As our summit conference nears… I’ve found myself in the kitchen more often lately, eating at home rather than going out. As I gather my thoughts I like to stay near my computer to work out ideas. It’s a ritual I’ve developed over the years I suppose. And as we all know - every good meal is merely what’s served in between GREAT drinks 🙂
With the warmer days upon us (106 in Redlands yesterday), I hope this refreshing alternative “beer”leg drink is an appropriate post.
Let me back up. Three months ago, while no one was looking, I challenged myself to build the PERFECT MARGARITA. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Well, let me tell ya… it’s not. For starters, there’s a few popular drink styles you must first master. It takes time landing the perfect proportions to each one. I stuck to these 3 features: The Classic, The Mexican Martini, and The Cadillac. FYI- these are all shaken drinks, not blended ice margs.
The combinations of what to use in the Perfect Margarita are vast. Here’s a short list of ingredients I’ve been experimenting with… mind you, the best results tend to occur with less ingredients.
- Tequila (3 types: Silver, Gold, Anejo… and several brands)
- Grand Marnier
- Cointreau
- Patron Citronge
- Regualr Triple Sec
- Lime Juice
- Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
- Fresh squeezed Key Lime Juice
- Fresh squeezed Orange Juice
- Minute Maid Orange Juice (pulp free)
- Margarita Pre-Mix
- Lime-Aid
- 7-UP
- Olive Juice
- Maraschino Cherry Juice
- Pineapple Juice
I started this journey after realizing people often overlook this drink because of its simplicity— and as a result there are many, many poorly created margaritas. In homes and in restaurants across this great nation of ours. Well not anymore… not on my watch! 🙂
In my “research” … I've grown fond to my evolving Cadillac.. here are the ingredients:
THE CAD-illac
1.5 oz. Sauza Tequila (gold)
.75 oz. Grand Marnier
1 oz. Fresh squeezed Key Lime Juice
Freshly squeezed Orange (one quarter slice)
1 oz. Jose Cuervo Margarita Pre-Mix
1 Tsp. Maraschino Cherry Juice
* choosing the best quality ingredients reap the best quality product
To start, feel free to crack open a Corona – this may take you a couple tries 🙂 . Then prepare a salted rimmed tumbler glass with ice (it’s more manly than using a tequila glass). Shake the first 5 ingredients rigorously using an ice filled shaker for 20 seconds. Strain the deliciousness into your salted tumbler. Your drink should be a little fizzy if you shook it long enough. Add a teaspoon of Maraschino Cherry juice. The cherry juice does 2 things: it provides a great coat over your margarita removing any bitterness from the acidic flavors and 2.) adds to the presentation. Garnish with a lime cut and serve.
Let me know your response.
I’m still discovering… feel free to share your recipes!!
Stay cool out there.
Man! That makes me want to take the afternoon off. B-)
I always enjoyed this one:
2 oz top shelf tequila
1 oz Presidente brandy
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz lime juice
5 oz sweet n sour
1 fresh lime
salt
ice cubes
Salt the rim and fill with ice
Fill a shaker with ice. Squeeze a lime wedge over the ice and drop it in
Add all the wet stuff and shake
Strain into your salted and iced glass
I personally don't care for Margaritas, but my guests sure do like the way I make them:
1 part Jose Cuervo silver
½ part Cointreau
4½ parts Jose Cuervo Margarita mix
stir, chill & pour into salt-rimmed Margarita glasses, add slice of lime garnish.
One LSU football game requires about 2 gallons worth of the stuff.
Personally, I stick to single malt Scotch, neat.
When indulging with tequila...
2 parts Cuervo Gold
1 part Grand Marnier
1 part Triple Sec
4 parts Margaritaville mix (less acidic than Cuervo mix)
Ice
Alternate Margaritas with fine cervesas and shots of anejos of 1800, Patron, etc.
B-)
You can't go wrong with any cocktail that follows three simple rules:
1. Top shelf booze
2. Any juice MUST be fresh squeezed
3. Lastly and most importantly is the golden mean of cocktails - 2 parts booze : 3/4 parts sour : 3/4 parts sweet.
Marg's are good, but sometimes, I need something more.
I too have been on the hunt for the perfect drink. Something that trancends the seasons and temperature. Also, until recently, for the last 5 years or so, my body totally rejected beer, and I turned to liquor (it didn't trigger left hemisphere migranes).
