Mexican Firing Squad
The Mexican Firing Squad: A Forgotten Classic Revived
The Mexican Firing Squad first appeared in Charles H. Baker Jr.'s 1939 book The Gentleman's Companion, where he documented cocktails from his travels around the world. Baker encountered the drink in Mexico City during the 1930s, though the original creator remains unknown, according to Punch.
The cocktail combines tequila with fresh lime juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters. This formula creates a balanced sour-style drink where grenadine's pomegranate sweetness complements tequila's agave character while bitters add aromatic complexity, as noted in Difford's Guide.
The drink's dramatic name likely references the execution method, though the reason for this association remains unclear. The Mexican Firing Squad represents pre-World War II cocktail culture when American travelers documented drinks from their international adventures.
The cocktail remained largely forgotten until bartender Phil Ward revived it at Death & Co in New York during the mid-2000s. Ward's version became a modern classic and helped establish the Mexican Firing Squad as a staple in craft cocktail bars, according to Liquor.com.
Today the drink is recognized as one of the best classic tequila cocktails beyond the Margarita.
RECIPE:
2 oz tequila (blanco or reposado)
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz grenadine
4 dashes Angostura bitters
Lime wheel for garnish
Method:
Add tequila, lime juice, grenadine, and bitters to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously until well-chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with lime wheel.