As far as globally-recognized celebrations go, it’s one of the more fantastic ones—which is to say it’s way more fun to celebrate than World Pinhole Photography Day, Easter, or your least-favourite child’s/sibling’s/parent’s birthday. 

Get your livers primed for Cinco de Mayo, which, once upon a time in these parts, meant two ounces of Potter’s Tequila, a generous squirt of ReaLime, and a teaspoon of Rogers granulated sugar, iodized table-salt rim optional.

Today, there’s a whole different game for Mexico-inspired cocktails, which is in no way meant to diss the classic invented by Carlos “Danny” Herrera way back in 1938 at the Rancho La Gloria restaurant in Tijuana.

Curious about the history of Cinco de Mayo? We’d got you covered with this story from the Liquor Nerd vault. 

More interested in just getting your drink on? 

Here are five places in Vancouver made for hitting a barstool in a Control Machete t-shirt, Baja shorts, and your custom-fitted J. Peterman urban sombrero. 

Ophelía

One of the most dramatic-looking rooms in the city—check out the giant Day of the Dead and el corazón murals with the crown and gold wings—Ophelía has a vibe that verges on upscale, the food menu paying tribute to the fine-dining cuisine of Mexico, tweaked and refined yet still lovingly rooted in tradition. (Check out the grilled skirt steak tacos with serrano aoli and roasted bone marrow.) But we’re here on this visit for the drinks, with best in show being the Guaba y Habanero (serrano- and jalapeño-infused tequila, 400 Conejos Mezcal, St-Germain Elderflower, habanero Tincture, lime, and guava juice). At the risk of offending the ghost of Moctezuma II—not to mention Joe Cuervo—mix things up a bit with the rum-based caffeine-bombed Calupoh (cacao butter–washed Flor De Caña 7 Year Old, Licor 43 horchata, espresso).

Address: 165 West 2nd Avenue

Lucha Libre Tacos

Neon signs and a giant, hot pink and turquoise mural of Lucha Libre wrestlers set the mood in this authentic-feeling Mexican street-food joint right off Granville Street. Think: loco-fun atmosphere with serious cocktails. Try out the Mexapower, complete with Tequila Anejo cristalino, mezcal, lime, grapefruit, egg white, and sal de gusano, or El Duque: a bright hit of tequila reposado, Ancho Reyes verde, sparkling wine, jalapeño, guava, and rosemary. Then again, don’t overthink it in this casual spot: the downtown Vancouver haunt has $5 tequila shots and $9 lime margaritas to mark the fiesta. Lucha Libre masks are not required, but let’s face it—they make everything (with the possible exception of banking and blind first dates) more fun. 

Address: 722 Nelson Street

La Mezcaleria

Long before mezcal became a thing in Vancouver, La Mezcaleria was proudly flying the flag for Mexico’s most artisanal of spirits. Now something of a legacy destination after a decade-plus on Commercial, the perpetually packed East Van favourite has a Zócalo-cool vibe that tends toward wonderfully chaotic—kind of like fabulous Mexico City. Classic margs come in flavours including hibiscus, mango, and lime, with the option of swapping out standard tequila for mezcal for three bucks extra. But dedicated liquor nerds know to opt for the Lucia’s Garden (tequila, mezcal, cynar, lime, mint, agave) or the heat-packing Piñata (serrano-infused tequila, Cointreau, pineapple, lime juice, agave). 

Address: 1622 Commercial Drive

Los Cuervos Taqueria & Cantina

Mexican street food is the leaping-off point for this Kingsway and Fraser staple—you’ll be having, in no particular order, the two-layer Whaco Taco (birria, melted cheese, pickled red onions, and guacamole with a side of beef consome), Pollo (charbroiled marinated chicken, arugula, fresh pineapple, chipotle mayo), and Alambre (bison skirt steak, bacon, melted cheese, white onions, peppers). Trae el desfibulador! Drinks run from classic Mexico margs and palomas to all-purpose party starters (all hail the mighty mojito, piña colada, and always dangerous sangria). Put a south-of-two-borders spin on a vintage favourite with Los Cuervos’ Oaxaca Old Fashioned (Tequila reposado, mezcal, orange, maraschino cherries, Angostura bitters, agave), or plant yourself on a palm tree-dotted beach with the Cocomar (coconut tequila, coconut cream, lime juice, fresh mint leaves, agave).

Address: 603 Kingsway

El Camino’s

Billing itself as a casual cantina—would you expect anything less given its Mount Pleasant locale?—El Camino’s is marked by its giant rose-mural wall, outdoor patio, and a room-spanning wood bar that feels like hanging out at the beach in Baja with no deadlines or meetings to worry about. Margaritas come in options including coconut, passionfruit, jalapeño, and super-habanero for those not afraid of turning their ass into something resembling the back end of the Batmobile. Transport yourself to the boats of Xochimilco with a grapefruit Palamero, or go exotic with the El Fantasma (Vida Mezcal, blood orange, cinnamon, rhubarb).

Address: 3250 Main Street

Happy Cinco de Drinko day. And remember, if you’re going to call in “sick” on Zoom Monday morning, be sure to remove your hibiscus-stained, salt-encrusted sombrero first.