5 Awesome Tequila Cocktails

When most people think about tequila, they think about it in its most traditional state...the shot. For decades, tequila fans have sprinkled salt on the back of their hands (between the thumb and forefinger, of course) and firmly grasp the lime. And on the count of three, the drinker downs the tequila shot, licks the salt and sucks the lime. The fun ensues as this act is repeated numerous times during the night.

But tequila is for more than just taking shots. Although the spirit has been generally ignored by many cocktail artists, tequila can add that much needed punch to your after work happy hour or any cocktail party.

Here are five tequila-based cocktail recipes that you are sure to love.

Bloody Maria

2 ounces of tequila

3 ounces of tomato juice

½ ounce of lime juice

Dash of salt

Dash of pepper

Dash of Worchester sauce

2 to 3 dashes of horseradish (to taste)

Celery stalk

Mix tequila, tomato juice, and lime juice in shaker. Add salt, pepper, Worchester sauce and horseradish. Add ice. Shake and strain into a class filled with ice and rimmed with salt. Garnish with celery stalk and a slice of lime.

Tequila Sunrise

2 ounces of tequila

2ounces of orange juice

½ ounce of lime juice

Dash of grenadine

Mix the tequila, orange juice, lime juice and grenadine in a shaker and shake with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Peach Margarita

2 ounces of tequila

½ ounce of Cointreau

½ ounce of Peach schnapps

1 ounce of peach nectar

Splash of lime juice

Mix the tequila, Cointreau, peach schnapps and lime juice in a shaker and shake with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled margarita glass rimmed with salt. Garnish with slices of orange and lime. Or for a frozen alternative, blend ingredients in a blender with five to seven cubes of ice. Serve in a chilled margarita glass rimmed with kosher salt. Garnish with fresh peach slices.

Thai Surprise

1 ripe mango peeled and sliced

2 ounces of tequila

1 ounce of Cointreau

Splash of grenadine

½ ounce of lime juice

1 ounce of sugar syrup

Blend the mango, tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice in a blender with five to seven cubes of ice. Add grenadine. Pour into a tall glass. Garnish with a slice of orange, a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.

Azteca

3 ounces of tequila

1 ounce of lime juice

½ ounce of sugar syrup

½ of a mango, peeled and pitted

Crush four to five ice cubes in a blender. Add tequila, lime juice, sugar syrup and mango. Blend for 20 seconds. Pour drink over ice into a tall glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.