Name: Tequila Smash Cocktail
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 oz Tequila; 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur; 0.5 oz Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar; 0.5 oz Lime Juice; 8 Fresh Mint Leaves; 1 oz Soda Water; Sprig of Mint (garnish)

This eye-catching Tequila Smash is a classic cocktail perfect for sipping on hot summer days.

Our easy recipe features premium tequila, orange liqueur, simple syrup, lime juice, fresh mint and soda.

It is both refreshing and herbaceous, muddling the tart flavour of lime with fresh mint and sweet Cointreau.

Serve in a rocks glass filled with large ice cubs and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

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What Is A Tequila Smash?

A Smash is a classic cocktail that dates back to Jerry Thomas’ 1862 How to Mix Drinks.

It is a type of julep: a concoction of spirits, sugar, and mint. Extra fruit, either in the form of juice or garnish, makes it a proper smash.

This Tequila Smash recipe is a great option for Margarita and Paloma lovers looking for a new and refreshing way to enjoy their favourite Mexican spirit.

You can make many different kinds of smash cocktails, simply by swapping the spirit and fruit or fresh herbs. If you’re not a fan of tequila try making a Berry Vodka Smash, Blackberry Bourbon Whiskey Smash or Gin Basil Smash.

Traditional Tequila Smash cocktail recipe ingredients.

Travel To Mexico to Sip A Tequila Smash

There’s no better way to familiarize yourself with a Tequila Smash then by planning a vacation to visit the world’s best tequila distilleries.

As cocktail enthusiasts we’ve traveled the world to visit the best tequila, gin, whiskey and rum distilleries.

We love traveling to Mexico. We’ve sipped tequila muddled cocktails in Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Mexico City, Merida, Chichen Itza and Playa del Carmen.

The bar at Four Seasons Mexico City is ranked as one of the best cocktail bars in the country. The creative mixologists behind the Four Seasons bar make classic cocktails, eye-popping modern marvels and refreshing drinks like a classic Tequila Smash.

If you want to learn first hand how tequila is made we suggest planning a trip to Jalisco. All tequila is produced in this state, while other agave-based distilled spirits made outside the region are called mezcal.

We suggest booking a Patron Distillery Tour in Jalisco. The gorgeous property appears like a Mexican mansion featuring outdoor fountains, state-of-the-art production facility and enchanting barrel aging room. You’ll see how the head distiller receives agave plants after harvest and makes premium tequila in copper stills.

At the end of the tour you’ll enjoy a tutored tequila tasting and opportunity to sip a Tequila Smash at the cocktail bar.

Cocktail Recipe Ingredients

This thirst-quenching Tequila Smash recipe is made with premium ingredients and is ready to serve in under 10 minutes!

Tequila: we suggest using a blanc-style tequila by Dobel, Patron or Jose Cuervo.
Orange Liqueur: we suggest using Cointreau or Triple Sec. This also added sweetness to the glass.
Simple Syrup: sweeten the cocktail with simple syrup or agave nectar, or honey if you’re in a pinch.
Lime Juice: always use freshly squeezed lime juice. You can taste the difference!
Mint Leaves: muddle the drink with fresh mint to give it a delightful herbaceous flavour.
Soda: add a splash of sparkling water so the drink isn’t too overpowering. The bubbles add a celebratory air to the glass.
Garnish: with a sprig of fresh mint.

Garnish a Tequila Smash Cocktail with a sprig of fresh mint.

Tequila Smash Cocktail Recipe Tips

This tart and refreshing Tequila Smash is easy to make at home, ready to serve in under 10 minutes.

Our cocktail recipe serves one person. If you’re hosting a large gathering feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of guests and muddle the drink in a festive punch bowl or jug rather than a cocktail shaker.

We’ve used tequila blanco in this recipe but you can substitute with your favourite golden aged tequila or even a smoky mezcal.

We like to sweeten the drink with simple syrup but you can substitute for agave nectar or honey if you prefer.

Add a splash of sparkling water or soda to the drink to give it a delightful fizz and make it less boozy.

An hour or two before you’re planning on serving drinks we suggest placing the Cointreau and tequila bottle in the freezer so they are well chilled.

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe feel free to muddle additional fruit into your Tequila Smash. Favourites include prickly pear, blood orange, and berries.

Garnish the glass with a fresh mint sprig and/or lime wheel.

Serve a Tequila Smash in a rocks glass filled with big cubes of ice.

Best Tequila Brands

We recommend sipping a variety of tequila brands in order to find your favourite. Each tequila brand has a unique method for harvesting agave, distilling and aging & barreling the final product.

Here are the world’s top selling tequila brands worthy of being muddled into a homemade Tequila Smash:

You May Also Enjoy These Tequila Cocktails…

We love making this Mexican cocktail with Dobel Tequila.

Best Bartender Tools & Cocktail Equipment

Before hosting a swanky Tequila Smash cocktail soiree you’ll need to ensure you have the best bartender tools and cocktail equipment.

Cocktail Kit: cocktail kits are the perfect gift for newbie mixology fans as they include basic bartender tools like a jigger, shaker and spoon.
Cocktail Shaker: a bartender’s best friend. Purchase a premium cocktail shaker to muddle or shake up your favourite pink gin cocktails.
Cocktail Glassware: make sure your bar is stocked with a selection of unique glassware to show off your favourite cocktail creations.
Hawthorne Strainer: this unique strainer features tightly wound coils and perforated holes. It keeps ice and other large ingredients like lime wedges in your cocktail shaker rather than in the glass.
Bar Spoons: slender and long bar spoons are a must-have when stirring drinks.
Bottle Opener: easily open bottles of beer or cider with the flick of your wrist or purchase a corkscrew for fine wine.
Pouring Spout: once you’ve opened a new bottle of gin insert these affordable pourers to make cocktail assembly a breeze.
Cutting Board: purchase a petite cutting board for your bar to slice garnishes or citrus wedges like lime, orange, lemon or grapefruit.
Ice Bucket: chill bottles of gin quickly in an ice bucket or keep by the bar when muddling gin mixers into cool creations.
Ice Crusher: fans of the Mint Julep love an ice crusher.
Ice Cube Kit: we suggest purchasing a selection of ice cube trays. Silicone styles are our favourite as they’re easy to clean and are available in various shapes and sizes.
Jigger: use a jigger to accurately measure spirits, juices, syrups and shrubs.
Juicer: invest in an electronic juicer or buy an affordable hand-held to easily juice fresh citrus like lemons and limes.
Muddler: fans of the Mojito love a sturdy muddler to mix mint and lime. Muddler’s are handy for any cocktail featuring ingredients that need a pounding like fresh herbs or citrus wedges.
Citrus Peeler & Zester: adorn your craft cocktails with a thick citrus peel or finer ribbons of lime or lemon zest.
Rimmer: Bloody Mary and Caesar lovers should outfit their bar with a handy rimmer for salting and sugaring glassware.

We love making Tequila Smash cocktails in the summer when fresh mint is growing in the garden.

Serving Suggestions

We love serving Tequila Smash Cocktails in the summer at garden & patio parties or family backyard barbecues.

If you’re hosting friends at cocktail hour you might like to serve this drink at a BBQ with delicious summer snacks like:

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How To Make A Tequila Smash Cocktail

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