The full tequila spirit guide
Winning cocktail and appetizer pairings for game day
THIS CONTENT IS POWERED BY: VINEPAIR
WORDS: ANDREA GOTO
Fall goes hand-in-hand with football season and everyone knows that come gameday, there’s a lot more to it than throwing on your favorite jersey, inviting friends over and cheering on your home team. A proper football fête requires great drinks and good food. Want a winning game plan but don’t know where to begin? Take a knee – we are here to help.
Easy sipping with Game Day Cocktail Bundles
Step up your hosting with your favorite Cocktail Kit. Choose from a wide array of seasonal and classic cocktails like a Spicy Margarita Cocktail Kit or a Whiskey Sour Cocktail Kit – or both to offer some variety to your fellow fans. Each kit serves up to 16 cocktails and comes packed with everything needed to create cocktails fully curated for you – right down to the garnish.
But what’s football without food? We paired these 6 premium cocktails with classic bites that are all in good taste. Very good taste.
Tequila Touchdown Cocktail Bundle pairings
Classic Margarita + Sheet Pan Nachos with Shredded Chicken
This sweet and citrusy drink staple meets a spicy and savory snack in the perfect marriage of Mexican flavors. Customize with your favorite toppings – then drink up and dig in.
Cocktail Recipe
Classic Margarita
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila or Don Julio Blanco Tequila
1 oz. Lime Juice
0.75 oz. Orange Liqueur
0.5 oz. Honey Syrup*
Lime Wedge Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Serves 1
*Honey Syrup
Ingredients
2 tbsp. Honey
1 tbsp. hot water
Instructions
1. Pour honey and water into a mixing glass.
2. Stir continuously for 60 seconds until the honey is dissolved.
3. Store in a cool, dark place.
Spicy Paloma + Buffalo Chicken Wings
A sprig of rosemary and whole cranberries coated with powdered sugar will give any simple cocktail a holly jolly vibe. This vodka-based highball, composed of subtly sweet-tart and tangy lime notes, is an elegant addition for hangs with friends and family.
Cocktail Recipe
Spicy Paloma
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila or Don Julio Blanco Tequila
1 oz. Grapefruit Juice
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
0.5 oz. Rich Jalapeno Syrup*
Club Soda
Lime Wedge Garnish
Grapefruit Slice Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and rich jalapeño syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass with fresh ice.
3. Top with club soda and garnish with a lime wedge or a grapefruit slice.
Serves 1
*Rich Jalapeno Syrup
Ingredients
3 Jalapeños
2.5 cups Sugar
1.5 cups Water
Instructions
1. Dice jalapeños and place in a quart sized container with water.
2. Let the mixture infuse for 15 minutes, then strain jalapeños out.
3. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Keep refrigerated.
Mole Margarita + Jalapeño Poppers
This margarita riff has a complex smokey undertone that complements any cheesy Mexican recipe. But our Hail Mary is a platter of satisfying baked cheese-stuffed jalapeño bites to pair.
Cocktail Recipe
Mole Margarita
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila or Don Julio Blanco Tequila
0.75 oz. Lime Juice
0.25 oz. Spiced Demerara Syrup*
2 dashes Mole Bitters
Lime Wheel Garnish
Cinnamon Stick Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel and a cinnamon stick.
Serves 1
*Rich Spiced Demerara Syrup
Ingredients
35 Cinnamon Sticks
2 tsp. Black Peppercorn
1 tsp. Green Cardamom
1 tsp. Star Anise, Toasted
3 cups Sugar
1.5 cups Water
Instructions
1. In a medium pot, heat cinnamon sticks, black peppercorn, green cardamom and star anise until toasted, about 5 minutes.
2. Add sugar and water, allowing the mixture to heat for 10-15 minutes until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally to prevent caking.
3. Remove from heat and let infuse for 90 minutes.
4. Strain spices.
5. Transfer syrup to a quart sized container. Keep refrigerated.
Whiskey Kick Cocktail Bundle pairings
Chai Whiskey Sour + Baked Brie
The richness and depth of chai spice captures the flavors of fall in this seasonal spin on the classic whiskey sour. A standout on its own, the cocktail matches easily with the mild, earthy taste of a creamy round of baked brie.
Cocktail Recipe
Chai Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon or Crown Royal Deluxe Whiskey
0.5 oz. Pear Juice
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
0.5 oz. Rich Chai Syrup*
2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
Pear Slice Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine whiskey, pear juice, lime juice, rich chai syrup and aromatic bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
3. Garnish with a pear slice.
Serves 1
*Rich Chai Syrup
Ingredients
2.5 cups Sugar
1.5 cups Water
4 Chai Tea Bags
Instructions
1. In a medium pot, heat sugar, water and chai tea bags for 15 minutes until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally to prevent caking.
2. Remove from heat and let cool for 90 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags and transfer to a quart sized container. Keep refrigerated.
Pear Highball + Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Delicately fruity with a hint of smoke, this cocktail finds its match in irresistibly sweet and salty bacon-wrapped dates. They’re ridiculously simple to make, but a total touchdown for the tastebuds.
Cocktail Recipe
Pear Highball
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon or Crown Royal Deluxe Whiskey
0.5 oz. Lemon Juice
0.5 oz. Pear Juice
2 oz. Club Soda
2 dashes Walnut Bitters
Pear Slice Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine whiskey, lemon juice, pear juice and walnut bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass with fresh ice.
3. Top with club soda and garnish with a pear slice.
Serves 1
Maple Old Fashioned + Spiced Pecans
As the weather gets colder, you may be dreaming of roasted chestnuts. But they have nothing on spiced pecans. The native Southern nut draws out bourbon’s complex flavors, while the spicy-sweet seasoning complements the citrus notes. Not to mention they’re hassle-free - pick up a bag at the store and throw them in a bowl for an easy crowd-pleasing snack.
Cocktail Recipe
Maple Old Fashioned
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Bulleit Bourbon or Crown Royal Deluxe Whiskey
0.5 oz. Maple Syrup
2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
Orange Twist Garnish
Cherry Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine whiskey, maple syrup and aromatic bitters in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir and strain into a rocks glass with a single large ice cube.
3. Garnish with an orange twist and a cherry.
Serves 1
