Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is actually not Mexican Independence Day?

According to Wikipedia, "It originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War, and today the date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride."  While "virtually ignored" in Mexico, Americans of varying heritage have enjoyed observing it since at least the 1940s, with each region putting its own twist on the holiday.

It's in this spirit that we offer you another twist on the traditional libation of Cinco de Mayo: Tequila!  Yes, tequila and cider do dance well together, and in fact, you can add cider to your basic margarita for a refreshing update on that classic cocktail.  See the recipe below!

"Cideritas":

2 oz. sour mix (make your own for best results; see instructions below)

2 oz. tequila (gold tequila adds a nice robust flavor here)

1/2 oz. orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec

3-5 oz. sparkling craft cider, to taste

Shake all ingredients except cider in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Strain in to a margarita or other glass (rim glass with salt first, if you like).  Top up with cider of choice; we used Ragged Mountain, Albemarle CiderWorks' off-dry blend, as the slight sweetness is a nice balance to the acidic sour mix.  Garnish with an apple slice and a lime.  ¡Viva la libertad!  ¡Viva la sidra!

For sour mix:

• Add 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of hot water; boil to dissolve sugar; let cool before adding to citrus juice
• Squeeze 1 cup of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup lime juice; blend together, and blend with the simple syrup