Infante Cocktail Recipe – A Classic Tequila Drink

Infante Cocktail Recipe


A Margarita Variation

Infante Cocktail Recipe

The Infante is a modern classic tequila drink. The Infante cocktail recipe calls for tequila, orgeat syrup, lime juice, orange blossom water, and nutmeg. The formula puts it squarely in the sour cocktail family. It is a close enough relative to the Margarita that you might call it a variation.

Infante Cocktail History

The infante cocktail recipe was created by Guiseppe Gonzales. Gonzales was a bartender at Dutch Kills, a cocktail bar in Long Island City and the drink was created there around 2009.

The drink was named for Pedro Infante, a singer and actor from the golden age of Mexican Cinema.


Infante Cocktail Recipe Breakdown

The Infante cocktail recipe is often referred to as a Margarita variation. When you look at the structure it is clearly a member of the Daisy Cocktail Family. Which makes sense because the Margarita is also a member of the daisy family.

In many ways, the infant is is a fairly straight forward adapatation of the margarita. It has the classic mix of tequila, orange and sugar of the classic margarita recipe. In this recipe the sweet element is replaced with nutty and floral orgeat while the orange is orange blossom water.

If you want to learn more about the formulas for the great classic drinks check out our classic cocktail recipe guide.


What does the Infante Taste Like?

In terms of flavor, it is much more developed than a Margarita. The nutty almond flavor of the orgeat syrup harmonizes beautifully with a good Anejo or Reposado tequila. Orange blossom water adds floral and citrus aromatics to the nose. Fresh ground nutmeg adds the perfect finishing flourish.

Orgeat Syrup

If you love good mixed drinks it won’t be long before you come across a recipe that calls for orgeat syrup. Orgeat is a delicious almond syrup. You will find it in several Tiki drinks and classic cocktails. Orgeat syrup can be difficult to find. You can order it online. Or, you can make your own with this orgeat syrup recipe.

Orgeat is a classic cocktail syrup made with almonds, sugar, rose water or sometimes orange blossom water. The flavor is sweet and nutty with a floral top note. It is indispensable in many tropical drinks like the Mai Tai.

Orange Blossom Water

Orange blossom water is literally made from bitter orange blossoms. It is a byproduct of distilling orange blossoms for essential oils. When you distill botanicals for essential oil you end up with an aromatic water left over called a hydrosol.

Hydrosols can be an interesting way to add light, aromatic flavors to cocktail. In the case of orange blossom water the aroma has a both a distinct orange citrus character as well as being very floral.

It best to play it a little safe with orange blossom water a few dashes is enough to get the character. Too much and the drink becomes overly perfumed and a little soapy.

Tequila Drinks – Infante

  • Glass: rocks glass filled with pebble ice
  • 2 oz tequila blanco
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 oz orgeat syrup
  • 3 dashes orange flower water
  • Garnish: fresh mint
  1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and pour ingredients over ice.
  2. Shake vigorously.
  3. Fine strain into rocks glass.
  4. Garnish with mint.

For a nice variation on the Infante try muddling some fresh strawberries or blackberries in the glass.