So I looked at tequila, Patron silver with a slice of lime sipped over ice is EXCELLENT. Whiskey (good whiskey or no kidding moonshine) with a coke and splash of lime juice is tough to beat also. Dalwinnie 18 year single malt scotch whiskey over ice is great, but all of these are cocktails. I needed something more.
So I turned to rum and found an excellent choice in my surname. Now I tried the Kracken, Malibu (I remember it from college) and Sailor Jerry, and they're okay, but 100 proof Captain Morgan is the best. So, pour 4 to 6 ounces, depending on where you want to be and how fast, over ice, and let the ice just begin to melt. Add one sprite (canned is best) and just a touch of cherry juice. This is my favorite drink and it's stupid easy. Coke is okay and Dr. Pepper is a horrible mixer, although it's my favorite soda water. If you have the means for the Captain Morgan Private Stock, over ice is a great sipping rum.
Surveyors all seem to have one thing in common, we drink. Whether it's because of the job or not, I don't know, but we all seem to drink, and the older ones, more heavily. 🙂
I like the way you think.
Nothing beats old Whiskey of any variety.
But other things make better cold drinks.
Gin & Tonic is about as simple as it gets, I recommend a very good quality tonic. I do it 2 to 1 or even 1 to 1 but then I am a lush :-). Use Vodka if you want a cleaner tasting drink.
I never had a Margarita until a few weeks ago on a business trip.
We were eating in a Mexican Restaurant just north of Fort Bragg (California) and they offered a top shelf Margarita. My young colleague egged me on into getting it because he likes to watch me stagger out to the truck (I have him drive when that happens).
So I order it and the waitress asks if "on-the-rocks" is OK (apparently a lot of people want it blended which they will do). I said sure, rocks is good.
Damn that thing is good, I had no idea. They didn't make it sweet, maybe slightly tart. I don't like sweet anything except chocolate.
On the rocks in a rocks glass. I thought Margaritas come in that weird cocktail glass. I'm sure it is way better un-blended which would water it down too much.
True... 🙂
I need to get a juicer, heck I need a bar.
Agreed - Whiskey is a good "year-round" flavor. In fact, I learned how to make a decent Old Fashion this winter... it's actually what prompted me to take on his challenge. I grew a liking to Maker's as a result 🙂 I also learned Bulliet Rye is some decent stuff.
Another margarita alternative I'd recommend in this "genre" would be a Moscow Mule. It's not as acidic for those prone to heart burn. Though it's made with Vodka, the Ginger Beer offers a margarita feeling. Don't make the mistake I did and pull the DIET Ginger Beer from the shelf.. DOH!
I use a lime squeezer- works well!
yep Bulleit Rye is very good. I have a bottle of that on hand. I like it a lot. I would like to use it in a cocktail recipe but so far I've been taking it neat.
The Bulleit Bourbon is pretty good too.
For cheap Whiskey I think Tullamore Dew is about unbeatable but I've been finding Bulleit of both varieties on sale for 20 bucks pretty consistently lately and it has a real cork in it.
My daughter gave me a bottle of 12 year old Glenlivet which is very good too.
Try taking out some of the mix and adding the Corona to the margarita.
The Perfect Margarita: TheCAD-illac>3-2-1
Wow, I can not believe this discussion goes on without discussion if the perfect margarita solution.
3 parts tequilla
2 part orange liquor
1 part lime juice
Thats the foundation to build upon, and if I mixed up the liquorfruit juice its because its been margarita season here on cape cod the last week at my house. Or, like rolykaroly said, clean whiskey.
rolykaroly
Dave is too polite, reserved and unassuming to correct you, I'm sure, but it's actually
MERRILYKAROLY.
: )
Don
Over 15yrs ago I banned Tookilya from my use and from my boat and other vehicles as too much damage was being afflicted to all of them because of the effects of those under the influence of the elixir.
In my younger years as part owner of a local bar, we had Margarita celebrations for pool parties and getaways at the lake. It was too dangerous to have an event like that at the bar or anywhere inside because with any open bottle of Tequila in sight, the insistence for shots takes over.
Rum is a substance that generally causes me to close one eye, tilt my head and act as like 15th century hooligan, unless I become violently ill before that occurs. It has become a banned elixir also.
Whiskey, moonshine and vodka became the main ingredients to my drinks of choice.
Coconut juice, fresh or carbonated over ice with lime is choice for vodka and for events that include drinking in the sun.
Ice and cola and even a boilermaker for whiskey. Straight with a water back is nice.
Moonshine is for sipping with new and close friends.
:drink:
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey + crushed ice. Es todo.
