These Cinco de Mayo drinks are the best Mexican cocktails to celebrate this fun holiday.
So while Cinco de Mayo may be a bigger holiday OUTSIDE Mexican than in it, that doesn’t mean it’s not a good reason to celebrate.
Cinco de Mayo literally means the 5th of May. It’s often used to celebrate Mexican heritage.
Or more often just a good use for a party – the same way we view St.Patrick’s Day.
And truthfully some regions in Mexico do observe the holiday. Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico defeating the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
As a Canadian I have never officially celebrated it. However, I think it’s a great reminder to eat more Mexican food.
And Mexican antojitos are the perfect pairing with Cinco de Mayo drinks.
But there are lots of easy Mexican recipes if you want to take your Cinco de Mayo celebrations up a notch!
Birria – Mexican Stew
How to Make Posole – with a bonus video
Mexican Ceviche
Instant Pot Carnitas
Sikil Pak
Drinks in Mexico
Although most people immediately think of tequila and Corona beer, there are so many different Mexican cocktails.
Don’t think you need to grab the lime and salt for tequila shots. And yes there are a few margaritas on this list but so much more!
The key to any great Mexican drink, is that it is refreshing and ice cold.
It doesn’t need to be very boozy. In fact some of the drinks in Mexico on this list are non-alcoholic.
But just in case you do love margaritas, there is a list of 11 of these classic Mexican cocktails at the end!
And if you’re feeling ambitious make a whole meal with these easy Cinco de Mayo recipes and Cinco de Mayo desserts!
27 CINCO DE MAYO DRINKS YOU'LL LOVE
Whether you're looking for Cinco de Mayo party ideas or a fiesta theme party you cannot forget the drinks.
Here are great Cinco de Mayo cocktails and non-alcoholic Mexican drink options everyone will love.
CHELADA BEER COCKTAIL
This chelada beer cocktail is so refreshing with just a hint of saltiness and fresh lime juice to keep you cool this summer.
It's one of the best Cinco de Mayo drinks if you're looking for something that isn't too boozy, yet still a tasty treat.
And it's a great pairing with Mexican pulled pork, aka cochinita pibil.
CHARRO NEGRO
Named after the legendary Black Cowboy who often appears after dusk offering bar patrons a ride home, it is less dangerous than the legend.
A refreshing tequila cocktail with Coca Cola and lime, it's similar to a Cuba Libre cocktail, which uses rum.
MICHELADA
Mexico's ultimate brunch drink, also a great hangover cure. The Michelada is similar to a Bloody Mary or Caesar drink. However, it uses beer instead of vodka.
In Mexico you order your favourite beer and get another glass with the Michelada mix in it, so you can add as much or as little of beer as you like.
CANTALOUPE AGUA FRESCA
This non alcoholic Cinco de Mayo drink means everyone in the family can celebrate.
Agua frescas (also called agua de frutas) are very traditional Mexican drinks of fruit blended with water.
Get the kids involved and make it with chocobananos, a frozen banana street food common in Mexico.
KEY LIME MICHELADA
This Mexican vodka cocktail is a twist on the traditional Michelada using key limes.
TAMARIND AGUA FRESCA
The first time I had tamarind was in a frozen popsicle at Chichen Itza one of the most popular ruins in the Mayan Riviera, along with the Tulum ruins.
Agua Fresca de Tamarindo uses the tamarind fruit for a great non-alcoholic Mexican drink that is spicy and yet both sweet and sour.
STRAWBERRY PALOMA
This tart paloma adds a bit of strawberry syrup for a bit of sweetness making it refreshingly perfect for Cinco de Mayo.
Make it a meal with this sopa de lima, with fresh lime juice that brings out the delicious tart flavours of the drink.
MEXICAN MOCHA
Why not start off the day with a Mexican inspired coffee?
This Mexican mocha uses Mexican chocolate and traditional ingredients in Mexico.
ALSO CHECK OUT: A Beginner's Guide to Cuban Coffee
PINEAPPLE JALAPENO INFUSED TEQUILA
Start off with a delicious infused tequila. It's easy to do but this recipe gives fantastic tips as the spicy jalapeno infuses faster than the pineapple so you do need to balance the two.
ALSO READ: Best Cocktails Around the World
AGUA DE JAMAICA
One of the most popular drinks in Mexico. Agua de Jamaica is another agua fresca, which makes it perfect for kids.
In this case it comes from the dried hibiscus flower, to produce its vibrant red colour.
You'll find it at every restaurant in Mexico as it is so popular.
TRIPLE CITRUS TEQUILA SMASH
A modern Mexican cocktail that muddles grapefruit, orange, lime and mint. Add a dash of tequila and it is perfect on a warm day.
CLASSIC MARGARITA
One of the most popular Cinco de Mayo drinks, the classic margarita is actually quite simple.
It uses tequila, cointreau, fresh lime juice and salt. If you'd like a bit of sweetness add a bit of blue agave syrup.
FROZEN GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA
Grapefruit is common in many Mexican drinks so it's not surprising to see it appear in several of these Cinco de Mayo cocktails.
This is a fun frozen margarita with a sugar salt rim.
STRAWBERRY MARGARITA
This strawberry margarita is like one of the best strawberry desserts to celebrate this Mexican holiday.
This recipe uses fresh strawberries can be served as frozen or a margarita on the rocks.
GRILLED WATERMELON HABANERO MARGARITA
Bring a bit of heat to your cocktail with spicy habanero peppers.
This tasty margarita cocktail takes things up a notch by adding grilled watermelon and habanero hot sauce.
ANOTHER EASY RECIPE: Watermelon Salad
CADILLAC MARGARITA
If you’ve seen a cadillac margarita on the menu and wondered what made it a cadillac, it's simply the splash of Gran Marnier on top.
This version of the tequila cocktail comes at a premium price and so it's a great make at home cocktail for a Cinco de Mayo party.
BLOOD ORANGE MARGARITA
One of the prettiest margaritas recipes with the addition of vibrant blood orange juice.
You can squeeze them at home, or simply buy blood orange juice.
GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA
A light, refreshing and tart margarita, it uses fresh grapefruit juice and a splash of lime.
HIBISCUS BLOOD ORANGE MEZCALRITA
This Cinco de Mayo drink uses vibrant hibiscus, also known as jamaica along with blood orange to give a beautiful colour.
And instead of tequila, this is a mezcal cocktail, a very popular Mexican spirit.
MANGO MARGARITA
One of the most popular Mexican fruits, mango is fantastic in cocktails.
This mango margarita will bring you back to memories of sunny Mexican beaches of Playa del Carmen.
COCONUT MARGARITA
Coconut takes margaritas up a notch with its refreshing creaminess.
And while this Mexican cocktail is found at all the Playa del Carmen restaurants on the beach, you can now enjoy it at home.
FROZEN PINEAPPLE MINT MARGARITA
If you love this frozen pineapple daiquiri with rum you'll want to try this Cinco de Mayo tequila drink.
This is an easy cocktail using fresh pineapple, mint and limeade.
CHERRY MARGARITA
This cherry margarita can be made all year long as it uses frozen pitted cherries making it one of the easiest Cinco de Mayo cocktails.
Adding cherry juice packs a punch. Pair it with tortillas and easy homemade pico de gallo.
SPICY GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA
If you love a grapfruit paloma, this spicy grapefruit margarita will be a hit.
Freshly squeezed grapefruits and jalapenos are a great combination, especially with this easy Mexican ceviche recipe.