This post sponsored by Exotico Tequila. Please drink responsibly.

I love my margaritas fresh and shaken. But there is just something nostalgic about a slushy, blended-looking marg--especially when you're throwing a Cinco de Mayo party and you need something easy and super festive to serve up. Chickens in ponchos aren't easy. Beergaritas should be easy.

Nope. I am clearly not above dressing my chickens up to drive home a theme. I've done it before and I'll do it again. THIS IS ART.

I digress.

No matter the style of margarita--don't you dare skimp on your tequila! Do you hear me?!!! Exotico Tequila's 100% blue agave Blanco is a pretty perfect choice for this little Beergarita, and any other fruity marg, IMO. It's got a clean, peppery, kicky vibe that, quite frankly, is great on it's own, but extra-extra great in a cocktail.

This recipe gets its sweetness from jam--specifically a fun mango-guava-passionfruit jam. But the beauty of using jam in a cocktail is that you can easily switch up the flavor to suit your tastes--or, if you're doing a party, have several flavors available for your guests to pick and choose. Even hot pepper jam works great in a marg. TRUE STORY.

Let's make these drinks before the ponchos start coming off.

P E P P E R C O R N   J A M M Y   B E E R G A R I T A S

Makes one serving.

• 1.5 oz. Exotico Tequila Blanco

• 1 oz. mango pale ale (or fruity pale ale of your choice)

• 1 oz. fresh lime juice

• 1 tbs. mango-guava-passionfruit jam (or jam flavor of your choice)

• Pinch of ground peppercorn blend

• Pinch of kosher salt

• 1 tbs. salt blended with 1 tsp. ground exotic peppercorn blend plus lime wedge for rim

• Nasturtium blooms for garnish

• Shaved, crushed, or blended ice

If you happen to have a shaved ice maker, I highly recommend using shaved ice for this. It makes for a really fun, slushy drink. So if you've got it, go ahead and make your shaved ice. Otherwise, you can just used crushed ice, or put all of the (non-beer) ingredients in a blender and blend with ice.

Start by prepping your glass. Mix 1 tbs. kosher salt with 1 teaspoon ground peppercorn mix and spread evenly on a small dish. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and roll the glass around in your mix until evenly coated. Fill your glass with shaved or crushed ice.

In a shaker with ice, combine tequila, lime juice, jam, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Shake until chilled, then strain over ice (or, if using a blender, put all of these ingredients in with about a cup of ice and blend until smooth). Add the beer and give everything a quick stir. Top off with ice if need be, and dust with ground pink peppercorn. Garnish with nasturtium blooms and drink up. But slowly. Because: brain freeze.

Also, you should know that chickens don't especially like to wear festive ponchos. They will tolerate it. But they will not be pleased.

Especially when they are so fat and fluffy that the poncho looks like a bib. Unamused chicken is very unamused.

Cheers, friends!

This post sponsored by Exotico Tequila. Please drink responsibly.