Drinks served from a pitcher can save you the hassle of having to deal with garbage bags full of bottles and cans, and will also make you look super classy and adult-like. Perhaps the most beloved pitcher cocktail is sangria: a zesty blend of wine, brandy and fruit.

Another great thing about sangria is that it’s versatile, because you can make it with either red or white wine. Better yet, these Spanish drinks are best when made the night before you want to serve them, which makes planning the day of an event that much easier.

To make red sangria, combine one sliced orange, a cubed green apple, a cup of halved grapes, 1/4 cup of brandy and a bottle of dry red wine in a pitcher. When it’s time to serve, just pour it over glasses of ice and even add a splash of lemon-lime soda if that’s your bag.

If you want to try out the lighter version, slice up a peach, a nectarine and a plum, then halve about 15 cherries and combine with a couple of shots of peach schnapps and a bottle of dry white wine.

Super Sangria Recipes

• Strawberry Sangria
• Sparkling Sangria
• Festive Family Sangria
• White Wine Sangria
• Five Sassy Sangria Recipes (article)

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That’s what happens when you throw back a few shots of the stuff – which is how partiers have long imbibed this agave-based spirit. Well, it’s time to move beyond those crazy college shindigs and take another look at the liquor. There are many artisanal labels rolling out these days, and they can be enjoyed in cocktails or even sipped with a few cubes of ice. Check out our guide to the spirit below – cheers!

Tequila Basics

Tequila is made in Mexico from the blue agave plant. Although there are other agave-based liquors, to be dubbed a true tequila the label has to be distilled in a specific region of Mexico – just like a sparking wine can only be called Champagne if it comes from a specific area of France. The spirit is potent, with most labels clocking in at 80 proof. Also – it’s an urban legend that there is a worm at the bottom of the bottle. That’s only the case for the cheapest of the cheap, or for a label trying to capitalize on that myth.

Types of Tequila

There are a few different types of tequila, but you’re likely to encounter three in most circumstances. Blanco is white tequila, it’s not aged in barrels (this process gives liquors a darker hue) and is easy to mix with cocktails. Reposado is put in oak barrels and will be slight darker, and slightly more expensive since it is aged. Anejo is aged for the longest amount of time and will be the priciest at your liquor store. This higher-end tequila type is kept in the wooden barrels for over a year and sometimes up to three years. Instead of mixing an Anejo into a cocktail, try pouring it over some ice and sipping it like you would a fine scotch (check out our beginner’s guide to scotch if you need an intro).

Master the Margarita

Of course, the ultimate tequila cocktail is the Mexican Margarita. Is there anything better than this mix of tequila, lime and orange liqueur? Not so much. You can play around with the measurements, but the standard recipe is 1.5 ounces tequila mixed with 1.5 ounces of lime juice and one ounce of triple sec, with a spoonful of sugar added to taste. Mix it up, pour it in a glass with ice and garnish with a lime. The salt vs. no salt debate has strong fans on each side, so we’ll leave that one up to you.

Get Creative: Margarita Jello Shots

If you’re going to break out the shot glasses, don’t just start pouring the booze in and doing that whole salt and lime business. Get creative! Margarita Jello Shots are a great way to spice up your party without feeling like you’ll need to siesta through your headache the next day. Check out the recipe here.

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