Easy and Delicious Reposado Tequila Cocktail

This post is going to show you how to make an awesome and delicious tequila cocktail!

Tequila is such a beautiful spirit. It is so flavorful and unique which is why it is one of the most popular spirits in the world!

 I want to give the home bartender some fun cocktail options to make with tequila other than the delicious margarita!

This is an original Sweet Recipe of mine that includes fresh lemon juice, ancho reyes liqueur, honey simple syrup, and of course reposado tequila.

Enjoy this cocktail in the sunshine, right after a long day of work, or on vacation! Let’s get right into it. I call this:

“Desert Rider” 

What You Will Need

Alcohol:

The star of the show will be Reposado Tequila! I have chosen to use Casamigos Reposado for this cocktail. Casamigos reposado has a smooth texture full of vanilla, dried fruit, and caramel notes. This reposado is also aged in old American whiskey oak barrels so you definitely get a burst of flavor from the oak as well! Overall I think it goes perfectly in this cocktail and marries well with all of the other flavors. You may be wondering what does reposado mean? Reposado is referring to the amount of time the tequila was aged for!

• Blanco Tequila : 1-3 months
• Reposado Tequila : 3-12 months
• Anejo Tequila : 1-3 years
• Extra Anejo Tequila : 3 + years

The longer the tequila is aged, and what it was aged in will effect the flavor profile and color of the tequila! I have come to enjoy aged tequila’s and their intensified flavors. Check out Casamigos reposado at Total Wine and More, Bevmo, Grocery Stores, and Liquor Stores!

Next up we have a liqueur that gives this tequila cocktail it’s unique kick! We will be using Ancho Reyes Verde Chile Poblano Liqueur. The first time I tried this liqueur I was so taken aback by its complex flavor profile! You definitely get notes of charred poblano pepper, a slight spice, pepper, and some sweetness! To me personally, it almost tastes like mezcal without that intense smokey flavor. It brings a small amount of heat to the cocktail but nothing that is overwhelming! I love this liqueur and I encourage you all to try it out and see what cocktails you would want to add it too besides this one of course! I got my bottle from Total Wine and More. 

Citrus and Other Ingredients:

For the citrus aspect of this tequila cocktail we will be using Fresh Lemon Juice! Once you use fresh juices in a cocktail you will never be able to turn back. I love being able to taste the actual essence of the fruit! Fresh ingredients elevate a cocktail and give it that extra level of real flavor. The tool I am using to juice my lemon in the photo above is a hand-pressed stainless steel citrus juicer! This has been my favorite addition to my home bar! I find other juicers to be messy, hard to press, and time consuming. This bad boy right here has an ease with the squeeze, ability to fit multiple chunks of fruit, has a pour spout, and makes NO MESS! I couldn’t recommend this tool enough and you can check it out RIGHT HERE!

Next we will be making a Honey Simple Syrup! For this recipe we will be using the most simple ratio, 1:1. This means equal parts honey to equal parts hot water. All types of simple syrup can range in sweetness by ratios, and what you are using to sweeten the hot water. For this honey simple syrup, all you need to do is :

• Get a pot on the stove with your desired amount of water
• Bring to a slight boil and reduce the heat
• Add in the exact same amount of honey to water
• Stir the mixture until it is well combined and has a syrup like consistency
• You did it!

Honey simple syrup will stay good in the fridge for about 3-4 weeks! If you plan to make multiple cocktails, or more cocktails throughout the month definitely make yourself a bigger batch. I prefer to keep my syrups and juices in glass bottles like in the picture above! These bottles are so perfect! Pour spouts fit into them with ease and they are a professional addition to your home bar. Always remember to label and date your product and give it a little taste before using it in a cocktail. I actually found a really cool set online that comes with labels, pour spouts, and nips that cover the tops! I will link it for you all RIGHT HERE!

Lastly for the rim of our cocktail you will want to have some Tajin! Tajin is a blend of dried chile peppers, lime, and sea salt! It is the perfect addition to go along with our reposado tequila and ancho reyes liqueur. I really believe it ties the cocktail together very nicely. For this cocktail you can either rim the cocktail with tajin, or have it running down the side. I personally like to have it running down the side for presentation. If you prefer it around the rim, go for it! To get your tajin to stick to the glassware you will :

• Cut a lemon wedge from a fresh lemon
• Pour out your tajin onto a small plate or dish
• Rub the flesh side of the lemon wedge along the area you would like the tajin to stick (this can be the rim or the side of the glassware)
• Press your glassware down onto the loose tajin where you have applied the lemon wedge
• The tajin should stick and you have created a garnish!

You can pick up tajin at almost any liquor store, grocery store, Total Wine and More, or Bevmo! Definitely a great ingredient to have on hand to rim cocktails with.

Bar Supplies:

You will want to have a few items on deck to make your tequila cocktail. First we are going to start out with a shaker! I use a Boston Shaker. The boston shaker is what I have always used in the bars and it is definitely the most comfortable for me! I love the shake that I get with it. With the boston shaker you get two tins, one large and one small. Please use whatever shaker is most comfortable for you, but if you want a boston shaker just like mine you can check it out RIGHT HERE!

Next, we will need a way to make precise measurements for our tequila cocktail! In the photo above you will see a tool that is called a Jigger. Jiggers are what you use to measure the ingredients that go into your cocktail! Having a perfectly balanced and consistent drink is always key, and you can attain that from making sure your measurements are on point! The jigger that I use ranges from 1/4 oz to 2 oz. You can check out one identical to mine RIGHT HERE!

When I first started making cocktails, I actually used a jigger that was a bit more rudimentary. It was very helpful for me to gain confidence with my pours! This jigger only has one side, a pour spout, and very clear measurements lines! If you are just starting and want to ease your way into things, I will attach the exact jigger I used RIGHT HERE! Cheers to learning and evolving your skills!

When you use any sort of shaker, you will need a way to strain your cocktail! If you are using a cobbler shaker, those will usually have built in strainers on the top. If you are using a boston shaker, or any other shaker without a built in strainer you will want to get yourself a Hawthorne Strainer! This stops most large contents, such as ice, from entering into your final product. There is nothing more satisfying than straining a beautiful cocktail and watching that sweet nectar flow into your clean glassware! You can find hawthorne strainers at Total Wine and More, Target, Bevmo, and on Amazon RIGHT HERE!

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge Ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you see above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. I will link an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still suggest you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal little Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginner Kit: HERE

Advanced Kit: HERE

Let’s Build!