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Loading...Don’t let its name fool you: The Mexican Firing Squad cocktail is a good-spirited drink made with tequila, lime juice, a splash of sweet grenadine, and five dashes of Angostura bitters. World traveler and writer Charles H. Baker happened upon this appetizing apéritif at La Cucaracha Cocktail Club in Mexico City in 1937. According to Baker, the seedy establishment was the sort of place “where an aristocrat native oughtn’t to be seen.” Luckily, the drinks were well worth the risk.
Bar Tools
- Jigger or small measuring cup
- Cocktail shaker
- Citrus juicer
- Paring knife and cutting board
To serve: Serve in a tall Collins glass and, per Mr. Baker, “snap fingers at the consequences.”
Ingredients (One Serving)
- 2 oz. tequila
- ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz. grenadine
- 5 dashes Angostura bitters
To garnish: The original cocktail was adorned with a slice of lime.
How to Make
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, fresh lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters. Shake until chilled and then strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with lime.
Nutrition Facts & ABV
- ABV (alcohol by volume): 17%
- Calories: 208 calories
- Total carbohydrates: 17.6 grams
- Total sugar: 15.4 grams
History
No one knows exactly when the Mexican Firing Squad cocktail was invented, but it was first recorded in Charles H. Baker’s 1939 publication, The Gentleman’s Companion: The Exotic Drinking Book. As the text reads, Baker and his companion were roving through Mexico City in 1937 and quite fed up with being “herded into fancy, rather dull places.” Intent on having a wild time, the men broke off by themselves and sought out La Cucaracha Cocktail Club. It was there that Baker “almost became wrecked upon” one too many Mexican Firing Squads.
FAQs
What kind of tequila should I use?
Baker offers no specific suggestions in The Gentleman’s Companion. However, we recommend 123 Organic Tequila Blanco (Uno). Clean and fresh with an herbal character, this stuff is good for mixing and sipping. Sauza is also a cheap tequila that works perfectly fine in the drink (we used it, and it was smooth as silk).
What does the Mexican Firing Squad taste like?
The Mexican Firing Squad is fairly dry with a bright kick from the lime, subtle sweetness from the grenadine, and peekaboo of spice from the bitters. All in all, this cocktail is very palatable. (Hence why Baker got pretty hammered in Mexico City.)
