With Cinco de Mayo on tap for this weekend, "Wine Buzz" is switching up the subject matter to talk tequila.

Sacramento, after all, is a tequila kind of town with such spots as Azul Mexican Food and Tequila Bar, Tequila Museo Mayahuel, Zócalo and Centro Cocina Mexicana all operating within about 20 blocks in midtown.

But sometimes, staying home and making margaritas while avoiding the sombrero-wearing masses sounds like a perfect option.

Wine Buzz's favorite margarita recipe goes like this: 1 part freshly squeezed lime juice and 1 part agave nectar to 2 parts blanco tequila (Espolon Tequila Blanco remains a favorite). Add to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake, rattle and roll. Pour into glass (salt-crusted rim optional) and garnish with a lime wheel.

If it's Cinco de Mayo, then raise a toast to the Mexican army's defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla before drinking – but most folks make that optional, too.

For those who are hosting a Cinco de Mayo party or otherwise don't feel like squeezing a bunch of limes, some excellent margarita mixers are readily available. You can't go wrong with Tommy's Margarita Mix – a robust blend of purified water, lime juice and organic agave nectar – though a quart costs about $10.

A solid lower-cost alternative can be found with Tres Agaves' margarita mix, which can be had for about $8 a liter.

The overall flavor of this Tres Agaves mixer isn't as pronounced as the one from Tommy's, but this USDA-certified organic product will still do you right. It only has 68 calories per serving, too.

For more exotic tastes, look into the cocktail mixers from Republic Spirit Blends. Flavors such as prickly pear, pineapple basil and jalapeño lime can easily elevate a shot of tequila or other spirit. Republic also makes a classic lime flavor that'll work for a more traditional margarita. These products can cost upwards of $10 for a quart, though we've seen them at Nugget Markets for about $6 on sale.

The makers of Republic Spirit Blends recommend a ratio of 3 ounces classic lime spirit blend to 1 ounce of tequila.

Now wasn't that easy?

Salud!

Editor's note: This story was changed May 2 to correct the ingredients and pricing for Tommy's Margarita Mix.

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