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3 simple tequila cocktails to make in minutes


Read time 4 Mins

Posted 13 Mar 2025

By
J’aime Cardillo


A bottle of 1800 Tequila Blanco with three cocktails (The Batanga, The Paloma and the Margarita Soda) surrounding it.
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Created in partnership with 1800 Tequila

And it all starts with a bottle of 1800 Tequila.

Okay, let’s do some word association. Tequila. Did you say Margarita? Well, of course you did. We're here to remind you that there’s more to tequila than the Marg (which you know we love and adore). As some of tequila’s biggest fans, we know there’s no shortage of agave-based drinks, and if you love the simplicity of making a Margarita, then you’re going to love adding the Paloma, Batanga and the Margarita Soda (because you didn't expect us to ditch the Marg completely, did you?) into your rotation. All you need is your very versatile bottle of 1800 Blanco, a handful of ingredients and a few mates.

When it comes to making dead simple (but delicious) cocktails, there are fewer ingredients at play, which means you need a bloody good base spirit – in our case it’s tequila. The team behind 1800 Tequila has over 250 years in the game, which is why we reckon 1800 Blanco is the MVP for this cocktail lineup. It’s premium enough that you’ll certainly enjoy it as a sipper on its own, but adaptable enough to shine in all sorts of mixed drinks. And if you want to talk about championships and trophies, 1800 Tequila is also the world’s most awarded tequila and recently took out world’s best tequila.

Paloma cocktail
1. The PalomaThe Paloma isn’t a new cocktail. If you aren’t familiar, the Paloma is actually considered the national drink of Mexico. It’s the perfect combination of sexy and cute (one for our Steve Carell fans), but, seriously, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and sour. Plus, it only requires three basic ingredients to whip up. Take that sweet, sweet agave (the all-important 1800 Blanco), your sour lime and grapefruit soda to top, and you’ve got one helluva drink that’s both zesty and refreshing. 1800 Tequila is smooth and delicate enough to work with and not against the citrus.
Where to serve the PalomaWe’d argue that the Paloma can be served as an after-work knockoff or an aperitif, and it can also go toe-to-toe with a plethora of food matches – from the humble bowl of popcorn, right through to the freshest seafood – but we recommend inviting your pals around for an afternoon barbecue that continues well into the evening. Best of all, you can batch-make this crowd-pleasing pink drink, so you don’t miss out on gabbing about those Survivor reruns.
Palomas and potato salad

Here at Dan’s Daily, we go all in (or all out) for a barbecue. We’re talking snags (with onion, because is there really another way?), steaks, burgers, yes, there’s a halloumi option, and don’t forget the prawns. But the real heroes of a barbecue are the trimmings like pasta salad, coleslaw, potato salad – maybe scalloped potatoes if the weather is getting cooler – and some chargrilled corn on the cob. The Paloma not only looks great, but its sweet and sour will also cut through that smoky barbecue flavour.

If you love the Paloma, grab your 1800 Reposado tequila and kick things up a notch with our Blood Orange version.

2. The BatangaPicture this: it’s Friday night, you’ve agreed to host your mates for a feast. You’ve put a dent in the guac and chips, the stove is on, hot sauce is at the ready, all that’s left to do is make your Batangas. The Batanga is another three-ingredient drink, loved for being a sour blend of some of our favourite things – Coke, lime and tequila. But there is also another really important component of a Batanga: your knife. You read that correctly: a knife. It’s important for first cutting your lime, and then dunking the silverware into your drink to ensure none of that flavour on the blade goes to waste (and there’s a nice tidbit for when someone inevitably asks why there’s a knife in their drink). One of the things we love about 1800 Blanco is its subtle vanilla flavour – and who doesn’t love Vanilla Coke?
The Batanga
Where to serve the BatangaIs there a bad time to serve a Batanga? Well, maybe not with your breakfast. But this stupidly simple cocktail is crying out to be served at your next Mexican feast. We know you’ve got the guac, chips and hot sauce ready, so why not chuck your salted-rim glasses in the freezer for that extra chill.
Birria and BatangaWe don’t think we need to say much more than: birria tacos. Our mouths are watering just thinking about that rich, soup-like consomé dripping through our fingers as we shovel those beefy, cheesy crispy tacos in. You can dial the spice up or down depending on your guests’ chilli thresholds. The fresh acidity from the lime in the Batanga will cut right through that sweet Coca-Cola and the salty rim. We might sound like broken records, but with so few ingredients there’s nowhere to hide in this drink, which is why high-quality tequila is especially important, so head over to your bar cart and grab that bottle of 1800 Tequila.
Margarita Soda
3. The Margarita SodaWe told you we were die-hard Marg fans. We couldn’t possibly neglect everyone’s favourite tequila-based tipple, but we could put a fizz on it. A Margarita Soda is a Tommy’s topped with soda (salt rim optional). The Marg Soda is generally served in a Collins or highball glass, so think of it like a tall Margarita. We know what you’re thinking, if a Margarita is so perfect, why change it? Adding the soda doesn’t water down the flavours, it opens them up and adds a layer of complexity. Like the Paloma and Batanga, the Marg Soda calls for your favourite tequila; we love the hints of sweet fruit and pepper that come from 1800’s Blanco, which shines in this minimalist drink. And the good news is, by using the 1800 Blanco in your Margarita Soda, you can sip and savour this outrageously refreshing drink for longer.
Park sodas… we mean Marg SodasWhen we close our eyes, we see a jug of Margarita Soda, a few picnic blankets and a lot of treats. The Marg Soda is the ideal DIY big-batch cocktail to take to the park (just hold off on adding the soda until you're ready to drink). So, if the group chat is popping off with people baking cakes and making sausage rolls, secure the drinks because this is a cinch to make.
Picnic like a proThe sky really is the limit when it comes to a picnic menu, but if you’re pulling out all the stops, we reckon your picnic basket should look something like this: finger sandwiches or DIY baguettes, sausage rolls and probably a quiche (mini for ease). One-handed sweet treats are a quick win, too. Think scones with jam and cream, churros, bars like brownies, caramel slice and blueberry, lemon and almond teacakes. And it wouldn’t be a picnic without a fruit platter. PS. Don’t forget a garbage bag for your rubbish.