Cantaritos
If you’re looking for a citrus-bright, irresistibly refreshing cocktail, these Cantaritos are for you. This vibrant drink hails from Mexico’s Jalisco region, the heartland of tequila, and is traditionally served in rustic clay cups. Bursting with fresh grapefruit, orange, and lime juice, then finished with a shot (or two) of tequila, it’s the perfect balance of zesty, fizzy, and crowd-pleasing. Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering or soaking up a warm afternoon, Cantaritos might just become your new go-to drink.
Equipment
- 1 Citrus Juicer to make your own grapefruit, orange, and lime juice if you want.
- 1 Shot glass or jigger
- 2 Lowball glass or Cantarito (clay cup)
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila reposado
- 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice freshly squeezed
- 1 oz fresh orange juice freshly squeezed
- 1 oz fresh lime juice freshly squeezed
- 3 oz grapefruit soda squirt, jarritos etc
- ice
Garnishes (optional)
- Grapefruit, orange, and or lime cut into wedges or wheels
Instructions
- If using cantarito clay cups, submerge them fully in cold water until no more bubbles come up to the surface. Or fill them fully with water and set on the counter until no more bubbles come up to the surface and the outside of the cup is moist with water. Dump water out when ready to use.
- The clay cup will be very moist and can inverted into Tajin on a plate. If using a glass highball glass, use a lime wedge to moisten the rim of the cup first and then invert into a plate of Tajin.
- To the prepared cup add the tequila, grapefruit juice, orange juice, and lime juice.
- Give it a stir.
- Fill the cup up with ice leaving space for the grapefruit soda.
- Top with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with any or all of the citrus fruits in the form of wedges or wheels. Serve and enjoy! Salud!
To Make a Large Batch (6 drinks)
- Into a jug add 1½ cups of tequila, ¾ cups of each grapefruit juice, orange juice, and lime juice. Mix together and cover in fridge until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, rim glasses and divide drink amongst 6 cups. Fill with ice and top with grapefruit soda pop and garnishes if using.
Notes
- Reposado means the tequila has been aged between 2 to 12 months. The process gives it a light golden color and a smoother more complex flavor than tequila blanco (silver). Blanco tequila is a little crisper but also pairs well with the citrus flavors.
- If you can't freshly squeeze your juice you can easily get away with store bought 100% orange juice and 100% grapefruit juice. But the lime juice is a must for being freshly squeezed. Store bought lime juice doesn't have the same flavor.