spice up your cinco - two festive cocktails. olé!

For Cinco de Mayo, we bring you not one but two beverages. First up we have the Ghost of Maria, our spin on the Bloody Mary. We also know that a Bloody Mary isn’t for everyone, so we’ve mixed up the spicy Cinco de Cuatro because what’s a cinco celebration without a margarita?

Ghost of Maria

We took the Bloody Mary for a Cinco de Mayo makeover, and we think you’ll like the results.  If you think that a Bloody Mary is strictly a brunch cocktail, think again. With the days getting longer, there is no wrong time to sip on this tomato-based cocktail while soaking up the sun.

Swap out the vodka and replace it with a tequila blanco for a Mexican spin. Tequila blanco is the perfect tequila for mixed drinks - the flavor profile is not too strong and the aged stuff is best for sipping anyway. The ante is upped even further with a salted rim.  Smoked Ghost Chili Pepper Salt from Jacobsen’s Salt Co. provides the perfect spicy proverbial cherry on top.

Ingredients

for one drink:

• Tequila - 2 oz
• Lemon juice- 1 tbsp
• Horseradish- 1/2 -1 tsp, depending on preference
• Worcestershire sauce- 5-8 dashes
• Hot sauce- 3 dashes
• 1/2 cup low sodium tomato juice - You may also throw a can of crushed tomatoes into a high speed blender and blend until smooth. 
• Pepper- 1/2 tsp + additional for rim
• Sea Salt - 1/2 tsp Smoked Ghost Chili Pepper Salt from Jacobsen’s Salt Co. preferred, but any other smoked or pepper flavored sea salt will do the trick.
• Lime juice for dipping the rim
• Garnishes - carrot, pickled veggies such as beets or jalapeño

method

A pint glass works great for this drink, but any sized glass will do.

1. In a ramekin, combine sea salt and 2-3 grinds of freshly cracked pepper. With a pestle or simply using the back of a spoon, grind the salt and pepper until it’s the consistency of raw or granulated sugar.  
2. Dip the rim of the glass in lime juice and then into the salt and pepper mixture. Coat the mix completely around the rim. 
3. Fill the glass approximately half way with ice. Add all ingredients sans tomato juice and stir. Top with tomato juice, stir again, and drink up!

Cinco de cuatro

We love margaritas because they are so versatile (and Arrested Development references because there is one for every occasion). From the simplest versions, to the more complex, the margarita is the perfect vehicle for just about any palate preference. Whether you like things sweet and fruity or spicy and tangy - the margarita can never steer you wrong.

When the amazing Oak & Rye of Los Gatos, CA first opened their doors, they had a killer margarita on their cocktail menu. It included some of our favorite flavors - we're suckers for cilantro - all combined perfectly to make a go-to cocktail. With the help of a friend who has a gift for zeroing in on flavors and ingredients, we nailed this delicious drink at home and achieved greatness and a solid buzz.

The perfect drink for Cinco de Mayo that you just might find yourself sipping straight through Labor Day. This refreshing and spicy margarita is destined to be a summer staple.

Ingredients

For one drink:

• Tequila- 2 oz
• Lime Juice - 1 oz. add more if desired. I like things limey, so I add about .5 ozs more + additional for the rim
• Cilantro - 3-4 stems worth of leaves
• Jalapeño - 3 slices
• Coriander - 1 tsp
• Sea Salt - 1 tsp
• Seltzer or Club Soda

method

1. In a ramekin, combine sea salt and coriander. With a pestle or simply using the back of a spoon, grind the salt and coriander until it’s the consistency of raw or granulated sugar.
2. Dip your glass into the lime juice and then into the salt mixture, coating the rim well.
3. With a muddler, smash the jalapeño and cilantro leaves in a glass.  Fill the glass slightly less than halfway with ice. Add lime juice and tequila, mix. Top with off with seltzer or club soda.

Happy Cinco De Mayo friends. Drink Responsibly.