These creations celebrate Baja California Sur’s local specialities and customs
(La Paz, Mexico) – Whether you’ve spent your day swimming with whale sharks, lazing on the spectacular white sands of Balandra Beach, or catching tonight’s dinner onboard a fishing boat, there’s no better way to toast your La Paz adventures than with a cocktail. And not just any cocktail!
The La Paz region, located on the Baja California peninsula, just an hour north of Los Cabos, has a vibrant cocktail culture for you to explore. A La Paz original is the Doble Canala (meaning “double canal”) – a mash-up of a Michelada beer cocktail and a classic Bloody Mary. The original was made at Bar Mundos, but every bar in town now has their own version, typically with beer, vodka, tomato or Clamato juice, lime juice, a stick of celery, black pepper and something called “petrol” – a mix of black sauces including Maggi seasoning, Worcestershire and soy sauces! Right by the city’s waterfront Malecon, pull up a seat at the bar and try the version served at El Parnazo.
Enjoyment of the Doble Canala crosses all socio-economic and gender lines among the locals, but if you’re looking for something a little more refined to celebrate your day, here are three unique cocktail options from La Paz’s finest drinking establishments, and how you can make them at home.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1655152852/clients/lapazmexico/unnamed_2_021861aa-c70d-4eb7-933a-d21dad0fbb0c.jpg)
The Dolores at La Miserable
La Paz’s best mezcaleria, La Miserable is a great choice for cheers-ing the day with friends. It offers a wide selection of mezcals to try straight-up, as well as a neat list of mezcal-based cocktails, such as The Dolores.
6 basil leaves
1 oz lime juice
2 oz orange juice
1 oz ginger syrup
2 oz espadin mezcal (this is a type of mezcal, not a brand)
Ice
Combine the mezcal, fruit juices, ginger syrup and 4 of the basil leaves in a shaker, and shake to combine. Strain and serve over ice with the other 2 basil leaves.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1655152852/clients/lapazmexico/unnamed_3_5242712a-ed32-4e28-bfde-e6d04320d091.jpg)
The Balandra at Steinbeck’s at CostaBaja
Steinbeck’s, one of the restaurants at CostaBaja Resort, right next to the marina, is an excellent place for a celebratory drink, followed by an extravagant dinner. Their Balandra cocktail makes use of Damiana, a liqueur made from a local herbal plant.
1 oz whiskey
1 oz Damiana liqueur
4 oz ginger ale
Mint leaf for garnish
Put the whiskey and Damiana liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake for 8 seconds. Strain into a hurricane glass with ice, top with the ginger ale, and garnish with a mint leaf.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1655152852/clients/lapazmexico/unnamed_4_bec18b8e-9687-4996-9b51-6664c24daab6.jpg)
Jalapeño Margarita at La Casita
As a farm-to-table restaurant, La Casita offers a range of margaritas made from locally-sourced ingredients, from fruity passionfruit, to sour tamarind, and this fiery jalapeño version. Grab your family for a relaxed cocktail-hour drink and kick things off with one of their delicious margaritas.
1 oz lime juice
1.5 oz Cinco Perros tequila
1 oz Controy orange liqueur (also called Naranja liqueur)
2 smashed jalapeño slices
Lime slice for garnish
Put all ingredients together and shake to combine. Serve strained over ice in a glass with a salt-and-pepper rim, and garnished with a slice of lime.
Photo Credits:
Chili-rimmed cocktail at La Casita - La Paz Tourism
The Dolores cocktail - La Miserable
The Balandra cocktail - Steinbeck's Restaurant at CostaBaja
Jalapeño margarita - La Casita