5 Día de Los Muertos Cocktails to Try Today

Día de Muertos, a beloved Mexican holiday traditionally observed on November 1 and 2, has transcended its cultural borders and garnered international attention.

As its popularity spreads, many people are looking to find meaningful ways to connect with and pay their respects to this holiday and their departed loved ones.

One profound and time-honored practice integral to Día de Muertos is the creation of an altar, known as an ofrenda, dedicated to those who have passed away. These ofrendas are a heartfelt tribute, adorned with cherished mementos that held special significance for the departed. Among these items, you’ll often find nods to the departed’s interests and passions, including sports memorabilia, preferred foods, beloved hobbies, and even their favorite beverages. In fact, it’s not unusual to spot a bottle of tequila or mezcal, or poured shot glasses, gracing the ofrenda as a symbol of remembrance and celebration.

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or commemorating a loved one, raising a glass during Día de Muertos bridges the realms of the living and the departed. It’s a poignant way to celebrate the vibrant spirits among us and in our memories. Discover 5 cocktails that help you perfectly honor the holiday.

Forgetmenot

Courtesy of Illegal Mezcal

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven
• 3/4 oz lime juice
• 3/4 oz watermelon juice
• 1/4 oz ginger syrup
• Splash of aquafaba
• Matcha salt (matcha powder + salt)

Preparation: Rim a rocks glass with matcha salt. Add remaining ingredients to the shaker and shake. Pour over ice.

Ghost Margarita

Courtesty of 1800 Tequila

Ingredients:

• 2 oz 1800 Cristalino
• 3/4 oz Baking Spice Syrup (Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice)
• 1/2 oz Clarified Lime Juice
• Baking Spice Vapor (Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, hot water & dry ice)*

Preparation: Combine 1800 Cristalino, baking spice syrup, and clarified lime juice. Add ice and shake. Strain over fresh ice. Garnish with grated nutmeg & baking spice vapor.

*Baking Spice Vapor

In a glass or carafe next to the cocktail, have 2 sticks of Cinnamon, 5 allspice & 2 nutmeg steeping in warm water. Add 2 small pellets of dry ice into warm water. This will create a thick vapor erupting from the glass/carafe. Carefully pour just the vapor over the cocktail.

Ofrenda Cristalina

Courtesy of El Jimador

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 oz of Jimador Cristalino Tequila (in a bottle of natural syrup, dissolve half a tablespoon of activated charcoal)
• 1 oz Essence of Iztepetl
• 1/2 oz Xoloitzcuintle Tears (natural pineapple juice)
• 1/2 oz Xochitonal Blood (lemon juice)

And for the final decoration, you can add lemon slices and fresh rosemary.

Pan de Muertos

Courtesy of Patrón

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Patron Reposado
• 1/2 oz Horchata
• 3/4 oz Lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Orange liqueur
• 3/4 oz Pineapple juice
• Caramelized orange wedge
• 3 pineapple leaves

Preparation: Add all ingredients to the shaker. Shake and strain. Serve in a jaibolero glass or skull cup with crushed ice.

Mezcal Widow’s Kiss

Courtesy of Yola Mezcal

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Yola
• 1/2 oz Benedictine
• 1/2 oz Yellow Chartreuse
• Dash Angostura bitters

Preparation: Pour all ingredients into glass, add ice and stir.