Tequila and cola are pretty much what you order when the bar runs out of everything else. Or so you thought!

The earthy, mineral quality of a good blanco tequila plays against the caramel sweetness of cola in a way that a lot of people love, and it’s a drink that very few people have tried on purpose, while the bar is still fully stocked.

Rum and Coke gets all the attention in the spirit-plus-cola category, but tequila deserves a try too.

The tequila

You need 100% agave tequila blanco to come through or there’s nothing in this drink to distinguish it from a generic mixer.

Reposado tequila, which spends some time in oak barrels, picks up vanilla and caramel notes that align naturally with cola. It makes a slightly more complex version and is worth trying once you’ve made the base drink.

Avoid mixto tequila, because the artificial sweetness will make the whole drink bad.

The cola

Follow the same rule as a bourbon cola: Mexican Coke is the best option if you can find it. The cane sugar sweetness is cleaner and less aggressive than the high-fructose corn syrup that is standard in the USA, allowing the tequila flavor to come through more clearly.

Ratio

The basic ratio for a Tequila Cola is 2 oz tequila to 4 oz cola. Tequila is more assertive than some spirits, so you may want to start at 3.5 oz cola and taste before adding more.

The 3-Ingredient Upgrade: Lime Wedge

Squeeze a whole lime wedge into the glass and drop it in before topping with cola. The citrus acidity immediately livens the drink and brings the tequila’s mineral quality forward. If you want to go further, a pinch of salt added directly to the drink does the same thing it does in a Ranch Water: it suppresses bitterness and amplifies flavor.

Grab a citrus juicer for faster lime juice and find more garnish options in my cocktail garnishes guide.

Mocktail Version

Cola with a squeeze of fresh lime, a pinch of salt, and a Luxardo cherry dropped in for a little tartness. The salt and lime do enough to make this feel more than just soda. A non-alcoholic tequila with agave character is also worth trying if you have some on hand.

Glassware

A highball glass is what you want for a tall (or “long”) drink. A lowball with a big ice cube and a slightly shorter pour makes the tequila more present since it can’t hold as much Coke.

I use these lowball glasses for the shorter version and these highball glasses for taller pours.

Tequila cocktails to try next

• Prickly Pear Margarita
• Cactus Orchard Fizz
• Spiced Apple Cider Margarita

More 2-Ingredient Tequila Cocktails:

• Paloma (Simple)
• Tequila Cola
• Tequila Lemonade
• Tequila Pineapple
• Tequila Soda
• Tequila Sprite
• Tequila Sunrise (2-Ingredient)
• Tequila Tonic
• Tequila Watermelon

Tequila and Cola

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila (100% agave)
• 4 oz cola
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add tequila.
3. Top with cola and stir gently.
4. Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and drop it in.

Lime Upgrade (3-Ingredient Version)

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco or reposado tequila (100% agave)
• 4 oz cola
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• Pinch of salt
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add tequila and lime juice.
3. Top with cola and stir gently.
4. Add a pinch of salt and garnish with a lime wedge.