El Diablo Cocktail

El Diablo Cocktail

The El Diablo is a tequila highball that has been quietly earning its cult status since Trader Vic first wrote it down in 1946. It layers earthy agave against tart lime, spicy ginger beer, and a ribbon of blackcurrant liqueur that stains the drink a deep sunset red. It is long, fizzy, and endlessly refreshing, which is why it drinks as easily on a summer patio as it does on a cold night. Built right in the glass with no shaking, it takes about two minutes to make. Swap the usual reposado for SWOL Añejo and the extra barrel time adds vanilla and oak that stand up beautifully to the cassis.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 1/2 oz SWOL Añejo Tequila (the aged, oaky base; reposado or blanco also work, but the añejo adds vanilla and spice)
  • 1/2 oz creme de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur; Chambord or creme de mure work as substitutes)
  • 3/4 oz fresh lime juice (fresh only; bottled tastes flat)
  • 3 oz ginger beer (spicy ginger beer, not ginger ale, for real bite)
  • Garnish: lime wedge, plus optional blackberries or a mint sprig
  • Ice: fresh cubes to keep it crisp and effervescent
HOW TO PREPARE
  1. Fill a highball glass with fresh ice.
  2. Add SWOL Añejo, creme de cassis, and fresh lime juice.
  3. Top with 3 oz cold ginger beer.
  4. Stir once, gently, to combine without knocking out the fizz.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge and optional blackberries. Do not shake, so the carbonation stays lively.
Style of Glass to use

Highball Glass

Garnishes
  • Lime

What is an El Diablo (origin and history)

The El Diablo, sometimes called the Mexican El Diablo, comes from Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron and appears in his 1946 bartending guide. The name nods to its devilish red color from the cassis. It belongs to the same family as the Moscow Mule and Tequila Mule, tall spirit-plus-ginger-beer builds, but the blackcurrant liqueur is what makes it unmistakably its own drink.

Creme de cassis and substitutes

Creme de cassis is a sweet blackcurrant liqueur that gives the El Diablo its color and berry backbone. If you cannot find it, Chambord (raspberry) or creme de mure (blackberry) are the closest swaps and keep the drink in the same tart-berry lane. Use the full half ounce; less and the drink reads like a plain tequila mule.

Why you build it and never shake it

Ginger beer is carbonated, and shaking flattens it. Building directly over ice preserves the fizz and the crisp bite that defines the drink. Stir just once to marry the tequila, cassis, and lime before the ginger beer goes in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in an El Diablo cocktail?

Tequila, creme de cassis, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer, garnished with lime.

What tequila is best for an El Diablo?

A reposado or añejo. SWOL Añejo adds vanilla and oak that complement the cassis; blanco works for a brighter version.

Do you shake an El Diablo?

No. Build it in the glass over ice so the ginger beer stays fizzy.

What can I use instead of creme de cassis?

Chambord or creme de mure are the best substitutes.

Is ginger beer or ginger ale better?

Ginger beer, for its stronger, spicier kick.

What glass should I use?

A highball or Collins glass filled with fresh ice.

How strong is an El Diablo?

Moderate, roughly a single shot of tequila lengthened with ginger beer, so it drinks lighter than a margarita.

El Diablo Cocktail TIPS

Build Fresh & Garnish Bold

Build your El Diablo directly in the glass over fresh ice to keep it crisp and effervescent—no need to shake, preserving the ginger beer’s fizz. Use a good-quality reposado tequila to add smooth vanilla and oak depth. For garnish, add a lime wedge and a few blackberries or a sprig of mint for a vibrant, aromatic touch that complements the cassis. 

MADE WITH

SWOL Anejo Tequila Limited Release (750Ml)

750 ML

$124.99

SWOL Anejo Tequila Limited Release is an extremely limited edition; a special release of just 10,000 bottles. Each hand-numbered bottle has a peel-off iron patch which is designed by Los Angeles-based artist Rise Work.

Combining ancient and modern techniques and a deep love and passion for Authentic Tequila, SWOL Tequila comes from Mexico. When two friends journeyed to Mexico...

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