What Cinco de Mayo is (and isn’t) and how to celebrate it!
Alright everybody, it’s hard to believe it, but we are full on into spring of 2022 and all the exciting times that come with it! In a few short weeks Memorial Day will be here, summer will be in full swing, and trips to the beach, parties, cook outs, and everything awesome that comes with the summer will be upon us! Before we can get into all that however, we need to talk about a very special day near and dear to all tequila drinkers and lovers of Mexico, and that is Cinco de Mayo! Now don’t get us wrong, we’re going to talk tacos, tequila, guacamole, parties, and all the good stuff. But you know us here at Señor Rio tequila, we’re perfectionists, and we want you fully armed with facts as well as tequila when the day comes, so let’s get ready for Cinco 2022 in style!
Cinco is NOT Mexican Independence Day
So this one is easy to get mixed up. For obvious reasons here in the USA, when we hear Cinco de Mayo we’re obviously going to think of our own Independence Day, the Fourth of July. Well, while Cinco is a Mexican holiday, it represents Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the battle of Puebla in 1862. So if you’re not the biggest history buff, you’re probably thinking “What? Mexico? French Empire? Huh?” So yeah, quick history lesson. As you probably know, in 1862 the USA was fighting its civil war, and unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. European powers once again tried to set foot in North America, this time the French Empire under Napoleon III. Well, trying to expand his empire he set sights on Mexico, and landed around 8,000 French soldiers in Veracruz. Outnumbered by about 2 to 1, the Mexicans nevertheless fought back and won on, you guessed it, the 5th of May, and today they use this day to celebrate that victory!
Ok I’m all caught up, now what?
Enjoy! Cinco de Mayo is not just a day to drink (we’ll get to that in a second), but a day to celebrate all things Mexico! Try some authentic Mexican cuisine, and no not Taco Bell, we’re talking real stuff! Albondigas, chilaquiles, and elote del mercado are a few authentic Mexican recipes and a great way to start your culinary day. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t have your guac and queso and chips and salsa, far from it! Rather, we think this is a great time to explore just a small sample of the true taste Mexico has to offer. As for the drinks, well, we know you’re ready to get started, so without further ado, let’s go!
Now you really get to be creative!
So now that you’re planning your Cinco festivities, let’s get some creative libations to go along with. We’ll never say no to a good margarita, but tequila is such a fun and versatile spirit, there’s literally countless ways for you to enjoy it! You’ve probably heard us tell you this before, but Señor Rio founder and CEO Debbie loves to sip her reposado neat with a slice of orange and a little bit of cinnamon sprinkled over it. If you want a simple cocktail, grab a Topo Chico, take a big refreshing gulp, and then pour a little of our Señor Rio blanco back inside the bottle, top it with a lemon wedge, and enjoy. We call this the “Citrus Rio”! Want something more sophisticated? Take 1.5 oz of Señor Rio (any kind), mix with .25 agave nectar, a few squirts of lime juice, and shake over ice and strain into a martini glass and you’ve got a margatini! Still not satisfied? We’ve got a whole page on our website, just click here and you’ll see tons of recipes!
Ready, Set, Party!
So by now you should be ready to have a phenomenal Cinco De Mayo with some friends and family. You’re all caught up history wise, you’ve got some great Mexican dishes to enjoy, and you’ve got access to plenty of wonderful tequila cocktails on our Señor Rio website. The only thing left for you to do is get out there and have a safe and wonderful Cinco De Mayo, Salud!
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