There’s nothing quite like enjoying a nice cocktail. Whether you’ve just finished a long day of work or you’re watching your favorite soccer team, the right drink engineered just how you like it can enhance any situation, be it a complex six-ingredient concoction or a simple classic.
There are so many cocktail recipes out there it can be a bit overwhelming. How do you find something that fits you and your tastes? Well, why not add your favorite sport (we assume it’s soccer) and go from there? And what better place to start than Los Angeles, one of the best cities in the world for drinking tequila?
The18 and 1800® Tequila have teamed up to explore the flavors of LA football fandom, particularly fans of LAFC. We’re big fans of cocktails and one of our favorite ingredients is 1800®’s Cristalino, a delightful, crystal-clear spirit with all the smoothness and complexity of an Añejo filtered to give the silky appearance and drinkability of a Blanco. We worked with tastemaker James Lee to create five unique LAFC cocktail recipes designed to highlight the soccer culture in Los Angeles. These aren’t your everyday margarita mixers; these cocktails represent the finer side of LA society.
James Lee of The Bitter Bar. Photos by Mariel McCown | The18
With your help, we’ll narrow down the list to one official 1800® Cristalino cocktail of LAFC. But we know this won’t be easy. Angelenos have refined palates whether it’s music, fashion or tequila. We asked fans in LA to share their ideas of what makes LA soccer culture special and used that to create five recipes featuring Cristalino with the help of Lee.
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Which LAFC cocktail recipe best represents Los Angeles and its culturally rich and diverse population? Read on and vote on our Instagram account.
If you want to try these recipes for yourself, you can use the Drizly app to buy a bottle of1800® Cristalino and most of the ingredients on this list.
LAFC Cristalino Cocktail Recipes
LA Spritzer
- 1 oz. 1800® Cristalino
- 0.5 oz. Aperol
- 2 oz. Pellegrino Aranciata rossa (blood orange)
- 2 oz. Sparkling wine
The LA Spritzer represents the star power and class of LAFC, whether it’s signing some of the world’s best talent or winning the Supporters Shield in just the club’s second season. Much like LAFC’s lineup can be altered with its many multi-faceted players, the LA Spritzer can be changed to fit whatever ingredients in your house; the key is the luxuriously smooth flavor of 1800® Cristalino coming through with the bitterness of Aperol sweetened by sparkling wine or flavored bubbly water (we prefer blood orange Pellegrino).
Elevate your pregame and bust this drink out in a large wine glass on a hot LA day before heading to Banc of California Stadium for a big match. Combine all the ingredients and stir until it’s cold in your hand, then garnish with an orange slice or twist. (We suggest orange slice because it reminds us of halftime at youth games growing up.)
LaLa Land
- 2 oz. 1800® Cristalino
- 0.5 oz. St Germain elderflower liqueur
- 0.5 oz. Cucumber juice (from muddled cucumbers)
- 0.5 oz. Pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz. Lemon juice
- 0.5 oz. Simple syrup
- 2 oz. Soda water
You’ll be in LaLa Land after a few sips of this drink. Inspired by the sunset deck at Banc of California Stadium, LaLa Land is a perfect drink to enjoy while basking in the sun watching LAFC play. The floral notes of the elderflower liqueur bring out Cristalino’s honey and vanilla flavors while the refreshing cucumber balances nicely with the sweet pineapple and tart lemon juices.
Muddle quarter-inch slices of cucumbers into a mixing glass, then combine all ingredients except for the soda water and shake with ice. Strain into a tall Collins glass with fresh ice and top with seltzer to both lighten and extend the experience for a bit of stoppage time.
The North End Mary
- 2 oz. 1800® Cristalino
- 2 oz. V8 juice
- 0.25 Ancho Reyes
- Dash of mole bitters
- Dash of sesame seed oil
Spice up your day or night with The North End Mary, named after the LAFC Supporters Section, one of the best groups in MLS. Think of this as a Japanese-style Bloody Mary but leave the bloody mix at home. Instead, opt for some refreshing V8 tomato juice (or a similar brand), because we know how important staying fit is in LA. The Ancho Reyes liqueur — plus any hot sauce you want to throw in because Angelenos love to heat things up — adds the perfect kick to an LA morning, afternoon or night.
Build The North End Mary in a large Collins glass. Stir all ingredients and ice before garnishing with your favorite bloody garnish, such as celery, olives, pickles or, since you’re on the coast, some fresh shrimp.
Black & Gold Manhattan
- 1.5 oz. 1800® Cristalino
- 0.25 oz. Cynar
- 0.25 oz. Galliano
If you love Manhattans, you’ll love the Black & Gold Spirit, which represents the Black & Gold community that makes LAFC special. Being a fan of LAFC isn’t just about 90 minutes on match day, and the Black & Gold Spirit embodies that feeling of community.
This drink is best created in a separate glass filled with ice before straining into a rocks glass or cocktail glass. This will enhance the subtle oak notes of Cristalino, which come from aging the tequila in American and French oak barrels and rested in port wine casks. Finally, garnish with an orange or lemon twist.
The Falconer
- 2 oz. 1800® Cristalino
- 0.5 oz. Simple syrup
- 2 dashes of jalapeño bitters
- 2 dashes of mole bitters
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Every LAFC home match day starts with one of the club’s famed falcons taking flight and landing on center pitch, often with the aid of a celebrity honorary falconer. It’s one of the more unique and beautiful traditions in U.S. soccer, and this cocktail recipe dovetails nicely with the sophistication and refinement of LA culture. The simple syrup and bitters work together exquisitely to bring out the complexity of 1800® Cristalino.
Made in a mixing glass with ice, stir all ingredients 30-40 times to ensure it’s both cold and receives appropriate water levels. Strain into an old fashioned glass with one large ice cube and garnish with an orange twist.
If you’re like us, you want to try every one of these cocktails. But only one can be chosen as the official 1800® Cristalino cocktail of LAFC, so don’t forget to head over to our Instagram page to vote on which of these drinks best represents the LA soccer culture.
(All photos by Mariel McCown | The18)
