Pinky Gonzales
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 21.6% ABV ∙
The Pinky Gonzales is a tequila-based tiki cocktail — a split-base blanco and reposado riff on the Mai Tai with curaçao, lime, orgeat, and a touch of grenadine. Nutty orgeat and orange curaçao lead into tart lime and earthy agave, with the split tequila giving a spirit-forward backbone — a bright warm-weather sipper over crushed ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Tequila reposado 30 mlTequila blanco 30 mlOrange curaçao liqueur 15 mlLime juice 20 mlOrgeat (almond) syrup 10 mlAgave syrup 5 mlGrenadine syrup 5 mlSaline solution 1 dash
- Strain into the glass filled with crushed ice
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a fruit skewer
Tips
- Shake hard with ice, then strain over fresh crushed ice — the melt keeps the sweet, spirit-heavy build in balance.
- Use fresh lime juice; the small orgeat, agave, and grenadine pour needs live acidity to cut through, not bottled.
- A pinch of salt or two drops of saline solution lifts the sweetness and sharpens the tequila — an easy fix if it tastes flat.
History
The Pinky Gonzales is a tiki classic created in 1964 by Victor Bergeron — better known as Trader Vic — for his Señor Pico restaurant. Bergeron, who also created the original Mai Tai, built the drink as a tequila-based variation on it. It appears in his 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide marked with the 'TV' logo denoting a Trader Vic original; that printed recipe was a simple pour of Trader Vic's Mai Tai mix and tequila, served in a mai tai glass with a mint sprig. Modern versions, including this one, break the Mai Tai mix into its components — curaçao, lime, and orgeat.
FAQ
What is in a Pinky Gonzales?
A Pinky Gonzales combines blanco and reposado tequila with orange curaçao, fresh lime juice, orgeat almond syrup, and small amounts of agave and grenadine. It is essentially a tequila-based Mai Tai, shaken and served over crushed ice.
Is a Pinky Gonzales shaken or stirred?
Shaken. All the ingredients are shaken with ice and then strained into a glass filled with crushed ice, which chills the drink and adds the dilution a sweet tiki build needs.
What glass is a Pinky Gonzales served in?
A double old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice, garnished with a mint sprig and a fruit skewer. Trader Vic's original 1972 recipe called for a mai tai glass with just a mint sprig.
How is a Pinky Gonzales different from a Mai Tai?
The Pinky Gonzales swaps rum for tequila — using both blanco and reposado — while keeping the Mai Tai framework of curaçao, lime, and orgeat. Trader Vic created it as a tequila variation on his own Mai Tai.
Why is my Pinky Gonzales too sweet?
Cut back slightly on the orgeat, agave, and grenadine, or add fresh lime and a pinch of salt to sharpen it. Bumping the tequila up also lets the spirit show through the syrups.
