3 New-School Margaritas from Charleston’s Basic Kitchen

If there’s one day a year Americans seek out a margarita, it’s Cinco de Mayo.

Though the tequila cocktail is a gringo invention, and the holiday isn’t celebrated with raucous indulgence in Mexico—it commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory in the 1862 Battle of Puebla and is usually marked with military parades in the country—there’s no denying the appeal of a refreshing margarita on a warm May evening. New, neo-hippie restaurant Basic Kitchen in Charleston, South Carolina, puts its own spin on the libation. They infuse the standard tequila-lime-orange combination with beet juice for a vibrant and tart take on the classic. And when restaurant-goers want a margarita with a spicy kick, bartender Tiffany Gauch whips up a ginger riff. To go booze-free, omit the tequila, add another 1/2 ounce lime juice, and top with soda water for an easysipping mocktail. Take your pick, and then whip up some fresh guacamole for your own fiesta.