People just need a reason to drink. Some use the excuse of a special occasion or day of the week (i.e. Tuesday happy hour specials) while others just make up a holiday. Not that I’m complaining. This Sunday is National Tequila Day, and if you’re not planning on having a shot of the good stuff at the bar then here are some yummy cocktails to whip up at home.

Recipes

Organic Blueberry & Basil Margarita

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Fresh organic blueberries (approx. 20-23 each)

2 Large organic basil leaves

1 ½ oz. Organic Casa Noble Reposado Tequila

3/4 oz. Fruit Lab Citry, organic orange liqueur

3/4 oz. Organic light agave syrup

1 oz. Freshly squeezed, organic lime juice

In a bar mixing glass, muddle the basil leaves and the blueberries. Add the remaining ingredients and shake well with ice to chill. Strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Garnish with a fresh basil top and a few whole blueberries and serve.

Courtesy of Patricia Richards, Head Mixologist, Wynn and Encore resorts

Italian Sunset Punch Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz. Milagro Reposado

½ oz. Lillet Rouge

½ oz. Solerno

0.75 oz. Lime juice

½ oz. Agave nectar

1 oz. Blood orange juice

3 Basil leaves

2 Dashes rhubarb bitters [editors note: Um, rhubarb bitters? Where in the world does one get those?)

½ oz. Water

1 oz. Ginger beer

Mix in punch bowl.

Courtesy of Gaston Martinez, Brand Ambassador, Milagro Tequila

Photo credit: Zocalo

• Tag: alcohol, Cocktails, National Tequila Day, organic, Recipes, Recipes, tequila