Margarita
Margarita Cocktail
Everyone knows the Margarita, that refreshing drink that can be made in so many ways, take on many personalities, and the must have summer cocktail. The Margarita is one of the most popular cocktails in North America and shows no signs of slowing down. There are a number of variations to the Margarita, so you’re sure to find one that is just right for you. There are three basic ways you can serve this cocktail: neat (as in this recipe), on the rocks, or frozen. The next question is, salt, sugar or nothing on the rim of your glass. The possibilities are endless.
The first recipe is the most common and the easiest way to make a Margarita, though some people prefer to use a 2:1:1 ratio on the ingredients. Notice that there are only three ingredients, which when combined in a balanced way, makes the best fresh Margarita you will find. Below that recipe is an alternative that uses sour mix and, if you like it a little sweeter, add a dash of simple syrup or agave nectar to the first recipe. Either one that you choose, let me make this point: this drink is far too easy to justify buying a bottled Margarita mix and you will find that the fresh juice makes a far superior drink anyway.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz triple sec (Cointreau is recommended)
1 oz fresh lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
Salt or sugar to rim the glass (optional)
Preparation:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass.
Pour contents, with ice, into the glass.
Garnish with the lime wedge.
Cape Codder
The Cape Codder, or Cape Cod, is one of those popular highballs that are simply a shot of liquor over ice and topped with a mixer. In this case the ingredients are vodka and cranberry. This duo cocktail is the base for quite a few trios like the Sea Breeze, Bay Breeze and Madras, in which one other fruit juice is added to the mix. They all make great light, everyday drinks, especially on hot summer afternoons. Also, use Blavod, a black vodka, to turn a Cape Cod into a dark Black Widow.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients:
3 oz cranberry juice
2 oz vodka
Lime wedge for garnish
Preparation:
Pour the ingredients into a highball glass with ice cubes.
Stir well.
Squeeze the lime juice into the drink.
Drop the lime wedge into the glass.
With citrus season in full swing, it’s easy to whip up a bright and invigorating cocktail in no time. One of my favourite combinations recently has been the bittersweet flavour of fresh ruby red grapefruit juice paired with the sweet, spicy notes of ginger.
Grapefruit and Ginger Sparkler
Grapefruit, with its slightly bitter punch, used to throw me for a loop, but lately I’ve taken a real liking to it, embracing the pungent flavour. One of the ways I eased into is by pairing it with another strong flavour like ginger. Together this duo is hard to beat—spicy, citrusy and bright. But turn the duo into a trio by adding a little bubbly over top, and you’ve got yourself a cocktail that will keep you on your toes.
About This Recipe
YIELD: makes 1 cocktail
ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
Ingredients
1 ounce fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
3 to 4 ounces Prosecco or other sparkling wine
Grapefruit wedge to garnish
GHOST OF THE CITY
About This Recipe
YIELD: 1 cocktail
ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: cocktail strainer, cocktail glass
Ingredients 2 ounces white whiskey, such as Low Gap
1 ounces Cocchi Americano
1 dash lemon bitters
Garnish: cocktail cherry
Procedure
Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add white whiskey, Cocchi Americano, and lemon bitters. Stir for 15 seconds.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry and serve straight up.
We’ll definitely be making this rich and fruity aperitif again. Orange juice isn’t used in many classic cocktails, because it’s sweet and less versatile than lemon or lime. “But here it is the real “meat” of this cocktail,” says Jackson Cannon of Island Creek Oyster Bar in Boston. Amaro Montenegro and Aperol extend the flavors of orange juice so naturally you could imagine you’re just sipping the nectar of the best oranges you’ve ever encountered.
JACKSON CANNON’S ADRIATIQUE
About This Recipe
YIELD: makes 1 cocktail
ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: cocktail shaker and strainer
Ingredients
Ice
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
1 ounce Amaro Montenegro
1/2 ounce Aperol
Procedure
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add orange juice, amaro, and Aperol. Shake well, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
The Laureate Recipe: Bon Appétit
Look for dried hibiscus flowers (also called jamaica) at specialty foods stores and Latin markets. Agave nectar, a low-glycemic sweetener, is available at some supermarkets, in the aisle where other syrups are sold.
