Muy Bueno: Fiestas 
Spiked Aguas Frescas
Spiked Aguas Frescas – fruity and minty agua de melon and a floral and spicy agua de jamaica, and let the grownups splash their drink with tequila.
What is the weather like in your neck of the woods? It has been crazy hot in Colorado. I used to love blazing hot temps, but now that I’m getting older I do not love it as much as I used to.
When I was a teenager I used to throw on my Body Glove swimsuit, slather myself with tanning oil, and tan on the rooftop of our El Paso home. Yikes, how times have changed. Now, I slather myself with sunscreen, wear hats, and fear the sun. I’m the mom at my kid’s ball games under a huge umbrella sheltering myself from harmful rays.
Spiked Aguas Frescas
But there are some things that haven’t changed during the summer…refreshing cold drinks and summer gatherings. Aguas frescas are a refreshing alternative to iced tea or lemonade in the summer months and adults will enjoy them even more with a splash (or two) of tequila.
Speaking of getting older, my mom and I celebrated our birthday month and we hosted a June fiesta. We made some of our favorite summer party foods like brisket, macaroni salad, potato salad, mango, jicama, and cucumber salad, salsa verde, and chile con queso, just to name a few.
Exotico Tequila Bar
The star of the fiesta was an Exotico tequila bar with a couple of spiked aguas frescas. We made a fruity and minty agua de melon and a floral and spicy agua de jamaica steeped with canela similar to this hibiscus-cinnamon tea and let the grownups splash their drink with their tequila of choice.
The tequila blanco has a crisp and herbal aroma with spicy undertones with a sweet and smoky kick. The tequila reposado has hints of vanilla, fruit, spices, with an oak finish as well as hints of caramel and cinnamon. Either choice pairs beautifully with both aguas frescas.
National Tequila Day is July 24 and the perfect excuse to host a spiked aguas frescas bar.
Spiked Cantaloupe Agua Fresca and Hibiscus-Cinnamon Agua
Ingredients
Cantaloupe Agua Fresca (Agua Fresca de Melón):
- 4 cups cubed cantaloupe
- 8 cups water
- 2/3 cup superfine sugar
- fresh mint leaves
- 12 Exotico tequila, reposado or blanco
- lime slices, for garnish
Hibiscus-Cinnamon Agua (Agua de Jamaica con Canela):
- 8 cups water, divided
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2/3 cup dry jamaica, / hibiscus flowers
- 2/3 cup super fine sugar
- Exotico tequila, reposado or blanco
- Lime slices, for garnish
Instructions
Cantaloupe Agua Fresca (Agua Fresca de Melón):
- Place cantaloupe, water, and sugar in a blender; process until smooth, about 1 minute. This will have to be made in batches depending on the size of your blender.
- Pour through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher or decanter and discard solids.
- Adjust the sugar to your liking.
- Pour 1 cup of agua fresca over ice with 1 to 2 ounces tequila.
- Stir and garnish drinks with a lime slice and mint sprig.
Hibiscus-Cinnamon Agua (Agua de Jamaica con Canela):
- Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a pot. Add the cinnamon sticks and cover tightly with a lid. Remove from the heat and steep for 1 hour or until cool.
- Add hibiscus flowers and let tint water for 30 minutes.
- Strain hibiscus-cinnamon agua into a pitcher or decanter and discard cinnamon and flowers.
- Dilute with 6 cups of water and add sugar. Adjust the sugar to your liking.
- Pour 1 cup of agua over ice with 1 to 2 ounces tequila.
- Stir and garnish drinks with a lime slice and mint sprig.
Notes
P.S. Follow my Pinterest boards for more Mexican recipes.
Photography by Jenna Sparks.
This post is in partnership with Exotico. As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.
2 Comments on “Spiked Aguas Frescas”
I love that you can make these both alcohol and not really LOL Such a versatile recipe to master!
I had a wonderful time mija with family and friends, and the tequila drinks were delicious. Thank you for the great party, mija. You really know how to throw a party. Love you