Patio season is upon us, and with it, the beloved summer activity of sipping a deliciously crafted cocktail as you soak up the delightful weather. Whether you head out on the town or share a drink with friends at home, you'll have to choose which of the summer's top cocktails to sample — which can be tricky!
Of all the spirits we associate with sunny weather, I've never given tequila the attention it deserves. I decided to address this deficit and find my top tequila cocktail so I'll finally know which to order when I head out (or whip up at home) this summer.
To keep this fair (and delicious), I used 1800 Blanco for these cocktails. Knowing this 100% agave spirit was made by the World's Most Awarded tequila brand (with a 220-year-old recipe, to boot), I was confident that 1800 Blanco would be the perfect canvas against which to compare these cocktail creations.
A bottle of 1800 Blanco tequila. Louie Murray | Narcity Media
As 1800 says: "Taste is Everything," and there's only one way to determine which recipe is the top summer tequila cocktail — mix them up and give them a try!
Before we jump into this juicy showdown, you need to know that I made and tried these cocktails over a few days with my housemate. Take care of yourselves and drink responsibly, ok?
Margarita
A margarita in a rocks glass, rimmed with salt and garnished with jalapeño and lime.
Irrefutably the best-known tequila cocktail, the margarita has taken many forms over the years, heading it in all sorts of frosty, fruity and colourful directions. But I'm talking about the original recipe here, in all its salty, sour glory.
Fun fact: "Margarita" is Spanish for "daisy," an umbrella term for cocktails made with a spirit, a liqueur and some citrus. To make the iconic margarita, however, we're talking specifically about tequila, orange liqueur and lime.
Once I shook the ingredients with ice, I poured the cocktail into a glass rimmed with lime juice and salt and garnished with lime and a fresh slice of jalapeño.
Critiquing an icon like the margarita seems arrogant of me, but someone has to do it. I like how refined the classic marg is. The balance of lime and liqueur was just right to let the fruity peppercorn notes of the 1800 Blanco come through.
Tequila sunrise
A tequila sunrise in a highball glass, garnished with a slice of orange and a cherry.
Another icon, the tequila sunrise, has retro '70s appeal and is a fun way to enjoy tequila. Served in a highball glass with a ton of ice and plenty of refreshing orange juice, this cocktail is well-suited to slow slipping as the sun sets on a long summer evening.
It's easy to make too, with no need for a shaker. Simply fill your glass with ice and then add your 1800 Blanco Tequila. Fill up to the top with orange juice and then add a couple of dashes of grenadine, which will slowly sink to the bottom. I garnished mine with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry.
I recommend sipping this cocktail with a straw to properly appreciate the fabulous flavour combination of grenadine, tequila and juice that comes together under the ice.
Siesta
A siesta cocktail in a coupe glass, garnished with grapefruit rind.
Perhaps less well-known than the margarita and tequila sunrise, the siesta was invented in 2006 by Katie Stipe of the Flatiron Lounge and has become quite popular since. I made mine with 1800 Blanco, grapefruit juice, lime, a bitter Italian aperitivo and simple syrup. After shaking it up with ice, I strained it into a coupe glass and garnished it with grapefruit rind.
First, this is a beautiful cocktail. The soft candy pink looks like a flower in bloom and only becomes more vibrant in the sunshine. Despite having a lot going on — bitter, sweet, sour, plus spicy and fruity from the 1800 Blanco — it's surprisingly balanced.
This dainty pink cocktail looks gorgeous, and I recommend asking a bartender for a siesta with 1800 Blanco next time you're out. It was delicious.
Paloma
A paloma cocktail in a rocks glass, rimmed with Tajin and garnished with a wedge of grapefruit.
And with that, we come to the final cocktail, which — if you haven't guessed — is my ultimate summer tequila cocktail. Like the margarita, the paloma is such a classic that it's hard to pinpoint exactly how and when it came about, but I'm sure glad it's here.
To make it, I stirred 1800 Blanco with a squeeze of lime in a glass, dropped a giant ice cube in and topped it up with grapefruit soda (Jarritos, if you can get your hands on it). The first time I made this, I rimmed it with salt; and the second, I used the chilli-lime seasoning Tajin, which I can thoroughly recommend.
Folks, this is the one. The grapefruit soda is not as intense as the orange liqueur of the margarita, and it adds some sweetness but not so much that it's basically a glass of soft drink.
Finally, the paloma pairs so well with summer. I could top it off with more grapefruit soda as I went, which is precisely how I want to spend a sunny afternoon on the patio. It wouldn't be out of place on a ritzy cocktail bar menu either.
With such a good balance of flavours and all-around appeal, there's no doubt that the paloma is my top summer tequila cocktail.
Final thoughts
Louie Murray holding a paloma while enjoying the sunshine. Louie Murray | Narcity Media
Before I tried it, I would not have thought the grapefruit-forward paloma was my top choice. But my experience pitting these iconic recipes against each other has convinced me that "Taste is Everything."
1800 Blanco was also the perfect tequila to use for this. Its subtly distinct flavour profile made each cocktail into something elevated and unique, bringing forth notes in each one that I really liked.
A margarita, tequila sunrise, siesta and paloma arranged around a bottle of 1800 Blanco. Louie Murray | Narcity Media
The next time you're trying to choose a tequila, whether at a bar or just for home, I recommend checking out 1800 Blanco.
To learn more about 1800 Tequila, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.
Narcity does not condone the overconsumption of alcohol. If you're going to drink alcohol, please do so responsibly and only if you're of legal age.
Although products were provided for free in this review, the author's opinions are genuine and do not reflect the views of Narcity Media.