Tequila cocktails cover much more than a single sweet or citrus style. A Margarita pairs tequila with orange liqueur and lime; a Paloma lengthens it with grapefruit soda; a Tequila Sunrise uses orange juice and grenadine. Choose the structure you want before choosing the garnish.
This guide uses published International Bartenders Association references and links to their methods. Sommblog has checked the formulas against those sources but has not independently kitchen-tested the drinks.
Choose by flavour and technique
| Cocktail | Reference ingredients | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Margarita | 50ml tequila, 20ml triple sec, 15ml fresh lime juice | Shake with ice and strain |
| Paloma | 50ml tequila, 5ml lime juice, pinch of salt, 100ml pink grapefruit soda | Build with ice and stir gently |
| Tequila Sunrise | 45ml tequila, 90ml orange juice, 15ml grenadine | Build over ice and add grenadine for the gradient |
Margarita: citrus and orange liqueur
The IBA Margarita specifies 100% agave tequila with triple sec and freshly squeezed lime, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. A half salt rim is optional. This formula does not call for an extra simple syrup measure.
Orange liqueurs differ, and a sweetened lime product is not equivalent to fresh lime juice. Make the stated version first if you want a meaningful reference. If you then adjust sweetness, record the change instead of presenting it as the same formula.
Paloma: grapefruit soda has a specific role
The IBA Paloma combines 100% agave tequila, lime and salt, then ice and pink grapefruit soda, with a gentle stir and lime garnish. The soda supplies carbonation and sweetness as well as grapefruit flavour.
Replacing it with grapefruit juice and plain soda creates a different recipe. It may need a separate sweetener and a new balance; it is not a direct substitution. Open the carbonated mixer close to serving to preserve its fizz.
Tequila Sunrise: juice and a colour gradient
Our Tequila Sunrise recipe follows the IBA’s tequila, orange and grenadine formula. The red syrup is added so it can settle through the orange mixture. Stirring everything together removes much of the visual effect.
Grenadine contributes sweetness as well as colour. Pouring extra just to deepen the red can change the drink substantially. Measure it and use the layering technique described in the full guide.
Which tequila belongs in the drink?
Start with the category specified by the reference. 100% agave tequila and the broader tequila category are distinct label terms. Blanco, reposado and añejo describe a separate classification, explained in our types of tequila guide.
Aged tequila can bring a different flavour to a familiar drink, but a darker colour does not automatically make a cocktail better. Keep the rest of the recipe steady when comparing styles. Measure each pour: adding juice or soda changes concentration, not the amount of alcohol already poured.
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of a tested recipe or a reviewed bottle.
