Easy tequila cocktails to make at home for National Tequila Day

National Tequila Day falls on Friday 24 July this year, just in time for the weekend. Here are some delicious and simple to follow Tequila cocktail recipes in case you want to mark the occasion. Tequila Negroni A classy take on a traditionally gin-based cocktail. Ingredients: 25 ml tequila25 ml sweet red vermouth25 ml bitter orange aperitivoIce A Tequila Negroni is incredibly easy to make. Simply combine all the ingredients into a lowball glass, add some with ice and stir to chill. Tequila Sunrise Perfect for sunny days, the tequila sunrise as we all know it comes from Sausalito, California in the early 1970s, and is now well established as a classic cocktail. Ingredients: 2 tsp grenadine50ml tequila1 tbsp triple sec1 large orange, or 2 small ones, juicedHalf a lemon, juiced1 cocktail cherryIce First, add ice along with the tequila, triple sec and fruit juices into a cocktail shaker and shake until the shaker feels cold to the touch in your hands. Next, pour the bright red grenadine into the bottom of a tall thin glass and add a few ice cubes. Then, carefully double strain the cocktail into it, taking care not to mix the liquid with the grenadine layer at the bottom too much. Don’t forget to add a cherry on a stick or cocktail umbrella for the final touches that make all the difference. Classic Margarita This fabulous short cocktail mixes tequila with triple sec and lime juice and salt for a drink with a kick. Ingredients: Salt50ml tequila20ml triple sec25ml lime juice2 lime wedgesIce Cover a small plate or saucer with a few teaspoons of salt. Then grab a wedge of lime, and rub it along the rim of your cocktail glass before dipping the glass into the salt dish. Make sure the entire rim of the glass is covered in salt. Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the tequila, then add the lime juice and triple sec and shake until the outside of the shaker feels cold. Strain the mixture into the salted glass over the ice and remember to garnish with a wedge of lime. Long Island Iced Tea This refreshing yet boozy summer drink is the perfect way to start the weekend and celebrate in style. Ingredients: 50ml London dry gin50ml vanilla vodka50ml rum50ml reposado tequila50ml triple sec500ml cola50-100ml fresh lime juice2 limes, cut into wedgesIce Mix the vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec into a large jug (roughly 1.5 litres). Next add the lime juice. Fill the jug halfway with ice, and then stir until the outside of the jug feels cold. Add the cola and stir some more before adding in the lime wedges. This will make roughly four glasses to share with friends. Coconut Margarita This mix of coconut cream and coconut milk add a tropical taste to this classic cocktail. Ingredients: 50ml tequila30ml cream of coconut15ml lime juiceIce This simple cocktail merely requires you to combine all the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake well, until cold. Follow the steps as stated in the classic margarita recipe to achieve the salted rim. Mamacita The Mamacita offers a wonderful blend of sweet, sour and bubbly, and mixes tequila with the tasty flavors of orange, grapefruit and tamarind. Ingredients: 14 ml tequila7 ml orange liqueur25 ml tamarind nectar50 ml grapefruit soda Simply shake the tequila, orange liqueur and tamarind nectar in a cocktail shaker and pour over ice. Next pour in the grapefruit soda.