Heralded as the 2024 Cocktail of the Summer: La Batanga is essentially a Cubre Libre made with tequila instead of rum, or maybe like a classic Paloma with cola instead of grapefruit soda. Either way, it’s a simple and refreshing cocktail that sips way beyond the sum of its parts. Our tequila alternative, The Spirit of Tequila lets this Non-Alcoholic Batanga stand shoulder to shoulder with it's boozy cousin, making the classic sessionable all summer long.
Category
Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Author:
The Free Spirits Company
The cocktail of the summer: La Batanga is basically a Cubre Libre made with tequila instead of rum, or maybe like a classic Paloma with cola instead of grapefruit soda. Either way, it’s a simple and refreshing cocktail that sips way beyond the sum of its parts. The Spirit of Tequila makes this sessionable all summer long.
Ingredients
-
2 ½ oz The Spirit of Tequila
- Juice of half a lime
3 - 4 oz cola*
- Salt
- Lime wedge for garnishing
Method
Rim your glass with salt, if desired.
- Squeeze half a lime in the bottom of the glass and add a pinch of salt.
- Ice the glass and add the remaining ingredients.
Stir with the knife you used to cut the lime (the secret to the flavor).
Garnish with lime.
Recipe Note
*Fever Tree’s Distillers Cola is a great choice with its complex selection of distilled spices and botanicals. You could also use Lurisa Chinoto, a sophisticated bitter Italian soda that tastes something like a sparkling amaro with the Chinoto fruit (a bitter tasting orange) being its key ingredient. And of course there’s the iconic glass bottle of Mexican Coke which suits this cocktail beautifully and is most authentic to the original.
Bartender’s tip: if you're looking to further enhance your cocktail you could rim the glass with a citrus salt, something homemade or store bought would do the trick.
The addition of some of All The Bitter Non-Alcoholic Aromatic Bitters would also add a layer of complexity, as would adding ½ oz of The Pathfinder for that little something extra.
