April 29, 2016 | Food & Drink
The margaritas will be flowing on Cinco de Mayo, but that doesn’t mean they’re your only option. Use the Mexican holiday as a chance to try a different kind of tequila cocktail. We found eight—from a fruity-and-flowery libation to a new take on the Negroni—that taste just as good as (if not better than) a made-from-scratch marg.
Even if the sun isn’t shining, Seamstress creative director Pamela Wiznitzer has a cocktail that looks, smells, and tastes like summer. Her Watermelon Crush incorporates muddled watermelon with Tres Agaves Blanco Tequila, hibiscus syrup, lime juice, and coconut water for one refreshing sip after the next. 339 E. 75th St., 212-288-8033
Every cocktail on The Gander’s new all-day menu is good for a lunch or post-work pick-me-up. But the most fitting for Cinco de Mayo is the well-rounded Frisky Mage, made with Milagro Silver Tequila, Doc's Absinthe, citrus, egg white, and salt. 15 W. 18th St., 212-229-9500
If you like sweet and spicy, Sweet Chick’s tasty tequila libation made with habanero honey, lime juice, and bitters will go down easy. Get ready to stay a while, because it’ll be hard to stop yourself from ordering another round. 178 Ludlow St., 646-657-0233
Here’s some advice for tequila connoisseurs: Spend your Cinco de Mayo sipping 10ft Headbands at Pouring Ribbons and you won’t regret it—well, not until the next day. Part of Demario Wallace’s Silk Road cocktail menu, the drink mimics the taste of golden milk and is made with Cabeza Tequila, Tapatio Añejo Tequila, turmeric-infused Tapatio 110 Tequila, Cocchi Americano Vermouth, cinnamon bark syrup, ginger syrup, and lemon juice. 225 Avenue B, Fl. 2, 917-656-6788
The Domingo cocktail served at recently opened Rebelle has a surprise kick that heat fans will appreciate. This bright concoction by Jordan Mericle is made with blanco tequila, blood orange purée, housemade wasabi syrup, lime juice, and fresh cilantro and is topped with a floater of Genesee. 218 Bowery, 917-639-3880
The classy Cinco do Mayo crowd can sip fragrant, tequila-based Jardin Royales off of Le Boudoir’s spring cocktail menu by beverage director Franky Marshall. The drink combines La Quintinye Extra Vermouth, blanco tequila, creme de pamplemousse liqueur, and lavender soda and is garnished with lavender flowers, fresh thyme, and grapefruit oil. 135 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, 347-227-8337
If you can never decide between tequila or wine, you can drink both this Cinco de Mayo. Head to Morimoto for the simple, slightly spicy High Line libation made with Alacran Blanco Tequila, jalapeño, and white wine. 88 10th Ave., 212-989-8883
The Negroni gets the Cinco de Mayo treatment from Dante’s Naren Young, who swaps out gin for Cabeza blanco tequila and combines it with both classic and unusual ingredients: Campari, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Kalani Coconut Liqueur, Giffard banana liqueur, Pok Pok pineapple drinking vinegar, and Thai chili tincture. 79-81 Macdougal St., 212-982-5275
