Tomorrow is May 5th, oft celebrated as Cinco de Mayo, most people think that they’re celebrating Mexican independence day, but actually, that’s in September. More of an American / Mexican-American holiday than it is a Mexican one, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over Napoleon’s French forces on May 5th, 1862. Now that we’re well versed, let’s toast to the underdog and impress your guests with these delicious recipes and see what I’ll be wearing this May 5th. (see Donald, another reason to scrap that silly wall idea 😉)

photo courtesy of cookingchanneltv.com

Classic Margarita
– 2 tsp. coarse salt
– 1 lime wedge
– 3 oz. tequila
– 1 oz. Triple Sec
– 2 oz. lime juice
– 1 cup crushed ice

Add all of the ingredients into a blender.
Blend.
Garnish glass with a lime slice.

Skinny Margarita
– 2 oz. tequila
– 2 tbsp. lime juice
– 2 tbsp. agave nectar
– ice

Combine tequila, juices and nectar in a shake with ice.
Shake to chill.
Pour in margarita glass.

Spicy Margarita (my favorite!)
– 1 1/2 oz. spicy tequila
– 1 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
– 3 oz. lime juice
– 1/4 diced jalapeño
– crushed ice

Combine in shaker.
Shake like Livin’ La Vida Loca just came on.
Salt the rim of glass with red cayenne salt.
Pour and enjoy.

Mango Margarita
– 4 oz. tequila
– 2 oz. lime juice
– 2 tbsp. mango juice
– 2 tbsp. sugar
– 10 oz. diced mango
– 2 cups of ice

Add all ingredients into blender.
Blend.
Garnish with a lime slice.

Swirl Margarita
– 1 can frozen limeade
– 6 oz. tequila
– 2 oz. sangria*
– 2 oz. Grand Marnier
– crushed ice
– lime wedge

Add frozen limeade to blender
Fill the limeade can with tequila, sangria and Grand Marnier.
Blend.

Mayan Margarita
– 1/2 oz. tequila
– 1/2 lime juice
– 1/2 oz orange liquor
– 1 dash mint liquor
– 1/2 oz. Xtabentún (Mayan liqueur made from anise)
– ice

Add all ingredients into blender.
Blend.
Garnish glass with lime.

*margaritas not your style? Here’s a delicious sangria recipe

Red Wine Sangria (makes 6 glasses)
-1/2 cup brandy
– 1/4 cup lemon juice
– 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
– 1/3 cup orange juice
– 1 bottle of dry red wine
– 1/2 cup of triple sec
– 1/2 cup triple sec
– 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
– 1 orange, sliced into rounds
– 1 apple, chopped
– 1 lime, sliced into rounds
– 1/4 cup white sugar (optional)
– 8 maraschino cherries
– 2 cups carbonated water (optional)

In a large pitcher or bowl, mix together the brandy, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec, and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange and lime, and maraschino cherries in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. For a fizzy sangria, add club soda just before serving.

This holiday, I’ll actually be substituting the tequila for raicilla from my new favorite spirit brand, La Estancia and channeling a little Frida Kahlo, shop my look below.

top, TOPSHOP | trousers, AZEDE JEAN-PIERRE | earrings, VANESSA MOONEY | shoes, STUART WEITZMAN | lipstick, NARS