It’s time to celebrate National Tequila Day (July 24) and the perfect place to do it is at taco joint and late-night speakeasy, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila. And in case you can’t make it, here we bring you some of their tastiest cocktail recipes to prepare at home.

From the Pico Picante to the La Diablita, beverage director Hayden Miller takes you through the steps to make it just as good as Bodega Taqueria y Tequila does.

Pico Picante 

1.5 oz of Teremana Blanco

0.5 oz of Ilegal Joven Mezcal

1.75 oz of Pico Mix (1 oz Cucumber Juice;  0.75 oz Jalapeño-Cilantro Syrup)

0.75 oz Lime Juice

2 Dash of Orange Bitters

Cucumber ribbon for garnish

Directions: Combine all liquid ingredients in shaker tin. Add ice. Shake roughly 20 seconds to fully combine ingredients. Using a lime wedge, wet rim of glass (preferably only the outside edge) dip into spiced salt.  Strain shaken ingredients over fresh ice in rimmed glass. Garnish with cucumber ribbon.

Tasting Notes: Crisp cucumber combines with a subtle vegetal taste from cilantro and jalapeno. Light smoky essence of Ilegal Joven mezcal provides a backbone with the spiced rim bringing everything together for a truly balanced embodiment of the fresh ingredients behind both our Taco Shack and Lounge. 

Sandia

2 oz of Casamigos Blanco

0.75 oz of Fresh Lime Juice

0.75 oz of Jalapeno Agave

5 oz of Watermelon Jarritos

A pinch Spiced Salt for the rim (Tajin works great)

1 Watermelon wedge for garnish

A pinch of black salt for the watermelon wedge

Directions: In a shaker tin combine Casamigos Blanco, Fresh Lime Juice, Jalapeño agave. Add ice. Shake roughly 20 seconds to fully combine ingredients. Using a lime wedge, wet rim of glass (preferably only the outside edge) dip into spiced salt.  Strain shaken ingredients over fresh ice in rimmed glass. Add watermelon jarritos soda. (When inserting straw, a quick stir goes a long way).   Garnish with watermelon wedge Sprinkle black salt over watermelon wedge for bonus points!

Tasting Notes: Refreshingly sweet without losing the undertone of Casamigos Blanco and a classic watermelon soda – perfect to chase tacos. House-made jalapeño agave provides a mild kick to round out this crushable cocktail while volcanic black salt helps to entice another sip.

Toronja

1.5oz Patron Silver

[.5 Ancho Reyes Verde

.9 Grapefruit

.9 Jalapeno Agave] 2.25 GF Cordial Batch

.75oz Fresh Lime

1d Spicy Bitter

Directions: Combine all liquid ingredients in shaker tin. Add ice. Shake roughly 20 seconds to fully combine ingredients. Using a lime wedge, wet rim of glass (preferably only the outside edge) dip into spiced salt. Strain shaken ingredients over fresh ice in rimmed glass. Garnish with grapefruit wheel.

Tasting Notes: Inspired by Chicago summers and street food, this cocktail is reminiscent of a Mangonada with its notes of sweetness, spice and a hint of salt. Simultaneously quenching and reinforcing the thirst of a long summer.

Rayo

2oz Avion Silver

.75oz Tamarind Agave

.50 Pineapple Juice

.25oz Lime Juice

2-3d Peychaud Bitter [FLOATED GARNISH]

Directions: Combine liquid ingredients in shaker tin. Add ice. Shake roughly 20 seconds to fully combine ingredients. Strain shaken ingredients over fresh ice in rocks glass. Float Peychaud bitters for garnish.

Tasting Notes: Sweet but not too heavy, the Rayo builds on your palette just as the bitters slowly drift through the glass from top to bottom. Tamarind lingers amidst notes of fresh lime and pineapple while the initial hit of Peychaud’s sets the tone for a smooth but intriguing composition.

La Diablita

1oz Don Julio Blanco

1oz Luxardo Apricot Liqueur

.75oz Ginger Syrup

.75oz Fresh Lime

2 Blackberry

Directions: Muddle blackberry in shaker tin, add liquid ingredients. Add ice. Shake roughly 20 seconds to fully combine ingredients. Strain shaken ingredients through mesh cocktail strainer over crushed ice in rocks glass. Skewer additional blackberry with lime wheel for garnish.

Tasting Notes: Keeping to a fresh profile with something to kick you in the teeth, this is a cocktail for anyone adventurous. A Bodega mainstay, it always seals the deal.