6 Cocktails to Enjoy for National Tequila Day

National Tequila Day is July 24th and there's no better way to celebrate than by drinking tequila-based cocktails. Give one of these cocktails a try at home or out a bar to celebrate National Tequila Day!

1. Paloma

The Paloma, not the Margarita, is Mexico's most beloved cocktail. It's most commonly prepared by mixing tequila with a grapefruit-flavored soda and served on the rocks with a lime wedge.

Ingredients: 

• Kosher salt
• 1 grapefruit wedge
• ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ¼ cup tequila
• ¼ cup club soda

Instructions: 

1. Pour some kosher salt on a plate. Rub half of rim of a highball glass with grapefruit wedge; dip rim of glass in salt.
2. Combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sugar in glass; stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Stir in tequila, add ice, and top off with club soda.
4. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

2. Bloody Maria

Move over vodka. This is tequila-based version of the beloved Bloody Mary.

Ingredients:

• 1 Lemon wedge
• Ground black pepper
• 1 1⁄2 oz Don Julio Reposado Tequila
• 6 drops of Tabasco Hot Pepper Sauce
• 8 drops Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch Celery salt
• 1 tsp Ground horseradish
• 2 tsp Lime juice
• 8 oz Tomato juice

Instructions:

1. Rub the lemon wedge along the rim of a highball glass and discard. Coat the rim with black pepper.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and fill with ice.
3. Stir, and garnish with another lemon wedge and skewered cherry tomatoes.

3. Tequila Old Fashioned

Instead of bourbon or whiskey, substitute tequila and enjoy!

Ingredients: 

• 1 tsp. agave nectar
• 2 slices blood orange, plus peel for garnish
• 3 oz. reposado tequila, such as Milagro
• 1-2 dashes bitters

Instructions:

1. Muddle agave and orange slices in a cocktail shaker; add tequila and ice.
2. Stir until well-chilled and strain into an old fashioned glass filled with ice.
3. Add bitters and garnish with orange peel.

4. Tequini

Switch out the traditional gin for a spin on a tequila martini.

Ingredients:

• 1½ Parts Tequila
• 1 Dash Dry Vermouth
• 1 Dash Orange Bitters
• 1 Whole Green Olive

Instructions:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add all ingredients.
2. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a green olive.

5. Sangrita

The Sangrita is the classic accompaniment to a shot of good tequila.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Lime juice
• 6 oz Orange juice
• 6 oz Grapefruit juice
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
• 15 oz Tomato juice
• 2 oz Tabasco sauce
• 1 Jalapeño pepper, halved (with seeds)

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients to a pitcher and stir until the salt dissolves.
2. Let stand for 15 to 30 minutes and then remove and discard the jalapeño. (The longer the jalapeño infuses, the spicier the Sangrita will be.)
3. Store in the refrigerator. Serve as an accompaniment to shots of tequila.

6. Juan Collins

The Juan Collins is a twist on the Classic Tom Collins cocktail. Instead of gin, use tequila and you're good to go.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. (45ml) Tequila
• 1 oz. (30ml) Freshly Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz. (15ml) Agave Syrup
• Top with Soda Water
• Garnish: Lemon Slice

Instructions:

1. Build in collins glass filled with ice.
2. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy!

Curious about how tequila's made? Learn all about it here.

Traveling but still on your diet? Stick to these 7 drinks.

Let's face it. One of the best things about traveling is experiencing the culture, food, and drinks of wherever you're visiting. That's one of the best ways to immerse yourself and really learn what that culture is all about. But what most people don't talk about is that while you're having a great time eating, drinking and experiencing culture, your waistline is steadily expanding. Then you come home, step on the scale and all hell breaks loose. Been there, done that. Bought the flask.

No more! Below are some options when you want to keep your weight under control while traveling:

1. Straight Alcohol

Straight alcohol is always my go-to when trying to stick to a low-calorie or low-carb diet. With about 96 and 97 calories per 1.5 fl. oz., vodka and rum will always do the trick.

2. Vodka Soda

If you can't drink your alcohol straight, a vodka soda is your next best bet. It is also practically zero-carb since it's a clear spirit (darker liquors have more calories because they contain more sugar). Whenever I don't want to drink a vodka soda, I'll tell the bartender to add just a splash of pineapple juice for a sweeter taste. More calories, yes, but life is way too short to be unhappy.

3. Rum and Diet Coke

This drink is the exception to the no-dark liquor rule — although it's dark due to the diet coke, it's a relatively low-calorie drink. Just make sure your rum is unflavored.

4. Vodka Martini

I'm not really a martini kind of girl, but when thinking about low-calorie drinks, there aren't a ton of options out there. Typically a vodka martini will include gin and vermouth, with an olive added or a twist of lemon. 

5. Red Wine

There are about 122 calories and 3.4 grams of carbs in a single glass of red wine, which is about 5 ounces. While white wine has few carbs and calories, red wine is good for your heart because it contains an ingredient called resveratrol. Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a lower risk of inflammation and blood clotting, which may lead to heart disease. Everyone wins with this option!

6. Light Beer

Beer gets a bad reputation (i.e. 'beer belly'), but light beers won't sacrifice your waistline. Some beers offer as little as 96 calories per 4.1% ABV., which is much healthier than their full-bodied counterparts. 

7. Champagne

Champagne is another low-calorie drink but it's always my least favorite option (when not in my mimosa or bellini, of course). I always wake up with a hang over but if I have to choose between a hang over and a pound gained from drinking, I'm going with the hangover every time.

I plan to make better decisions when it comes to my (regular) drinking habits. That means when I go out to happy hour or dinner with friends, or enjoying a drink at home, I won't overindulge and make better choices for myself. I still plan to immerse myself into cultures by eating and drinking while I'm there, but I'll be more diligent more regularly than not.