5 May

Cinco de Mayo

Margarita on-the-rocks (Difford's recipe)

So we are drinking a...

Margarita on-the-rocks (Difford's recipe)

Cinco de Mayo, or Fifth of May, is one of those peculiar celebrations that are honoured more outside their homelands than within.

The day commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla on this day in 1862. In that same year, Mexican-Americans fighting in the US Civil War took on the battle of Puebla and its date as a symbol of pride.

We do like an excuse to party but while celebrating perhaps reflect the genius of marketing. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration that was almost entirely invented by drinks marketers, spearheaded by the beer brand Corona. The good folks at Corona realised that the Spanish for 16th September (dieciséis de Septiembre), Mexican Independence Day, was difficult for English speakers to pronounce so went in search of an easier Mexican holiday.

No matter, some regions of Mexico will be celebrating today, but, as with Saint Patrick's Day for Irish Americans, this is an even bigger event in the USA where Mexican-American communities will be partying hard. And what better way to celebrate than with a classic tequila cocktail, the Margarita, and if you want a more modern take on the classic, may we suggest the brilliant Rosalia Margarita, the 2021 Margarita of the Year.

Alternativly, we've selected our 20 best Tequila cocktails and our 20 best Mezcal cocktails.

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