Bandera Shot: The Tequila Banderita

The Bandera Shot Explained: Mexico’s Three-Glass Tequila Tradition

For tequila enthusiasts, the bandera shot is likely a familiar concept, but do you know the full story behind it?

Recognised by many names, including the banderita shot and the mexican flag shot, this celebrated serve consists of three individual shots arranged to mirror the colours of the Mexican flag: green, white, and red. The lineup is precise, lime juice represents the green, tequila blanco or plata stands in for the white, and sangrita or tomato juice provides the red. Together, they form one of the most visually striking and culturally meaningful ways to enjoy tequila.

The bandera drink is far more than a novelty. It carries genuine cultural weight as a ritual rooted in Mexican tradition and national pride, and it’s an essential experience for anyone who considers themselves a true tequila lover. If you’ve yet to try it, there’s no better moment to discover what makes this iconic trio so special.

Want to see it made in real time? Watch our bartender demonstrate exactly how we prepare these legendary bandera shots at Altos:

To complete the full experience, you’ll also want to know how to make the Sangrita Shot, we cover it in full detail in its dedicated recipe. Sangrita is a traditional Mexican accompaniment crafted from tomato juice, orange juice, and hot sauce, served alongside tequila as part of a classic Mexican or Tex-Mex bar ritual. It’s the red element that brings the mexican flag drink to life.

Why Salt Belongs in Every Bandera Shot

Like most tequila shots, the bandera tequila is traditionally taken with salt, and there’s good reason for it beyond habit or ceremony.

Salt draws moisture to the back of the palate, heightening the tongue’s sensitivity and allowing you to pick up more of the tequila’s natural character. At the same time, it softens some of the spirit’s inherent bitterness, creating a cleaner, more rounded experience. The lime, meanwhile, contributes a burst of citrus that balances the overall profile and prepares the palate between each of the three shots. Far from being optional, salt and lime are integral to the banderita shot ritual.

The Best Occasions for a Mexican Flag Shot

The mexican flag shot recipe finds its most fitting home during Mexican Independence Day celebrations, when the tequila bandera becomes an almost obligatory part of the festivities.

That said, this bandera tequila serve isn’t limited to national holidays. The two shots sangrita format, tequila alongside its vibrant companion, speaks to something deeper: a sense of identity, heritage, and shared culture that transcends the occasion. While regional variations exist and some recipes incorporate different spirits, the authentic version always features tequila at its heart, served across three separate glasses in the traditional green, white, and red formation of the mexican flag drink.

Olmeca Altos Plata: The Ideal Tequila for a Bandera Shot

When preparing a bandera shot at home, two ingredients carry the most weight: the tequila and the lime juice. For both, quality matters enormously.

Olmeca Altos Plata is our recommendation for this serve, and for good reason. Its flavour profile strikes an impressive balance, smooth without being sweet, with a subtle warmth and gentle spice that brings out the best in the lime juice. The salt then ties everything together, adding texture and rounding off the experience beautifully. Whether enjoyed as a standalone bandera drink or as part of a wider tequila occasion, Altos Plata holds its own.

As with all expressions in the Altos range, it’s produced using 100% blue agave, a commitment to quality that gives the tequila a depth of character that simply cannot be replicated.