Three-Piece Suit (Tequila and Sherry Big-Batch Cocktail) Recipe

Designed to be made in advance while being perfectly balanced, this tequila and sherry cocktail is a killer party drink. When your guests arrive, just open the bottle and start pouring.

By
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a writer and editor focusing on cocktails and food. She was the managing editor for Serious Eats until 2016 and is the digital director for Epicurious.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Published Apr. 19, 2019
20190314-three-piece-suit-sherry-tequila-cocktail-vicky-wasik-2
Photograph: Vicky Wasik

Why This Recipe Works

  • Adding water to the cocktail simulates the dilution of ice in an individual stirred drink; this way you can pour it right from the bottle into serving glasses and have it taste perfect.
  • Chilling for two-to-four hours in the freezer (or longer in the fridge followed by a brief stint in the freezer) nails the serving temperature so the drink is neither too cold nor too warm.

Reprinted with permission from Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion by Maggie Hoffman, copyright © 2019. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

We like our drinks nicely tailored, with every element well matched and fitting right. This smooth little number from Steven Huddleston of Parcel 32 in Charleston, South Carolina, fits the bill, starting with a base of barrel-aged tequila, which layers agave’s grassy notes with soft vanilla aromatics. The reposado tequila blends seamlessly into oloroso sherry, which adds roundness and a nutty caramel note.

Recipe Details

Three-Piece Suit (Tequila and Sherry Big-Batch Cocktail) Recipe

Active 5 mins
Total 2 hrs 5 mins
Serves 8 servings

Designed to be made in advance while being perfectly balanced, this tequila and sherry cocktail is a killer party drink. When your guests arrive, just open the bottle and start pouring.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (475ml) reposado tequila

  • 1 cup (235ml) oloroso sherry

  • 2 teaspoons (10ml) orange bitters

  • 1/4 cup 1:1 simple syrup (see note)

  • 3/4 cup (175ml) water

Directions

  1. At least 2 hours and up to 4 hours before serving, use a small funnel to pour tequila, oloroso sherry, bitters, simple syrup, and water into a 1-liter swing-top bottle. Seal, turn gently end over end to mix, and chill in freezer. (If you’d prefer to batch further in advance, refrigerate filled bottle, then place in freezer an hour or two before serving.)

Notes

To make 1:1 simple syrup, combine 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup very hot water in a resealable heatproof container, such as a mason jar, and stir to dissolve slightly. As soon as it’s cool enough to handle, seal container and shake until sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool completely before use; refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Reserve any remaining simple syrup for another use (like another cocktail or sweetening iced tea or coffee, or lemonade).

Special Equipment

1-liter swing-top bottle

Make-Ahead and Storage

The cocktail can be mixed up to 2 weeks in advance and refrigerated; transfer to the freezer 1 to 2 hours before serving to chill it fully.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
137 Calories
0g Fat
7g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 137
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 183mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 26mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)