Tequila cocktails

Is the chilly weather and endless lockdown making you dream of sunnier climes and cocktails by the beach? Us too.

While travelling abroad might be off the cards right now, the mixologists at Jumby Bay Island in Antigua, one of the Caribbean's most exclusive private island resorts, have shared bright tequila cocktail recipes with us to help inject some sunshine into your life.

The ultra-premium tequila brand Casamigos, which was co-founded in 2013 by actor George Clooney, has partnered with Jumby Bay Island to launch the Casamigos Margarita Beach Shack pop-up, serving specially curated cocktails and perfect margaritas.

While we can't actually visit Jumby Bay Island right now, the tequila cocktail recipes below will help transport you to sunny Caribbean beaches. Try them out and let us know what you think!

Casa Ginger Paloma

Serves one

Ingredients:

45ml Casamigos Blanco tequila
1 tbsp fresh grapefruit juice
1 tbsp sugar syrup infused with fresh ginger
Splash grapefruit soda, preferably San Pellegrino Grapefruit
Thyme sprig, to garnish
Half-moon slice of grapefruit dipped in salt, sugar and orange zest to garnish

Method:

Fill a glass of your choosing with ice.
Add all ingredients, excluding garnish, into a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously then strain into your glass. Garnish with the grapefruit slice and sprig of thyme, then serve.

Casa Margarita

Serves one

Ingredients:

1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp finely grated orange zest
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
45ml Casamigos Reposado tequila
1 tbsp sugar syrup
2 dashes of orange bitters, preferably Regans’ Orange Bitters
Slice of lime, to garnish

Method:

Mix together the salt, sugar and orange zest.
Dip the rim of a margarita glass into the lime juice, then into the salt mixture to coat the rim. Fill the glass with ice.
Place the rest of the lime juice, the tequila, syrup and bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously then strain into the ice-filled glass. Garnish with the lime wheel and serve.

La Pina

Serves one

Ingredients:

45ml Casamigos Reposado tequila
2 tbsp fresh pineapple juice
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp sugar syrup
1 dash Angostura Orange Bitters
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 wedge of pineapple, skin on, sprinkled with cinnamon

Method:

Fill a glass of your choosing with ice.
Place all ingredients, excluding garnish, into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake vigorously, then strain into your glass. Garnish with the pineapple wedge and serve.

Spicy Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita

Serves one

Ingredients:

1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp Tajín seasoning
1 lime wedge
3 cucumber slices
2 jalapeño slices
45ml Casamigos Blanco tequila
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tbsp sugar syrup

Method:

Mix together the salt, sugar and Tajín. Run the lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip the glass into the salt mixture to coat. Fill the glass with ice.
Muddle two of the cucumber slices and one jalapeño slice together in a cocktail shaker, then add the tequila, lime juice and sugar syrup. Fill the shaker with ice, then shake vigorously to combine.
Strain the mix into the ice-filled glass, then garnish with the remaining cucumber and jalapeño slices.

Pink Dragon Lemonade

Serves one

Ingredients:

8-10 mint leaves
45ml Casamigos Blanco tequila
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp puréed prickly pear - if you can't get your hands on this, use watermelon or guava instead
1 tsp sugar syrup
Lemonade
Drop of rosewater, optional
Dragon fruit slice, to garnish
Mint sprig, to garnish

Method:

Muddle the mint leaves in a cocktail shaker, then add the tequila, lemon juice, prickly pear purée, sugar syrup and ice.
Shake vigorously, then strain into a glass of your choosing.
Top off with lemonade and add rosewater, if using. Garnish with the dragon fruit and mint, then serve.