Ingredients
4 orange slices
40 whole cloves
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup dried hibiscus flowers
4 small bay leaves
1 cup añejo tequila (such as Gran Centenario)
4 tablespoons agave nectar
Preparation
Stud each orange slice with 10 cloves. Bring 1 1/2 cups water to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add hibiscus flowers; cover and let steep 2 minutes. Strain hibiscus tea into measuring cup; cover to keep hot. Run 4 brandy snifters under hot water until snifters are warm. Place 1 clove-studded orange slice and 1 bay leaf into each snifter; pour 1/4 cup tequila, then 1/4 cup hot hibiscus tea into each. Stir 1 tablespoon agave nectar into each. Serve.
Pepino
INGREDIENTS
2 1/4-inch slices English hothouse cucumber, divided
3 tablespoons silver tequila
3 basil leaves plus 1 sprig basil for garnish
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1 tablespoon pineapple juice
1/2 tablespoon agave syrup (nectar)
PREPARATION
Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, mash 1 cucumber slice in a cocktail shaker. Add tequila, basil leaves, lime juice, Cointreau, pineapple juice, agave, and 1 cup ice. Shake several times to blend. Pour cocktail into a tall glass; garnish with remaining cucumber slice and basil sprig.
The Black Friars Cobbler
INGREDIENTS
10 fresh blackberries
1/4 cup Plymouth sloe gin
1/4 cup mezcal (such as Sombra or Del Maguey Vida)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons pure cane syrup (such as Steen’s)
3 cups (about) crushed ice
Additional fresh blackberries (for garnish)
PREPARATION
Using muddler or handle of wooden spoon, muddle 10 blackberries in cocktail shaker. Add sloe gin, mezcal, lemon juice, and cane syrup. Shake without ice until well blended, about 10 times. Divide mixture between 2 large rocks glasses. Fill each glass with enough crushed ice to reach top of glass. Garnish each with additional blackberries and serve.
Spicy Grapefruit Margarita
INGREDIENTS
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons tequila
1-2 habanero chiles, halved
Kosher salt
6 cups fresh pink grapefruit juice
PREPARATION
Mix tequila and chiles in a large pitcher. Let steep 3 hours, or longer if a spicier tequila is desired. Discard chiles. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 month ahead. Cover; chill.
Pour enough water onto a small plate to cover. Pour enough salt onto another small plate to cover by 1/4″. Dip rims of eight 12-ounce. glasses into water, then into salt to lightly coat; fill with ice. Add grapefruit juice to pitcher with tequila. Fill with ice; stir until cold. Divide drink among glasses
Agave Margarita
INGREDIENTS
Kosher salt
2 lime slices or wedges
1/4 cup tequila blanco
2 tablespoons agave syrup (nectar)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
PREPARATION
Pour some kosher salt into a small dish. Rub 1 lime slice over half the rim of an Old Fashioned glass (if you prefer your Margarita on the rocks) or a coupe glass (if you prefer it up). Dip rim of glass into salt.
Combine tequila, agave syrup, and juice in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice and shake well. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with second lime slice.
Blackberry-Thyme Margarita
INGREDIENTS
16 large fresh blackberries, divided
4 small fresh thyme sprigs, divided
6 tablespoons 100% blue agave silver tequila
1/4 cup Simple Syrup
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
2 cups ice cubes, divided
1/4 cup chilled sparkling wine
PREPARATION
Place 14 blackberries and 2 thyme sprigs in medium bowl. Press firmly on solids with muddler or back of wooden spoon until mashed. Mix in tequila, Simple Syrup, lime juice, and Cointreau, then 1 cup ice. Stir to blend well. Strain into large glass measuring cup. Mix in sparkling wine. Divide remaining ice between 2 tall glasses. Pour Margarita mixture over. Garnish each with 1 blackberry and 1 thyme sprig.
