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10 Awesome, Family-Friendly, All-Inclusive Caribbean Getaways For The Winter! (Part 1)
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The margarita is a classic cocktail which is consistently ranked as one of the top cocktails in the world. It is an easy beverage to make, with tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime juice being all that are needed. For those who prefer a bit of sweetness, simple syrup, agave syrup, or even honey can be used.
Margaritas are enjoyed on the rocks or blended. Some enjoy a salted or sugared rim while others enjoy them with nothing on the rim. A slice of lime creates the perfect garnish. Margaritas are world-renowned for being enjoyed outside in sunny weather, in coastal and tropical entertaining, and during great times with family and friends!
Photo Credit: Cerulean Bay
A Bit of History
Like most great cocktails, the origin of the margarita differs, depending on who you ask and where you check online. Many stories of where it first originated exist and one could truly write a book to document them all.
One version which we find particularly interesting is about Carlos “Danny” Herrera. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Herrera is said to have created the first margarita in 1938 at the Rancho La Gloria restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. A customer who was an aspiring actress was supposedly allergic to all hard liquor except for tequila. Apparently she loved a good tequila shot or two with a good lick of salt and a lime wedge. But on this visit, she wanted an actual cocktail she could enjoy. So Herrera used the tequila shot as the inspiration to create a cocktail version of it. He added some orange curacao to give it some more flavor and that it what we are told was the very first margarita.
However, Patron Tequila has another interesting story in their history of this drink. They say that a Dallas socialite named Margaret “Margarita” Sames came up with the idea for the cocktail in the 1940’s. While she was visiting Acapulco, Margarita wanted something refreshing with a bold citrus flavor so she had the bartender mix up some tequila with lime juice and an orange liqueur. As she enjoyed it, the bartender called it “The Margarita” in her honor.
Photo Credit: Patrontequila.com
But as cocktail historians looked into this version of the story, they concluded that what Ms. Sames most likely ordered was what was called a “daisy” back then. A daisy was made from a customer’s choice of spirit, their choice of a citrus juice and orange liqueur. Soda water was added as the finish. It seems that what Ms. Sames ordered was simply her version of a daisy, without the soda water. Many people ordered daisies without the soda water so they could have a drink with a more concentrated flavor. So when Ms. Sames ordered her drink, that could have been the time when the margarita was born. It is also noteworthy that the Spanish word for the daisy flower is “margarita”.
Photo Credit: CeruleanBay.com
Tequila! Which type should you use?
Our version of the margarita celebrates the original version. We use the 2-2-1 proportion: A very good blanco tequila, Cointreau, and fresh squeezed lime juice. We also add a bit of agave syrup, about a teaspoon or so.
We use blanco tequila because it has the brightest and purest flavor. It does not add any competing flavors to the drink because it is not aged in barrels. Reposado tequilas can be used but these are barrel-aged in oak and will impart a more mellow, complex flavor. Some people prefer this different flavor profile in their margarita and that is perfectly fine. There is no right or wrong when it comes to the tequila used. The important thing is to make sure it is 100% agave, that it is a very good quality, and most importantly, that you like it. Cheap tequilas are often not 100% pure agave and can produce a harsh and sometimes excessive alcohol taste.
Hints of Orange
When it comes to orange liqueur, orange curaçao is widely used as it has a good balance between the orange flavor and its sweetness. Triple secs are also commonly used. Whereas the flavor of orange curaçao tends to be more consistent among brands, some triple secs are simply better than others because there is a wider range of orange flavors and levels of sweetness.
Beyond those is Cointreau which is a French brand of triple sec. This is our choice for margaritas because it has a deeper and more complex orange flavor without it being too sweet. Or you can also choose to use Grand Marnier which is a cognac-based orange liqueur. But it is more expensive and will add hints of vanilla and oak from the cognac to your cocktail. Most Cadillac Margarita recipes use Grand Marnier which is why those versions of the margarita are more expensive than the regular shaken versions.
Limes! Wonderful Limes!
Since lime juice is a central component in margaritas, it is very important to use fresh-squeezed juice. Bottled lime juice will simply ruin a cocktail. There is just no way around that because it has a harsh, raw edge and an overly concentrated flavor. Not good when you want an amazing cocktail!
When preparing your limes (or any citrus for that matter) for juicing, rinse them well. Then with the palm of your hand, roll them firmly on a countertop or cutting board several times, back and forth. You will feel them soften as the internal structure of the fruit breaks down. Then, when you use a citrus press or a reamer, you can get every bit of juice from the fruit!
When we use a citrus press, we actually take the squeezed half off of the press and the fold it in half and squeeze it again. Lime juice is liquid gold so make sure you aren’t missing out on any! We received this heavy-duty metal one as a gift, it is very sturdy. You definitely don't want something that is cheaply made so we recommend this citrus press if you don't already have one.
Photo Credits: Cerulean Bay
Margarita on the Rocks
For a single drink:
- 2 oz good quality blanco tequila
- 2 oz Cointreau
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp agave syrup or more for added sweetness
- Kosher or margarita salt for glass rims (optional)
For those who love their margaritas with salt, the first step is to moisten the entire rim of a cocktail or margarita glass with a lime wedge and then press it into a dish of salt. Lightly tap to remove excess salt. If you prefer to have something to salt with specifically for the bar, this salt rimming set works nicely. It's great for having another option such as sugar or tajin available as well.
Add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker. Measure ice in a cocktail glass. Pour the ice into the shaker and then give it a few really good shakes until the shaker frosts. If you want a great shaker, get this one. We love it! Pour into the cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
For a pitcher (7 to 8 drinks):
- 2 cups good quality blanco tequila
- 2 cups Cointreau
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup agave syrup or more for added sweetness
- Kosher or margarita salt for glass rims (optional)
Begin by salting the rims of glasses for those guests who like salt. In a large pitcher, add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and agave syrup. Mix well. Using a large serving spoon, measure a few spoonfuls of ice into the pitcher and mix very well. Fill each glass about halfway with ice and then divide the margaritas evenly as you pour them into each glass. Garnish with lime wedges.
Blended Margarita
Photo Credit: Liquor.com
Many people love a well-blended, frothy, frozen margarita. Since these are made in a blender, making a single drink can be tricky because the amount of ice needed to create the frothy texture is usually more than what is used for a single cocktail. The result can be a watered down drink! So we recommend using measurements for 2 to 4 cocktails. In this recipe, we are blending for 4 servings.
- 1 cup good quality blanco tequila
- 1 cup Cointreau
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp agave syrup or more for added sweetness
- Kosher or margarita salt for glass rims (optional)
Having a sturdy blender is worth it because not all blenders can handle ice. Some do break, we've seen it happen. We love ours, it is an older Oster with only 2 speeds. This is the latest version of it and a lot of people love it. It is not fancy, it has a heavy base, it is loud, and it does the job.
For guests who prefer salt, prepare the glass rims as described above. Add 4 or 5 cups of ice to a good blender. Pour in the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and agave syrup. Blend briefly on low to break up the ice and then on high until everything is smooth. Pour the blended margarita evenly between each glass and garnish with lime wedges.
