16 September

Mexico is a truly incredible country, and not just because they produce some of the world's most complex and delicious spirits. From the green agave dotted highlands to its more arid plains, Mexico is a country that its inhabitants have the right to feel proud of. This is the day they express this. Forget Cinco de Mayo; this is Mexico's true celebration of herself.

On the night of 15th September, the Mexican president ceremoniously rings a bell and shouts out the names of the heroes of the Mexican War of Independence and then yells "Viva Mexico!" three times from his palace balcony to kick off the celebrations for Mexican Independence Day on 16th September. This is a day of parades, marches, singing and music.

The War for Mexican Independence culminated in the 1881 ejection of the Spanish from what was then known as New Spain. The celebrations honour Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a local priest who began the revolution from a pulpit with his famous speech of the Grito de Delores on 16th September. During the celebrations, statues in memory of Father Hidalgo are decorated with red, white, and green flowers, the colours of the Mexican flag.

In honour of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the heroes of the Mexican War of Independence and Mexico itself, we'll be raising a toast with the following Mexican drinks.

Bandera - Spanish for 'flag', the three glasses that comprise this drink represent the colours of the Mexican flag: lime juice (green), Blanco tequila (clear or "white") and Sangrita (red). Popurally drunk in bars across Mexico, especially on Mexican Independence Day due to the green lime juice representing the independence movement and the red Sangrita chaser representing the blood of Mexican heroes (sangrita means 'little blood' in Spanish).

Batanga - a Cuba Libre with tequila in place of rum. Created in 1961 by the legendary Don Javier Delgado Corona, owner/bartender of La Capilla (The Chapel) in Tequila, Mexico.

Cantarito - this citrusy and refreshing cocktail is sold from roadside stalls across Jalisco in simple Cantaritos clay pots which are discarded as sustainable single-use containers.

Carajillo - the name implies that this coffee sweetened with liqueur cocktail will give you courage. I'd encourage you to try one when in Mexico.

Margarita - by who and where this cocktail was created is much debated but it has become Mexico's most famous cocktail.

Michelada - the name loosely translates as "my cold beer" and is lime and spiked beer.

Paloma - meaning 'dove' in Spanish, the Paloma comprises tequila and pink grapefruit juice with a splash of lime.