Meet the drink that social media has claimed as the (un)official drink of 2024: The Batanga Cocktail! This simple Mexican Cocktail is made with the perfect combination of tequila, salt, lime, and Mexican Coke. No fancy bar tools are needed, and it’s ready to sip in 5 minutes or less!
![A glass with a Batanga cocktail in it with a knife in it.](https://www.sugarandsoul.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/batanga-cocktail-9.jpg)
The Batanga: A Classic Mexican Cocktail Gone Viral
If there’s one thing we’ve learned by living in this world filled with social media it’s that when a recipe goes viral, it’s definitely a recipe worth trying! So that’s exactly what we did when we saw this Batanga Cocktail taking TikTok by storm.
It’s made with ZERO bar tools and super simple ingredients, a win right off the bat. And if you already make your own cocktails at home, you likely already have what you need right on hand!
While scrolling through the Batanga craze on TikTok I found that not all recipes included salt both IN the drink AND on the rim. However, when I took my first sip of a Batanga, I quickly realized that it needed to be a bit smoother for my liking.
Therefore, I added a pinch of fine sea salt, instantly bringing the Batanga to my cocktail perfection. So, grab some fresh limes, add in the additional salt, and prepare to be amazed with the cocktail of 2024!
Rebecca’s Recipe Review
Taste: Light and refreshing with smooth tequila undertones and a hint of lime. Coke adds a rich flavor.
Texture: Ice-cold smooth liquid.
Ease: 2/10
Pros: Super simple to make and tastes delicious. A smooth tequila version of a Rum and Coke (Cuba Libre).
Cons: If you don’t enjoy tequila, you may want to try something else instead.
Would I Make This Again? Yes, it’s a super light cocktail for summer with great flavor and easy to customize.
Batanga Ingredients
Not only does a Batanga Cocktail call for zero bar tools but it also requires minimal ingredients, making this smooth drink a mixologist’s dream! To make one drink you’ll just need a 100% agave tequila such as Blanco, fresh squeezed lime juice, fine sea salt, and Mexican Coca-Cola.
This drink is then served over ice in a highball glass with a salty citrus rim that’s made with coarse sea salt and lime zest. And the good news is that once you have all the ingredients out to make one drink, you’ll have plenty to make a round for friends as well!
How To Make A Batanga Cocktail
- Stir lime zest and coarse sea salt together on a shallow plate.
- Rub a lime slice on one side of a highball glass. Then, dip the lime juice rim into the citrus salt.
- Fill the highball glass with ice.
- Pour in Blanco tequila, lime juice, and fine sea salt.
- Fill the remainder of the glass with Coca Cola. Then, stir the cocktail with the knife that cut the lime.
- Garnish the Batanga Cocktail with lime wedges or lime wheels. Serve and enjoy!
Salt – Not all recipes for a Batanga include salt on the rim AND in the drink; however, we found that just a pinch in the drink really smoothed out the overall flavor of the cocktail.
Mexican Coke – This cocktail is best made with Mexican Coke since it’s made with real cane sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup, making the cocktail taste so much better.
Ice – To leave enough room in the glass for soda, I recommend using regular square ice cubes instead of nugget or crushed ice. Though if your love of nugget ice runs deep you can still use it, only fill your glass about 3/4 full before adding in the cocktail ingredients.
Stirring – Use the same knife to stir the Batanga Cocktail that you used when you cut up the limes.
How To Garnish And Serve A Batanga
This cocktail can be served in a highball glass or in a glass Coca-Cola bottle if you can get your hands on them! Using a highball glass allows you to enjoy it over ice and with a citrus-salted rim. Whereas if you’re making this cocktail in a Coca-Cola bottle the citrus rim will have to be omitted.
Garnish the cocktail with a lime wedge or lime wheel. Then enjoy it as is to unwind from the day or pair it with some food!
Since Batanga Cocktails have a well-balanced flavor profile it matches up great with just about any snack or appetizer. Most enjoy a round of these drinks with spicy foods such as Chicken Enchiladas, Pork Carnitas Tacos, or even Bang Bang Tacos!
Batanga Drink Variations
- Swap the Coca-Cola out for Pepsi for a soda variation that leads to a different overall cocktail flavor.
- Though Blanco tequila is the traditional tequila to use in this cocktail, you can use your favorite tequila or whatever you have on hand. Try reposado tequila to bring out more agave notes in the drink!
- Add a bit of complexity to the drink by adding a splash of Fernet Vallet, bitters or grenadine to the cocktail.
- For an extra tangy Batanga Drink simply add more lime juice!
- Want a stronger cocktail? Use less coke!
- I really love a citrus salted rim with this drink however you can do just salt or even skip a salted rim altogether.
More Soda Cocktails
- Bourbon Blackberry Smash Recipe – A fruity, craft drink that’s a modern twist on a classic whiskey cocktail!
- Irish Mule Cocktail – This 5-minute, 4-ingredient cocktail has a bright flavor that’s smooth going down!
- Sparkling Vodka Cranberry – A quick 4-ingredient cocktail that’s garnished with sugared cranberries!
- Tootsie Roll Cocktail – Tastes like an alcoholic tootsie roll yet is made with only two ingredients!
- Pink Gin Spritz – A delightfully fruity cocktail that’s not too sweet!
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Batanga Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt for rim
- 1 teaspoon lime zest for rim
- ice
- 1½ ounces blanco tequila
- ½ ounce lime juice fresh squeezed for best results
- 1 pinch fine sea salt just a tiny amount to smooth out the drink
- 5 ounces Coca Cola Mexican is preferred but regular is fine
Instructions
- Zest about 1 teaspoon lime zest into a shallow plate of 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt and stir together.
- Slice a lime with a knife, then rub the lime on one side of a highball glass, and then dip into the citrus salt.
- Fill the glass with ice, then add 1½ ounces blanco tequila, ½ ounce lime juice, and 1 pinch fine sea salt.
- Fill the remainder of the glass with about 5 ounces Coca Cola and stir with the knife you cut the lime with.
- Garnish with lime wedges or wheels and serve.
Notes
- Not all Batanga recipes include salt in the drink AND on the rim, but we found that just a small amount added to the drink itself smoothed out the flavor.
- I recommend using regular square ice cubes for this recipe over nugget or crushed ice, as this will allow enough room in the glass for the soda. If using nugget ice, only fill about 3/4 of the way full before adding the other ingredients.
Nutrition
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