I have shared my wisdom and ideas about activities in Cozumel, and a lot of alternative items, but I recognized that I have never made a post about Mexican cocktails and Mexican beer!
I don’t consume as often now as I did in my 20s and 30s, but I appreciate a few cocktails and Mexican beers. We also love Aguas Frescas, but more about that later.
Let’s Lead with Cocktails!
Two of the finest drinks in Mexico are the margarita and the Paloma, which I didn’t discover until I had resided here for many years. Although frozen margaritas are one of the most popular drinks in Cozumel (at resorts and restaurants) the best margarita is the classic “en las rocas con sal”, or on the rocks with a salted rim. There are likewise many flavored margaritas that are tempting. A margarita that you should miss is the tamarind margarita.
A Paloma is grapefruit soda, lime juice and tequila with a salted rim. It’s delightful and refreshing and has developed into one of my wife’s favorites. Sometimes grapefruit juice is substituted instead of soda. The rest depends on the restaurant. Some of the most popular vacation drinks include pina coladas, daiquiris, mudslides, and mojitos.
Another choice is a shot of tequila with a delicious sidecar called sangrita, which contains orange juice, tomato juice, grenadine, and spices. But don’t “shoot” them, sip the tequila and then sip the sangrita. An up and coming drink up is Mezcal. It is an agave-based liquor with a smokey flavor. Legend suggests that mezcal doesn’t cause hangovers! My wife has had some interesting mezcal cocktails. Try one in your resort or a bar.
The Best Mexican Beers.
The best Mexican beer is Bohemia Obscura. It tastes great cold, out of a bottle. I too like Modelo Negra, Sol, and Pacifico. These are just a few of the dozens of Mexican beer brands.
Instead of ordinary beer, during your next Cozumel vacation, investigate a chelada or michelada. They make a chelada with beer, lime juice and ice with a salted rim and is invigorating, while a michelada also contains Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, clamato or tomato juice and Tajin on the rim instead of salt. Spicy!
The craft beer craze has also reached Mexico and a quick search for craft beer will steer in you in the right direction. Our choice is La Internacional Cerveceria. My favorite beer there is from Cervezas 19 Norte brewery. It is an American Wheat called Summers Daze. Amazing is the only adjective I can come up with.
Aguas Frescas.
Aguas Frescas are traditionally Mexican, delicious, refreshing, non-alcoholic drinks made in Mexican homes or served in markets and restaurants. Many resorts in Cozumel serve Aguas Frescas too. Our choice is jamaica, created from hibiscus petals, but there are many more flavors including horchata (rice), melón (cantaloupe), sandía (watermelon) and more.
Now you realize what to drink in Mexico. Did I miss anything? Oh, WATER! Drink lots of water when on Cozumel, especially if you are drinking alcohol and/or spending time in the sun. But please refuse plastic bottles and ask for “un vaso de agua”, AKA a glass of water. Don’t worry, it won’t be from the tap. Another option is my favorite, soda water with lime. It makes me shudder to think about the plastic water bottles that are thrown away in the Cozumel area in just one day.