Lime Cordial and Tequila: Recipes for a Cool Down

Updated January 18, 2022
Limes next to a drinking glass with lime juice

Many people like to bring tequila back into their spirit rotation when the weather heats up. Tequila can be quite refreshing, especially when paired with one of its complementing flavors, lime. Whether you add lime cordial to a classic margarita or choose to experiment with one of these lime cordial and tequila cocktails, there's a recipe for everyone.

Recipes for Tequila and Lime Cocktails

Mix your favorite style of tequila with lime cordial and other key ingredients to create a wide variety of drinks perfect for a casual afternoon by the pool or a summer cocktail party.

Tequila and Lime Quencher

A simple two-ingredient cocktail that gets you from mixing to sipping in no time.

Tequila and Lime Quencher

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a rocks glass, add ice, gold tequila, and lime cordial.
  2. Stir to mix.
  3. Garnish with lime wedge

Sloe Tequila

You may not immediately think of mixing sloe gin and tequila, but the earthy flavors play well together to create a unique cocktail.

Sloe Tequila

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce silver tequila
  • 1 ounce of sloe gin
  • ½ ounce lime cordial
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, sloe gin, and lime cordial.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with lime wedge.

Wooly Mammoth

This boozy drink packs a punch with both flavor and spirits, so sip slowly.

Wooly Mammoth

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce silver tequila
  • 1 ounce lime cordial
  • 1 ounce peach schnapps
  • 1 ounce coconut rum
  • 1 ounce white rum
  • 2 ounces lemonade
  • Ice
  • Lemon wheel and pineapple leaf for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime cordial, peach schnapps, coconut rum, white rum, and lemonade.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with lemon wheel and pineapple leaf.

South-of-the-Border BB Gun

This sweet and earthy cocktail highlights the complex notes of tequila with the brightness of the lime.

Two red drinks on the counter

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce gold tequila
  • 1 ounce Sambuca liqueur
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1 splash lime cordial
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • 1 splash lime juice
  • 1 splash club soda
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish, if desired

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, Sambuca, vodka, lime cordial, and grenadine.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
  4. Top off with club soda.
  5. Garnish with lime wheel, if desired.

Cinco de Mayo

Give your tequila and lime cordial a bright pop of color and a touch of juicy fruit flavor.

Cinco de Mayo Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 2½ ounces gold tequila
  • 1 ounce lime cordial
  • 1 ounce grenadine
  • Crushed ice
  • Raspberry and orange wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime cordial, and grenadine.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over crushed ice.
  4. Garnish with raspberry and orange wheel.

Madras

Nothing beats a cocktail with ingredients already stocked in your kitchen.

Madras

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce silver tequila
  • ½ ounce lime cordial
  • 3 ounces cranberry juice
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime cordial, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with lime wedge.

Lime Cordial Margarita

Give your standard margarita a much-needed upgrade, or at the very least, a new way to enjoy the classic by using lime cordial.

Lime Margarita

Ingredients

  • Lime wedge and salt for rim
  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce lime cordial
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • ¼ ounce agave
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
  2. With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime cordial, orange liqueur, and agave.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice.
  6. Garnish with lime wheel.

Spicy Pineapple Lime Cordial Margarita

Kick into a spicy gear with this margarita riff that relies on lime cordial.

Tequila cocktail with pineapple juice, jalapeño slices and cilantro, cooled with ice

Ingredients

  • 2 jalapeño slices
  • ¼ ounce agave
  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 1½ ounces pineapple juice
  • ¾ ounce lime cordial
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • Ice
  • Jalapeño slice and pineapple wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño slices with agave.
  2. Add ice, tequila, pineapple juice, lime cordial, and orange liqueur.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  5. Garnish with jalepeño slice and pineapple wedge.

Tequila Gimlet

If a vodka or gin gimlet leaves you wanting more, or you're unimpressed with them, swap in tequila for a refreshing modern take.

Tequila Gimlet

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila
  • ½ ounce lime cordial
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime cordial, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime wheel.

Modern Paloma

Kick up your usual Paloma with lime cordial, but no need to tell your friends your new secret.

Tequila Paloma

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila
  • ¾ ounce lime cordial
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
  • Ice
  • Grapefruit soda to top off
  • Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a rocks or highball glass, add ice, tequila, lime cordial, and grapefruit juice.
  2. Stir to mix.
  3. Top off with grapefruit soda.
  4. Stir gently to mix.
  5. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Difference Between Lime Cordial and Lime Juice

If you haven't ever made cocktails with lime cordial, you may wonder what it is exactly. Unlike regular lime juice, lime cordial is actually a unique blend of lime juice and sugar. In the mid-1800s, scurvy was a top concern for sailors, and the British government gave them daily doses of lime juice and rum to prevent this. In 1867, Lauchlin Rose found a way to preserve the lime juice without adding alcohol, and lime cordial came to be. Today, it's known as Roses Lime.

Give These Cocktails a Try

Make your next get-together more exciting by introducing your friends and family to one of these exciting lime cordial and tequila cocktails. You might even try using fruit-infused tequila to further customize these summer cocktails. One of these recipes might just become your new favorite, but there are plenty of tequila and soda drinks you should also give a taste!

Lime Cordial and Tequila: Recipes for a Cool Down