3 cocktails to level up your Cinco de Mayo celebrations

There’s an art to crafting the perfect cocktail; it’s a skill that generally takes a long time to master. In pre-pandemic times, we visited our favourite bars to order vibrant cocktails and see the mixologist carefully prepare them before our eyes — never spilling a drop.

Now, we’re taking inspiration from these moments while tapping into our creative side and recreating cocktails at home. Unlike professional bartenders, we do encounter our fair share of spills and epic fails — but we’re learning to be better. A solid base is key to every great cocktail, and our recent foray into Volcán Tequila has proved to be a game-changer. 

Distilled in Mexico by Volcán De Mi Tierra, it seamlessly blends the old world and new by using lowland and highland agave. Upon taking our first few sips, we noticed how the earthy, spicy, and herbal notes of the lowland are balanced out by the more round, floral, and fruity aromas of the highland.

The result? An incredibly rich, more complex flavour than you’d typically get from a tequila using agave from just one region. While Volcán Tequila can be enjoyed neat, we quickly discovered it’s the solution to levelling up our at-home cocktail game for Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Volcán Margarita

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Ingredients: 

• 2 oz. Volcán Tequila Blanco
• 1 oz. Volcán Margarita Pre-Mix
• 1 oz. water
• Salt (optional)
• Ice

If there’s a quick and effective way for us to elevate our mixology experience at home, you can bet we’re on board. Volcán Tequila recently launched the single-best solution to preparing a margarita that we’ve ever tried (and tasted): the Volcán Margarita Pre-Mix. Erupting with citrusy, cherry, and white pepper flavours, it enhances the smooth Volcán Tequila for a memorable, slightly spicy finish.

Simply mix the tequila, pre-mix, and water in a cocktail shaker with ice, pour the contents into a rocks glass, and indulge in the dreamiest of margaritas — every single time. For an added touch, rim the edge of your glass with salt and garnish with a lime wedge.

La Valoma

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Ingredients: 

• 2 oz. Volcán Tequila Blanco
• 3/4 oz. lime juice
• 1.5 oz. grapefruit juice
• 3/4 oz. agave syrup
• Pinch of salt
• Soda water
• Ice

Through spring, we like to opt for light cocktails with bursts of fruity flavours, you know, the kind of blends that pair effortlessly with appies during al fresco dining sessions on our balcony. That’s why we were super keen to try the La Valoma, containing a heavenly lineup of ingredients, the juice portions of which can be added fresh or purchased pre-made if you’re in a hurry. Either way, it tastes unbelievably good.

Pour the tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, syrup, and salt into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Channel your inner mixologist and shake up the mix as vigorously as possible before pouring it into a highball glass (bonus points if you strain the mix over ice). Add soda water to your finished creation and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Jalisco Mule

@volcantequila/Instagram

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz. Volcán Tequila Blanco
• 3 oz. ginger beer
• 1/2 fresh lime juice
• Ice (crushed)

Anyone who appreciates the subtle spice of the Volcán Margarita will want to taste the wonder that is the Jalisco Mule. It’s a breeze to make, containing just three ingredients, meaning you can easily prepare it with your go-to series playing in the background — without ever missing any of the action unfolding on screen. Pro tip: enjoy this full-flavoured libation as you catch the sunset (at least once this spring).

To craft this brag-worthy bevvy, combine your tequila and fresh lime juice in a highball glass (preferably filled with crushed ice), add the ginger beer, and stir. For aesthetics, garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and candied ginger.

To discover how the Volcán Tequila experience can level up your Cinco de Mayo celebrations and spring cocktail-making in general, visit your nearest BC Liquor Store to pick up a bottle of tequila made with 100% heart.

While quantities last, you’ll also get a complimentary bottle of the new Volcán Margarita Pre-Mix with your purchase to assist you in making the ultimate margarita.

To learn more about Volcán Tequila and its origins, visit volcan.com.