10 Refreshing Summer Cocktails with Latin American Ingredients Perfect for July 4
No one parties like Latinx people do and as such an integral part of the American fabric, we take the 4th of July as a time not just to celebrate the birth of a nation, but as a time to celebrate our unique contributions to it
Photo: Tequila Cazadores
No one parties like Latinx people do and as such an integral part of the American fabric, we take the 4th of July as a time not just to celebrate the birth of a nation, but as a time to celebrate our unique contributions to it. Independence Day is a day for all of us, because despite the many social and political issues we face each and every day, this country was founded on the idea that it could be a haven for people seeking political, religious and freedom, escaping oppressors and invoking their fundamental rights, and that idea is something to celebrate. What better way to do that than by representing parts of our heritage? So, this Independence Day, we’re letting our native roots inspire us, and serving up some tasty and refreshing cocktails made with ingredients from Latin America.
Everybody loves a fizzy mojito or an ice-cold margarita and they’re even better when infused with popular Latin American ingredients like coconut, pineapple, mango and even habanero, and so are tons of other cocktails. Our food has flavor and many of our favorite cocktails do too, thanks to the delicious ingredients that are trademarks of Latin American cuisine. Keep reading to discover some creative cocktails featuring Latin American ingredients, that are perfect for your 4th of July get together.wp_*posts
Watermelon Piquín
If your favorite way to eat watermelon is sprinkled with Tajín, this cocktail, which was created by Tequila Cazadores, is for you! It combines one-and-a-half parts tequila with three parts watermelon juice, one part lime juice and a half part St~Germain, which is an elderflower liqueur that is super trendy right now. It all gets shaken up over ice then poured into a margarita glass that’s been rimmed with chile piquín. Sweet, tangy and just a tiny bit spicy, it’s definitely a winner.wp_*posts
Cacao Fruit Strawberry Bramble
Everybody knows the best chocolate comes from Latin America! Rather than chocolate though, this strawberry-based chocolate cocktail is infused with juice from the actual cacao bean, which is not sweet at all, creating a perfect balance of flavor. To make, simply muddle a few strawberries in a shaker, add three quarters of an ounce of 100-percent cacao fruit juice, three quarter of an ounce of lemon juice, one ounce of simple syrup, one-and-a-half ounces of vodka and some ice. Shake and strain into a glass.wp_*posts
Coco Crush
This simple tequila cocktail from 1800 is made by simply muddling some fresh basil in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and adding two ounces of coconut tequila, one ounce of lemon juice and three quarters of an ounce of honey syrup. Shake it up with ice, strain and service. So refreshing!wp_*posts
Kickback Colada
Not a colada in the traditional sense, this cocktail created by CÎROC is perfectly refreshing for the summer months. It’s a combination of one-and-a-half ounces of coconut vodka, three ounces of watermelon juice, one ounce of lime juice, one ounce of simple syrup and just a single slice of fresh jalapeno. Everything is shaken up in a shaker filled with ice, then strained into a glass filled with crushed ice. We love the spicy and sweet combo.wp_*posts
Mangonada Margarita
Yum, yum! We love the idea of turning everyone’s favorite refreshing Mexican drink into a cocktail. To do so, add one-and-a-half parts tequila, one part mango juice or puree, one part lime juice and a half-part agave nectar in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake it up, strain and pour in a glass rimmed with chamoy and Tajín, and you’ll have the grown-up version of one of your favorite summer treats.wp_*posts
Picosita
Like we said, we’re big fans of the sweet and spicy combination.This picosita cocktail from Tequila Cazadores is a little different though. It uses cantaloupe melon! A few chunks of the melon are muddled in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, then combined with one-and-a-half parts tequila, one part fresh lime juice, two slices of habanero pepper and three-quarters of a part agave nectar or simple syrup. It’s all shaken up the strained and served over ice. It’ such a summery combination.wp_*posts
Spicy Paloma-Rita
Who doesn’t love a paloma!? This version from the restaurant Estuary at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina features a very special secret ingredient that makes it just a bit special though. It steals the use of triple sec (orange liqueur) from a traditional margarita recipe to give the paloma an extra citrusy kick. To make, just muddle a slice or two of jalapeño in a cocktail shaker, then add one-and-a-half ounces of tequila, three quarters of an ounce of triple sec and one ounce of grapefruit juice. Shake it up, strain and serve over ice with a slice of grapefruit.wp_*posts
Jalisco Colada
Whoa, whoa, whoa…1800 flips the piña colada on its head, by swapping out the traditional rum for tequila, and to pack in more flavor, you can use coconut tequila. For this one, you just have to add two ounces of coconut tequila, three quarters of an ounce of cream of coconut, three quarters of an ounce of pineapple juice and a half an ounce of lemon juice to a blender with ice. Zap it up and serve with a pineapple wedge.wp_*posts
Chili Lime Margarita
Yup, we’re going there. Chili-lime is a favorite flavor combination in many Latin American countries, so why not turn it into a cocktail? Better yet, a margarita. This recipe created by Simply Organic is meant to serve two. Start by rubbing the rim of the glasses with lime juice and dipping in the chili lime seasoning. Then, in a cocktail shaker, add ice cubes, four ounces of tequila, two ounces of lime juice, one teaspoon of agave syrup, four fresh mint leaves, and three to four chili pepper slices. Shake well and strain into the glasses over ice.wp_*posts
Fresa Bandito
Basil isn’t the only herb that pairs well with fresh strawberries! The folks over at Svedka tried something a little different by pairing the sweet berries with cilantro in this cocktail. To try it yourself, muddle strawberries, a few sprigs of cilantro, two parts Rosé-flavored vodka, one part lemon juice and a half a part simple syrup together in a cocktail shaker, add ice, shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Then, top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with more strawberry and cilantro.
