actually the only shelf stable, organic margarita mix on the market. It’s made from lime juice, agave nectar and filtered water, and it’s only 68 calories per serving.
2. ReaLime Lime Juice
BEST BUDGET
Lime and tequila go together like peanut butter and jelly. Whether you’re sipping on a margarita or enjoying a more elaborate tequila cocktail, lime juice is almost certainly an ingredient. However, lime juice makes a great simple mixer, too. A properly aged tequila can be best enjoyed with only a splash of lime and a serving of ice. That’s because the sour and sweet flavors of the lime take the bitter edge off the tequila, leaving behind a pure and tasty alcoholic beverage.
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3. Nantucket Nectars Squeezed Lemonade
SIMPLEST FLAVORS
If you don’t have a nicely aged tequila to enjoy with lime juice but you still want a simple, citrus drink, try mixing a shot of tequila into a glass of lemonade. Using the same principles as lime juice, the citrus and sweet notes of lemonade take away the sharp alcoholic burn of tequila yet leave the complex flavors intact. Add a pinch of salt to really make this easy cocktail sing.
4. Canada Dry Ginger Ale
BEST FIZZY
Are you a fan of the currently trendy Moscow Mule? Then, you’ll probably enjoy mixing the tequila on your bar cart with ginger ale as well. This mixer has a bit of spice that plays well with the citrus notes in the average tequila. Try starting with one part tequila and adding two parts ginger ale to your glass. Make it stronger or weaker depending on the quality of the tequila you are using. To create an extra special cocktail, mix in a dash of salt and a wedge of lime.
5. Squirt
MOST TRADITIONAL
Also known as a poor man’s margarita, tequila and Squirt is ordered daily at bars across Mexico. And making this traditional tequila cocktail couldn’t be easier. All you need is grapefruit soda, like Squirt, and tequila. Mix one part liquor to three parts soda over ice, and if you’re feeling fancy, throw in a dash of salt and a wedge of lime. Once you try your first tequila and Squirt, you’ll always crave this refreshing concoction.
6. Mr & Mrs T Strawberry Margarita Mix
BEST FOR FLAVORED MARGARITAS
Whether you dislike the flavor of tequila and lime or you were brought up on a steady stream of virgin strawberry margaritas at your local Tex Mex restaurant, the Mr & Mrs T Strawberry Margarita Mix might be the best tequila mixer for you. This one liter bottle mixes up dozens of perfectly sweet margaritas, either frozen or on the rocks. And, if strawberry isn’t your favorite, Mr & Mrs T have created several other margarita flavor mixes, including pomegranate, pineapple and mango.
7. Partida Agave Syrup
SWEETEST
As tequila is distilled from the nectar of the blue agave plant, it seems pretty logical that agave syrup would make a great mixer for the alcohol. Adding a teaspoon of the syrup to straight tequila will take the edge off of the drink but still allow the natural flavors created during the distillation process to shine through. Alternatively, any number of juices, such as orange, lemon or pineapple, could be added to the tequila and agave syrup mixture for a more complex cocktail.
8. Simply Orange Pulp Free Orange Juice
BEST JUICE
Basically a tequila sunrise without the grenadine, tequila and orange juice is a great way to finish that bottle on your shelf without actually tasting the tequila. Orange juice is the great equalizer among alcohols, ensuring your tequila tastes just the same as vodka or rum. It would take a very refined palate to tell the difference once OJ is added. Still, this could work to your benefit if you’re in possession of a cheap tequila. Mix one part tequila with three parts orange juice for a drink you’ll feel but won’t taste.
9. Schweppes Club Soda
MOST BITTER
The slightly salty, fizzy nature of club soda makes it a great mixer for sweet tequila. The minerals found in club sodas, like this one from Schweppes, give the fizzy drink more flavor than straight seltzer water and compliment harsh alcohols well. This is an especially great addition to flavored tequilas. Mix equal parts club soda and tequila over ice for a refreshing cocktail with a limited number of calories.
10. Republic Spirit Jalapeno Lime
MOST CREATIVE
Not every mixer needs to be simplistic in flavor. In fact, the Republic Spirit Jalapeno Lime mixer combines two of the best flavors to pair with tequila. Bottled in Michigan using fresh jalapeno and lime juice, this magical liquid is refreshing at first sip with a spicy kick on the back end. It’s just the right amount of heat to compliment and mask the face-scrunching harshness of tequila. Grab a bottle of this jalapeno mixer or try Republic Spirit’s other mixer flavors, which include prickly pear and grapefruit lime.
11. The Real Dill Bloody Mary Mix
BEST TWIST ON THE TRADITIONAL
For a twist on the traditional, make your next Bloody Mary with tequila instead of vodka. Sometimes called a Bloody Maria, you’ll be surprised how well tomato juice pairs with tequila. The sweetness of the tequila balances the acidity of the tomatoes, and the richness of Bloody Mary mix takes the edge off a cheaper liquor. If you want to make your Bloody Maria extra spicy, consider using a jalapeno tequila with this mix.