Hotel Mousai has some of the best mixologists in Banderas Bay, and some would argue, even the world. Our mission to provide an extraordinary vacation experience to all of our guests includes employing the best of the best in the fine art of craft cocktail making. At Hotel Mousai, we’ve compiled a collection of signature cocktails that you will want to try on your next visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Our mixologists are highly educated and specially trained, having been through courses, continuing education, and certificate programs in beer, wine, and spirits. They have in-depth knowledge about beverages produced in Mexico, and especially in the Jalisco region.
The process of developing the cocktails for Hotel Mousai includes a multi-step process of brainstorming recipes, meeting with the bar staff to make the cocktails, taste test them, collaborate on their presentation, get approval from the whole team, document and standardize the process of how to make them, and follow-ups and internal audits.
Hotel Mousai follows TAFER Hotels & Resorts’ Perfect Plate program, which is an internal audit program in the food and beverage department. Perfect Plate helps us train and monitor our staff, to constantly improve our process and presentation. This process allows us to provide the very best service in all of our bars and restaurants.
At Hotel Mousai, we offer cocktail concoctions broken down into two categories: Top Cocktails and Signature Cocktails.
Top Cocktails
Our “Top Cocktails” include classic margaritas and other traditional Mexican drinks. Even though there are often many different ways to prepare these drinks, we’ve stripped them down to their most classical essentials.
We use ingredients from Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding region to authentically craft these delicious cocktails, for you to enjoy!
Classic Margarita
The Classic Margarita is probably the most known Mexican cocktail. But there are many ways to make it. At Hotel Mousai, we believe that it’s best to stick with a simple, fresh recipe that doesn’t include any extra or unnecessary ingredients. For that reason, we don’t use a pre-made margarita mix, and our Classic Margarita only has four ingredients: white tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and salt.
Michelada / Cielo Rojo
Micheladas and Cielo Rojos are another very common Mexican drink, made with beer. Here in Puerto Vallarta, the word Michelada has several meanings. But the most classic preparation is lager beer, lime juice, and salt. And that is exactly how we make them at Hotel Mousai.
Cielo Rojo is a Michelada, but spiced up. Cielo rojo means “red sky” in Spanish, and the drink is made from lager beer, Clamato, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tajin, and black pepper. Tajin is a seasoning salt made of dehydrated peppers, lime, and salt. Cielo Rojo is served in a chilled glass with ice, with Tajin around the rim, and garnished with a slice of lime and a celery stick.
Paloma
The word paloma is Spanish for dove. The Paloma is a classic Mexican cocktail, based on tequila. Many Mexicans like to drink their tequila with grapefruit soda such as Fresca or Squirt. At Hotel Mousai, we prepare the Paloma the classic way with white tequila, grapefruit soda, lime juice, and salt. The Paloma is served on the rocks with a salt rim and garnished with a slice of lime.
Signature Cocktails
In addition to the typical cocktails that everyone expects to drink in Mexico, Hotel Mousai also has our own line of Signature Cocktails invented by our team and made with special blends of ingredients that might surprise you!
Blueberry Ginger
We wanted to make a vodka cocktail with two very different but equally striking flavors, so we combined sweet, fresh blueberries with spicy ginger for a power packed punch of flavors melding in your mouth. Ingredients: Vodka, blueberries, ginger syrup, lime juice. Garnished with a kiwi slice, blueberries, and a sprig of fresh mint.
Watermelon Fresh
The Watermelon Fresh is the best-selling cocktail at The Rooftop Bar at Hotel Mousai. Made with fresh, natural ingredients, it is cool and spicy at the same time. We start with reposado tequila and add watermelon juice, basil, serrano chili pepper, lime juice, and simple syrup. Garnished with a slice of grapefruit, a sprig of basil, and Tajin around the rim.
Mezcaltini
Maybe you’ve tried tequila, but have you tried Mexico’s other signature spirit, mezcal? Mezcal and tequila are similar, both made from blue agave, but tequila is a name used only when the spirit is made in the state of Jalisco, while mezcal refers to the spirit made throughout Mexico. One of Mexico’s most emblematic beverages, mezcal is also known for having more diversity of flavors than tequila, including smoky flavors that you won’t often find in tequilas.
Hotel Mousai’s signature Mezcaltini is made with mezcal, passion fruit puree, ancho chile liqueur, basil, lime juice, and simple syrup. Garnished with basil, strawberry, and Tajin around the rim.
Mezcalteca
Mezcal became the most popular spirit in Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution, between 1910 and 1920. Nowadays, mezcal is the most used spirit in cocktails throughout Mexico.
At Hotel Mousai, our Mezcalteca is made with mezcal, strawberry, basil, lime juice, and simple syrup, and garnished with strawberry and basil.
So, the next time you stay at Hotel Mousai, we invite you to pop into one of our bars for a cool afternoon drink, an after dinner digestif, or a nightcap, and experience the flavors of Mexican beverages!
