DO-IT-YOURSELF 'RITA

Ah, Cinco de Mayo. Regardless of your heritage, Alon's Bakery & Market (1394 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Virginia-Highland) has all the accessories for a Mayo meltdown. Arguably the most important is its homemade margarita mix. The minds behind the recipe, which features an orange tang, agreed to slide it to Spirits. Check it out.

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Alon's Cinco de Mayo Margarita
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IN THE DRINK ALON'S CINCO DE MAYO MARGARITA • 1 ounce fresh lime juice 1 ounce syrup (see recipe below) • 2 1/2 ounces tequila 1 1/2 ounces water Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and pour into your favorite margarita glass. MARGARITA SYRUP • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup water • Half of an orange zest Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil and let cool.

FISHING FOR MARY

Who says shellfish belong in water and not liquor? The Atlanta Fish Market (265 Pharr Road N.E., Buckhead) makes it work with the Top Shell Fish Bloody Mary, headlined by Stoli Gold vodka. The garnish is a skewer lined with a shell-on cooked shrimp, a hunk of jumbo lump crab meat, a green olive and a stick of celery. Just hope the shrimp doesn't get wasted and hit on the olive.

MAYO MOJITO

Margaritas are the attention hogs of Cinco de Mayo. Like the last kid picked for a playground ball game, Mojitos need loving, too. Maybe Nava (3060 Peachtree Road N.W., Buckhead) understands, with its Rum Mojito. Two ounces of Malibu rum tango with fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup and a splash of soda.

— Jon Waterhouse

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK? Best deal? Smoothest bartender? Fill us in on your swingin' cocktails: access@ajc.com.