Paloma

You've heard of the margarita; get to know Mexico's other staple tequila drink.

Grapefruit, Lime, and Tequila (Paloma) Sorbet

Tart and sweet with a tequila kick: the classic Mexican cocktail in sorbet form.

Paloma Point (Mezcal Negroni With Grapefruit)

This refreshing drink has more guts than an Americano, more bold flavor than a Paloma, but the best traits of each.

The Upgraded Paloma

This summer refresher from Zac Overman at Seattle's Sitka & Spruce is the perfect example of delayed gratification. Put in some advance work to make a rich, almost buttery sweet-tart grapefruit cordial and you have the makings of a whole pitcher's worth of drinks at a moment's notice.

Bitter Salty Perro

A riff on a Salty Dog, this cocktail is excellent with a 100% agave blanco tequila—or try a joven mezcal.

Frozen Mezcal Palomas

This is a summer cocktail you won't soon forget. It's bright and tart like a margarita, but not too sweet, and the soft, floral side of grapefruit comes forward, along with perfectly balanced bitterness. The key here, though, is the base spirit. You may think of mezcal as smoky, but the smoke from roasted agave is just a whisper in this cocktail, alongside savory, olive oil–like flavors, allowed to shine with help from a bit of salt.

Prado

Pairing the agave spirit with its old friend, fresh lime juice, the Prado substitutes the margarita's orangey triple sec for a dose of aromatic maraschino liqueur, with the white of half an egg added for extra body (since accurately dividing an egg white can be a pain, you can go ahead and mix two drinks and share one with a friend).

Classic Sangrita With Orange Juice, Pomegranate, and Chili

Chase your tequila the classic, grown-up way—with this fruity, spicy sangrita made of pomegranate, lime, and orange juices.

Grapefruit Sangrita With Chipotle and Honey

Smoke and spice add depth to bitter grapefruit in this complex sangrita, the ideal sipping partner for a good tequila.

The Two-One-Two

Created by New York bartender and consultant Willy Shine, the Two-One-Two is brilliantly simple, yet has an engagingly complex flavor. Composed of a base of reposado tequila—Partida, one of the better brands to emerge in recent years, is recommended here—the Two-One-Two includes a couple of the agave spirit's most agreeable companions: fresh grapefruit juice, and the Italian amaro Aperol, a bright, bitter liqueur rich with orange peel and rhubarb.