The Corona Slam pairs tequila blanco with cold Corona® Beer, lime cordial, and a touch of salt. The tequila adds clean agave character, the lager keeps the drink light and sparkling, and the cordial brings enough citrus sweetness to tie everything together. It is a straightforward beer cocktail with more structure than a plain lager-and-tequila combination.
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- Tequila Blanco: Adds clean agave flavor and the drink's main spirit backbone.
- Corona® Beer: Provides crisp lager character, carbonation, and most of the drink's length.
- Lime Cordial: Adds concentrated lime flavor with enough sweetness to balance the tequila and beer.
- Salt: Sharpens the citrus and brings the beer and tequila flavors into focus.
Useful substitutions: Another light Mexican lager can replace Corona®. A different blanco tequila will work without changing the drink's basic structure. If lime cordial is unavailable, a measured mixture of lime juice and simple syrup can approximate its sweet-tart character.
Equipment
- Pilsner glass
- Jigger
- Bar spoon
Why Beer and Tequila Work Together
Tequila brings peppery agave character while pale lager supplies bubbles, grain, and dilution. Lime cordial bridges those two ingredients with citrus and sweetness, and the small amount of salt makes the overall flavor feel more defined without turning the drink savory.
Substitutions & Variations
- Use another light Mexican lager in place of Corona®.
- Swap blanco tequila for reposado for a rounder, lightly oaked variation.
- Replace a small portion of the lime cordial with fresh lime juice for a sharper finish.
- Use mezcal instead of tequila for a smokier version.
- Add a lime wedge as an optional garnish for fresh citrus aroma.
Helpful Tips
Chill the beer thoroughly before building the drink. Warm beer will foam more aggressively and dilute the refreshing character of the serve.
Pour the beer slowly to control the head, then stir only once or twice. Too much stirring quickly removes carbonation.
Keep the salt restrained. A pinch should sharpen the flavors without making the drink taste noticeably salty.
Because lime cordial brands vary in sweetness, taste before adding any additional citrus or sweetener.