cocktails

Cantaritos Jaliscienses

The signature cocktail of Jalisco's tequila country, served in unglazed clay cups (cantaritos de barro) that lend an earthy mineral note to the citrus and tequila. Three fresh juices, salt, and grapefruit soda — perfect under hot sun.

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Prep

5 minutes

🔥

Cook

0 minutes

🍽

Servings

1

📊

Difficulty

Medium

Cantaritos Jaliscienses

1 Ingredients

  • 1 unglazed clay cup (cantarito de barro) — essential for authenticity
  • Coarse salt, for the rim (plus a pinch for the drink)
  • 1 lime wedge, for moistening the rim
  • Juice of 1 lime (limón)
  • Juice of 1 orange (about 60 ml / 2 oz fresh-squeezed)
  • Juice of 1/2 grapefruit (about 60 ml / 2 oz fresh-squeezed)
  • 1 caballito (45 ml / 1.5 oz) tequila blanco
  • Grapefruit soda (Squirt, Jarritos Toronja, or similar) — to top
  • Ice cubes
  • Wedges of lime, orange, and grapefruit, to garnish

2 Instructions

  1. 1

    Rub the rim of the cantarito with a lime wedge, then dip in coarse salt to rim the cup.

  2. 2

    Fill the cantarito with ice and add a small pinch of salt directly into the cup.

  3. 3

    Pour in the tequila, then the fresh lime, orange, and grapefruit juices. Stir well.

  4. 4

    Top with grapefruit soda and stir gently once more.

  5. 5

    Squeeze a wedge of lime (and/or orange or grapefruit) over the drink, then drop the wedges in.

  6. 6

    Serve immediately — the clay keeps it cold and adds its mineral note.

💡 Tips from the Kitchen

  • →

    Without the clay cup, it isn't a cantarito — the unglazed barro changes the flavor and is half the experience.

  • →

    For a party, scale up into a 1- or 2-liter jarro de barro: 1 cup tequila, 1 cup each lime/orange/grapefruit juice, 2 cups grapefruit soda, and plenty of ice.

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