Simple tequila drinks with 2 ingredients

2 ingredient tequila drinks are exactly what they sound like: a cracking tequila plus one mixer, and nothing else. Start with a smooth 100% agave tequila and you will not need a long list of ingredients, or any special kit, to make something genuinely refreshing. That simplicity is rather the point, because the fewer the ingredients, the more the quality of the tequila shines through.

These simple tequila drinks with 2 ingredients are perfect for a quick pour at home, an easy happy hour, or a relaxed evening with friends when you want a great drink without the faff.
Below you will find our favourite tequila drinks with 2 ingredients, grouped by flavour so you can quickly find the style you are after.

Each one comes with a simple measure so you can pour with confidence, and we also cover 2 ingredient tequila shots for when you want something fast.

What you need for two ingredient drinks with tequila

The beauty of two ingredient tequila drinks is that the tequila does most of the work, so quality really matters. A crisp, 100% agave tequila like Altos Plata keeps every drink clean and balanced, with the bright, peppery agave character that carries through any mixer. A lower-quality mixed tequila, by contrast, tends to taste harsh once it has nowhere left to hide.

Beyond the tequila and your mixer, you need only a few basics: a highball glass or tumbler, plenty of fresh ice, and an optional garnish such as a wedge of lime or a citrus wheel. Chill your mixer beforehand so the drink stays crisp, and build it straight in the glass rather than shaking, as these are all easy built-in-the-glass serves.

As a general guide, a good starting ratio is 60 ml (2 oz) tequila to about 120 ml (4 oz) mixer, which is roughly one part tequila to two parts mixer. Every recipe below makes a single drink at that balance, so simply scale up the quantities if you are pouring for a group.

Taste as you go and adjust: reach for a silver, or Blanco, tequila when you want the agave to lead, and an aged expression when you fancy a little oak and warmth to round out the sweeter, juicier mixers.

Sparkling and soda 2 ingredient tequila drinks

If you love a crisp, bubbly serve, these 2 ingredient drinks with tequila rely on soda and sparkling mixers for an easy, effervescent finish. Fill a highball glass with ice first, add the tequila, then top with the mixer so the bubbles stay lively.

Paloma: tequila and grapefruit soda

The Paloma is the most famous two ingredient tequila drink of the lot, and for good reason. In its simplest form it is just 60 ml (2 oz) tequila and 120 ml (4 oz) grapefruit soda (something like Ting works a treat) poured over ice, with a tart, gently bitter sweetness that makes it dangerously drinkable on a warm afternoon.

A quick squeeze of lime is a welcome extra if you have one to hand, though it is not essential. For a fuller version built with fresh grapefruit, lime and a salted rim, follow our Classic Paloma, which takes those same two ingredients further.

Tequila and soda

Clean, light and low in sugar, a tequila and soda is simply 60 ml (2 oz) tequila topped with 120 ml (4 oz) soda water over ice.

It is the ideal choice when you want to genuinely taste the agave, as the neutral fizz lifts the tequila without adding any sweetness of its own. Add a wedge of lime or a twist of grapefruit peel to brighten it up.

This is a proper two-ingredient serve, and you can follow our exact Tequila soda recipe to get the proportions spot on every time.

Tequila and tonic

Swap the soda for tonic and you have a tequila and tonic, a crisp, grown-up highball that pairs 60 ml (2 oz) tequila with 120 ml (4 oz) tonic water. The quinine in the tonic lends a gentle, sophisticated bitterness that plays surprisingly well against the sweetness of the agave, making it a clever alternative to the nation’s beloved gin and tonic.

Serve over plenty of ice in a tall glass and garnish with a wedge of lime or grapefruit to lift the aromatics.

Tequila and coke

A tequila and coke brings together 60 ml (2 oz) tequila and 120 ml (4 oz) cola for a sweet, easy highball that is a close cousin of the Mexican Batanga, born in the town of Tequila.

The caramel and vanilla notes of the cola wrap around the agave beautifully, especially with a reposado or añejo whose oak echoes those flavours. Build it tall over ice and finish with a generous squeeze of lime to stop it feeling too sweet.

Tequila and ginger beer

For a spicier, more warming option, mix 60 ml (2 oz) tequila with 120 ml (4 oz) ginger beer, or use a milder ginger ale if you prefer a gentler kick.

The heat of the ginger contrasts wonderfully with the earthy agave, and a squeeze of lime pulls it all together. It is essentially a pared-back tequila mule, delivering that same refreshing bite without the extra ingredients or the copper mug.

Tequila and lemonade

Bright, fizzy and effortlessly easy, 60 ml (2 oz) tequila with 120 ml (4 oz) lemonade is sweet and citrusy in equal measure. In Britain, lemonade means the clear, fizzy sort like Sprite or 7Up rather than the cloudy American style, and it is a brilliant crowd-pleaser that comes together in seconds over ice.

If you fancy taking that same citrus note further, our Lemon Margarita is a fuller version that goes beyond just two ingredients.

Fruity tequila cocktails with 2 ingredients

When you are after something juicier and a little more substantial, these 2 ingredient tequila mixed drinks lean on fresh fruit juice for natural sweetness and colour. An Altos Reposado, with its gentle oak, caramel and hint of spice, is a particularly good match for these richer mixers.

