The El Diablo is a popular and simple tequila cocktail that is one of my new favorites! Sweet blackcurrant-flavored cassis, tequila, lime juice, and ginger beer combine in this easy sipper that's perfect for fall!
A New Favorite Ginger Beer Cocktail!
It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Ginger Beer Cocktails! Whether it's a Moscow Mule, a Rum Mule, or a Tequila Mule, I'm always up for cocktails with ginger beer!
Recently I made the El Diablo and was smitten! The creme de cassis really balances the bite of the tequila and ginger beer and gives the drink a deeper and richer flavor - making it a perfect choice for fall!
If you aren't familiar with Creme de Cassis (black currant liqueur) it's a terrific ingredient to have in your collection! Add it to sparkling wine for a Kir Royale or drizzle it over berries for my favorite Butter Cake with Boozy Berries!
What you need to make an El Diablo
- Reposado Tequila - Reposado tequila is smoother with hints of honey and warm spices, making it the perfect tequila for this cocktail.
- Creme de Cassis - there are a number of Creme de Cassis brands on the market. I use Mathilde which has an excellent flavor, comes in a small bottle and is reasonably priced!
- Fresh lime juice - with so few ingredients, fresh lime juice does make a difference!
- Ginger Beer - I've talked a LOT about ginger beer and I am a huge fan of Fever-Tree. If you want to know more about ginger beer (and how it differs from Ginger Ale!) check out my Gin and Ginger Ale post for all the details!
- Fresh Blackberries - TOTALLY OPTIONAL but I think they make a pretty garnish! If you can find (or grow!) black currants those would be even better. But, living in SoCal, fresh blackberries are the closest I'm going to get!
- Fresh Mint- TOTALLY OPTIONAL but... so pretty!
How to make it!
- Juice your limes (you can do this several hours in advance.
- Add ice to a Collins or Old Fashioned glass.
- Pour in the tequila.
- Add the lime juice.
- Add the cassis.
- Stir with a barspoon.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish and serve.
Testing Notes
This is not the traditional way to make the El Diablo! In general, cocktails made with citrus juice and a sweetener (i.e. the Creme de Cassis) are shaken.
In testing, I tried both shaking and stirring and found that shaking didn't make a significant difference. And since I'm all about keeping things simple, I chose not to use the shaken method! But for the purists out there, by all means - combine the tequila, lime juice and creme de cassis in a shaker tin and shake away!
Other Tequila Cocktails I think You'll Love!
- Aperol and Tequila Cocktail - Aperol and tequila are a surprisingly delicious combination!
- Margarita on the Rocks - the absolute BEST Margarita on the rocks!
- Tamarind Margarita - one of the most delicious margaritas I've ever had!
If you enjoyed this recipe, I would LOVE for you to give it a 5-star rating! Cheers! Nancy
El Diablo Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Reposado tequila
- ½ oz. fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz. Creme de Cassis
- 4 oz. Ginger beer
- 2 Fresh Blackberries optional
- 1 mint sprig optional
Instructions
- Add ice to a Collins or Old Fashioned glass.
- Add the tequila, lime juice and creme de cassis and stir.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garish with fresh blackberries and mint if desired.
Valentina says
Nancy, this is a beautiful drink for fall. Just wondering . . . what would be okay to substitute for the tequila?
Nancy says
Hi Valentina,
Awww.... thanks! I think this would be delicious with Bourbon vodka also has possibilities!!