The Margarita Thread

Cafe Society
1

Can we talk about margaritas? I love them. In particular, I’m interested in any recipes that you have that you think are especially good or unique.

I’ll share mine. Admittedly, this is by no means a top shelf concoction, but it provides excellent results for the ease of the recipe.

Tequila (6 oz)
Beer (6 oz)
Frozen limeaid concentrate (6 0z)
Orange juice (splash/to taste)
Triple Sec (splash)

You can either make this in a blender, or make a smaller batch right in the glass. I don’t care for the ‘frozen’ margarita though, so the blender is just for mixing the drink and maybe for slightly chopping the ice cubes. You can experiment with the beer that you use. Typically I use something light in color without too much hop bitterness. Hefe-weizen adds an interesting note. Also, I never bother with high end tequila. It seems like a waste.

I usually don’t go for fruit in these, but if I have an over-ripe banana around, I’ll sometimes throw that in for fun.

Anyone else care to share?

2

Don’t want to go cheap either though as that’ll easily offset your other efforts. To me, Commemorativo is the perfect choice.

I like all your other suggestions and would only suggest the occasional addition of Cointreau or Grand Marnier.

3

This is the “top-shelf” recipe from a Mexican restaurant I worked at back in the day. Simple, but very tasty.

2 parts Tres Generaciones tequila
2 parts Rose’s Lime Juice
1 part Grand Marnier
1 part Sweet and Sour
(always served on the rocks)

As far a tequila quality, Tres Generaciones is Sauza’s top-end tequila and it’s really good. You can actually sip it on the rocks, unlike the lower grade tequilas which are not so tasty. While I wouldn’t use this tequila for a crazy Margarita party night because of the cost, it does make a difference in the end product when you want a really good margartia.

4

Last time I had a margarita was when I was visiting my sister down in Texas. She uses the pre-mixed, pre-frozen stuff. Just add tequila.

5

I like margaritas with other liqueurs added. A couple of my favorites to add are Chambord and Blue Curacao.

6

IMHO the Cointreau and Grand Marnier make the margarita.

But have you priced that stuff?

Outrageous.

7

I’ve spent two years working as a bartender in New Orleans, back in school. A margarita is my favorite drink. A couple of years ago I started a thread on this subject and such worthies as Gaudere and Manhattan told me I was mad. MAD! they said.

But I know I’m right.

A margarita is a slightly sleazy drink. Tequila is a rotgut liquor. Part of that rotgut background is what gives it character. A top shelf Tequila made with Patron and Cointreau is like having a hooker striptease in a nursery school. It just ain’t right.

Scientifically, the fact that you are using lime juice, or a sweet and sour mix, or what have you is going to chemically destroy much of the subtlety and grandeur (if you beleive such a thing exists) of your top shelf liquors.

The perfect margarita is made as follows:

1/3 medium quality tequila. I like Two Fingers or even Jose Cuervo as a nice honest tequila.

1/3 triple sec. Who gives a shit about triple sec? I use Joaquim’s which is likefive buck a gallon, and not bad. Cointreau is just a waste, though if you have it on hand, what else is it good for? It doesn’t hurt. I’ll use it if it’s there.

1/3 freshly squeezed lime juice. The limes make the drink. I honestly can’t fathom a margarita made from top shelf liquors and a mixer. What’s the point.

Use old limes. Small limes. Look for the beat up spotted ones, just past there prime. Stay clear of the big fresh looking green ones. If you have the time, beat your limes up a day in advance and leave them on the counter. Nice and bruised and abused. Then make your lime juice from them. Nice and sweet.

I know it’s uncool, but I like to mix it in a blender with a little ice, not too much, and serve in a salted glass.

Heaven.
Expensive liquor, mixers and salted glasses or both a waste and an insult to the margarita, who while not noble is honest. She deserves our respect for her integrity.