Take a look at these Day of the Dead cocktails

You’ve seen those images of skeleton masks and evening fiestas before, right? That’s to do with Day of the Dead celebrations, and — one suspects in part, thanks to the internet — they’ve spread from Mexico to the US and are gaining traction off the back of tequila brands across the world.

Known in Mexico as Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead celebrations are a three day period that begins on October 31. They’re celebrations based on Catholic days for remembering the dead, but with roots going back to pre-Hispanic days.

It shares the same roots, as a matter of fact, with that most American of holidays, Halloween. We’ll take a look at some Halloween cocktails in the next few days, but here we’ve paired some Mexican spirits — excuse the pun — with some great cocktails to give you some inspiration for your own Day of the Dead celebrations.

Toreador

40ml Espolon Blanco Tequila
20ml Apricot Brandy
20ml lime juice

Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled coupe.

Here’s a classic way to toast your ancestors during the Day of the Dead. The Toreador is one of those cocktails that predate the first mention of the Margarita, and very European in construction — it’s found in the 1937 Café Royal Cocktail Book.

Mexican Presidente

50ml Milagro Anejo Tequila
15ml sweet vermouth
5ml white crème de cacao
1 dash of Monin Pomegranate Syrup

Stir down with ice. Strain over block ice in a rocks glass, garnish with a lemon twist..

La Medicación

45ml Sotol Por Siempre
12.5ml Ramazotti Amaro
15ml lime
12.5ml raw ginger syrup
5ml agave
3 drops St Elizabeth Allspice

Shake ingredients together and fine strain into a rocks glass with ice, atomize mezcal on top.

Adapated from a recipe by Thor Berquist, this recipe is inspired by the Penicillin, but made with agave spirits.

21st Century

60ml Patron Silver tequila
45ml white crème de cacao
45ml lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a Pernod-rinsed coupe.

Adapted from The PDT Cocktail Book.

There’s something about agave spirits and chocolate — here, the peppery Patron Silver rocks this 20th Centrury Cocktail variation.

Tasting Notes
Sotol Por Siempre
From the Sierra Madre mountains in Chihuahua Mexico comes this new Sotol. Distilled from wild-harvested sotol, it offers up aromas of citrus, white flowers and herbal and vegetal notes. There’s black pepper, spice, and earthy characters on the palatewith a dry and mildly smoky finish.
Vanguard Luxury Brands

Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Anejo Tequila
Select Barrel Reserve Añejo is estate-grown, 100% blue agave tequila which is aged in both American and French oak barrels for a minimum of 14 months and a maximum of 24 months. This añejo is an intriguing mix of sweetness and oak that is smooth and full-bodied.
William Grant & Sons

Patron Tequila Silver
Grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, it is characterised by a lemon and white pepper aroma, buttery sweet and peppery flavours and smooth clean, elegant finish.
SouthTrade

Espolon Blanco Tequila
This 100% pure agave tequila has aromas of sweet agave and floral, citrus, and pepper characters, is soft on the palate bright agave flavour, pepper, vanilla, and grilled pineapple flavours.
Campari Australia