Cinco de Mayo is a great opportunity to dance, eat and make a little noise. Often some well-crafted cocktails help celebrants to shake off their inhibitions and make the party a bit more festive.

Many revelers may insist that no Cinco de Mayo celebration is complete without margaritas. In Spanish, margarita refers to a daisy flower. Some believe that the margarita is a variation of the Daisy cocktail, which mixes citrus, orange liqueur, a spirit, and soda. Others attest that the margarita has always been its own unique drink, and was developed in the Mexican city of Acapulco when a Texas socialite combined blanco tequila with lime juice and Cointreau. Tequila is a spirit made from the agave plant, a succulent that grows in arid climates, which are common in areas of Mexico. Agave produces a sweet nectar that some people use as a sugar substitute. Blue agave juice can be fermented and turned into tequila. Agave also makes other spirits, including mezcal, sotol, and baconara.

Everyone should know how to make a margarita, especially those who plan to host Cinco de Mayo events. This version, courtesy of Liquor.com, puts a unique and spicy spin on the flavor profile of margaritas.

Spicy Margarita
Ingredients:
– 1 lime wedge
– 2 jalapeño coins, seeds removed
– 2 ounces blanco tequila
– 1⁄2-ounce orange liqueur
– 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
– 1⁄2-ounce agave syrup
– Optional: garnish rim with salt and jalapeño coin
Directions:

Rub the rim of a rocks glass with lime wedge, dip the rim in salt to coat (if desired), and set aside.

Add the jalapeño coins to a shaker and gently muddle.

Add the blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup, plus ice, and shake until well-chilled.

Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a jalapeño coin if desired.