How to Make a Tequila and Coke (the Batanga!)

Tequila and Coke is one of the easiest tequila cocktails there is. Here’s how to take this simple drink, also known as the Batanga, to the next level.

There’s something decidedly intriguing about the earthy, fruity flavor of tequila cocktails combined with the caramel flavor of cola. It gives vibes of drinking a margarita and a rum and Coke at the same time.

You can mix any alcohol with Coke (and I have!), but the tequila and Coke, or Batanga, is something special. Here’s the ratio to use, and a few tips for making the best version of this easy cocktail.

Choosing a tequila

I uncovered the tequila and Coke in a “tour” we were having at home of all the variations on a rum and Coke. It turns out it’s already a popular drink in Mexico, where it’s called the Batanga!

Like a rum and Coke, it’s very loose and not considered a high-brow cocktail. (It reminds me of the Tex-Mex special, Ranch Water.) But it’s a legit cocktail in its own right, especially when you use good tequila. Here are some tips on choosing the right kind:

• The best tequila for a tequila and Coke is tequila reposado. Tequila reposado is aged tequila, which is stored for 2 to 12 months. It has a nuanced flavor, with notes of oak and vanilla. It makes tequila and Coke cocktails taste fancier than they should.
• You can also use tequila blanco. Blanco is unaged tequila, and it works, too! It has a more straightforward flavor with that signature burn.

The tequila and Coke ratio

My top tip for making the best tequila and Coke is to use the right ratio! You can increase it slightly if you’re using a highball glass, but here’s what I usually go with:

• 2 ounces tequila to 4 ounces cola OR
• 1 part tequila to 2 parts cola

Add lime to step it up

As you may already know, tequila and lime are soulmates. But even more importantly, citrus is key in a cola cocktail. The sweetness of the cola absolutely begs for the acidity of lime. You can add lime in 2 ways in this drink:

• Add ½ ounce or 1 tablespoon lime juice. This gives it a more forward lime flavor. You can even up the lime up to ¾ ounce (1 ½ tablespoons).
• Squeeze in the juice from a lime wedge. You can also just use your cocktail garnish for the lime juice. The amount from 1 wedge is about 1 teaspoon, so the lime is more of a complementary flavor here.

Optional: Add a salt rim!

In Mexico, sometimes the Batanga features a salt rim on the glass. I’m not sure about you, but I never turn down a salt rim! The salt enhances the sweet and tart flavors in the drink, much like in the popular margarita.

Of course, making a salt rim is an extra step, so you can skip it if you’re in a rush. Here’s how to make a perfect salt rim:

1. Use kosher salt or flaky sea salt, not table salt. These varieties are chunky and adhere to the rim better. You can also make margarita salt for a festive flair.
2. Take a lime wedge and cut a notch in the middle. Then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the rim without having to use your fingers.
3. Rim the outside edge only. Spread the salt on a plate in an even layer. Tilt the glass into the salt so that it sticks to the outside edge. Shake off any loose salt into the sink.

A little background

Mixing liquor with cola has a long history of over 100 years! The tequila and Coke is a spin-off of the rum and Coke, also known as the Cuba Libre. This 3-ingredient cocktail made with lime, cola, and rum originated in Cuba in the early 1900s.

It quickly spread to America and around the world, and people started mixing all sorts of alcohol with cola. All that means is that people around the world have been drinking tequila and Coke informally for years.

When it comes to the Batanga, most sources credit Don Javier Delgado as the inventor of this cocktail in 1961. He was the owner of La Capilla in Tequila, Mexico.

Tequila and Coke variations

As I’ve mentioned, you can make a “blank and Coke” with almost any spirit! In most cases, you can use the same ratio. These are great ideas for tasty but cheap drinks! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Rum for a rum and Coke or Cuba Libre
• Jack Daniels for Jack and Coke
• Any whiskey or bourbon for whiskey and Coke
• Gin for gin and Coke
• Red wine and Coke for a Kalimotxo (Use equal parts.)
• Vodka for vodka and Coke
• Tequila for tequila and Coke
• Crown Royal for Crown and Coke
• Hennessy for Hennessy and Coke (Use 1.5 ounces of Hennessy.)

Print

More tequila drinks

Love tequila? Me too! Here are a few more tequila drinks I know you’ll love:

• Mix up a gingery Mexican Mule.
• Go classic with a Tequila Sour.
• Opt for a vibrant and layered Tequila Sunrise.
• Go for grapefruit with a Paloma.
• Brunch with a Bloody Maria.