Tequila and pineapple juice

Tropical and crowd-pleasing, 60 ml (2 oz) tequila and 120 ml (4 oz) pineapple juice is one of the easiest and most satisfying fruity serves going. The juice brings a sweet, tangy body that softens the agave and gives the drink a lovely golden colour and a light natural froth on top. Shake with ice if you want it frothier, or simply build it over ice for a quicker serve. 

Tequila and orange juice

Tequila and orange juice, poured at 60 ml (2 oz) tequila to 120 ml (4 oz) juice, is the tequila answer to a Screwdriver: sweet, sunny and about as simple as a cocktail gets. Use freshly squeezed orange juice if you can, as it makes a real difference to the brightness of the drink. Pour over ice and give it a gentle stir.

Add a splash of grenadine and you are well on your way to a Tequila Sunrise, which uses a few more ingredients than this two-ingredient base.

Tequila and cranberry juice

Tart, crisp and beautifully coloured, 60 ml (2 oz) tequila and 120 ml (4 oz) cranberry juice delivers a deep ruby hue and a refreshing, slightly dry finish.

It is less sweet than most juice mixers, which makes it a great choice if you like your drinks on the sharper side. A wedge of lime squeezed over the top sharpens it even further, turning it into a pared-back cousin of the Cosmopolitan.

Tequila and cloudy lemonade

Tequila and cloudy lemonade, at 60 ml (2 oz) to around 120 to 180 ml (4 to 6 oz) cloudy lemonade, is summer in a glass: zesty, sweet and endlessly thirst-quenching. Here we mean the traditional still, cloudy sort rather than the fizzy kind, as its homemade-style tang gives the best flavour, though any good cloudy lemonade will do at a push.

Serve it tall over plenty of ice with a slice of lemon, and dial the lemonade up or down to suit how sweet you like it.

Two ingredient tequila shots

When you want something quick and celebratory, 2 ingredient tequila shots keep things fun and fuss-free. Reach for a clean, smooth 100% agave silver tequila, which is lovely enough to sip on its own and needs no masking. A standard measure is about 45 ml (1.5 oz).

Tequila and lime

The most iconic tequila shot of all, tequila and lime needs nothing more than a chilled 45 ml (1.5 oz) measure of tequila and a fresh lime wedge to bite straight afterwards. The lime cuts through and refreshes the palate the moment you down the shot.

Add a small pinch of salt to the back of your hand if you enjoy the traditional lick-shoot-suck ritual, though a great tequila is smooth enough to enjoy without it.

Tequila and sangrita

A more traditional Mexican way to drink, tequila with sangrita pairs a 45 ml (1.5 oz) measure of tequila with an equal 45 ml (1.5 oz) pour of sangrita, a savoury, citrusy chaser made from tomato, orange, lime and chilli.

Rather than downing it, you sip the two side by side in separate glasses, alternating between the warmth of the tequila and the tangy, slightly spicy chaser. It is a wonderful way to slow down and properly taste a quality tequila.

Tequila and gherkin brine: the Pickleback

The pickleback chases a 45 ml (1.5 oz) shot of tequila with an equal 45 ml (1.5 oz) shot of gherkin brine, the tangy liquid from a jar of pickled gherkins. It sounds unusual, but the briny, tangy brine neutralises the bite of the tequila almost instantly and resets the palate, which is exactly why it has become such a surprising firm favourite. Serve both ice-cold in separate shot glasses, tequila first and brine straight after.

Tips for 2 ingredient tequila mixed drinks 

Once you have the basic pairings down, a handful of simple techniques will take your 2 ingredient mixed drinks with tequila from good to genuinely great. None of them call for special skills or extra ingredients, just a little attention to how you build and balance each glass. Keep these five pointers in mind and every serve will taste more polished:

• Match the tequila to the mixer. A silver, or Blanco, tequila keeps fizzy and citrus drinks crisp and clean, whilst a Reposado lends a rounder warmth that flatters juices and cola.
• Go richer for sipping. For sipping-led serves and deeper, more complex highballs, an older expression brings extra vanilla, caramel and spice from its longer spell in oak.
• Keep the ratio flexible. The 60 ml (2 oz) tequila to 120 ml (4 oz) mixer starting point suits most drinks, but drop to a 1 to 3 ratio for stronger mixers and lean richer for lighter ones. Always have a taste before you top it up.
• Chill everything. Cold mixers and plenty of fresh ice keep these simple tequila drinks with 2 ingredients crisp and refreshing right to the final sip.
• Garnish simply. A wedge of lime, a citrus wheel or a light salt rim is all a two ingredient tequila cocktail needs to look and taste the part.

The more you play with different tequilas, mixers and ratios, the sooner you will land on the combinations that suit your taste, turning even the simplest pour into a drink worth savouring.

Altos, perfect for two ingredient tequila cocktails

The real beauty of 2 ingredient tequila drinks is just how much they deliver for so little effort. With nothing more than a quality agave tequila and a single mixer, you can go from a crisp Paloma to a fruity pineapple serve to a swift shot with friends, all without a cluttered drinks trolley or a big supermarket shop.

Because these drinks lean on so few ingredients, the tequila you choose truly defines the result. Made from 100% blue agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Altos brings the clean, characterful agave flavour that simple serves depend on, so every one of these easy pairings tastes balanced rather than harsh.

Fancy a pour? Start with the pairing that matches your mood, keep a bottle of Altos within reach, and do not be afraid to tweak the ratios until every drink tastes exactly the way you like it.