Imagine it’s summer. The sun is blazing, the grill is sizzling and all that’s needed is a
salt-rimmed glass of ice-cold Margarita. Bliss!
But which Margarita to choose? Should you go for the classic tequila-lime-triple-sec
combo or experiment with a few tempting alternatives? Stay fresh or chill with a
frozen margarita? Follow our suggestions and you won’t go far wrong. Salud!
Stick with the classics
For a classic Margarita, blanco or silver tequila is the way to go, blended with Triple
Sec (or Cointreau) and lime juice in a 2:1:1 ratio. Add a splash of agave nectar or
sugar syrup and shake till ice-cold. Serve in a coupe or a rocks glass, garnished with
a wheel of lime. If you favour an aged reposado tequila, use this in the same
quantities to create a Picador.
Add a touch of spice
You can add a bit of Mexican heat to your Margarita by muddling jalapeño pepper
and sliced cucumber into the tequila and leaving it to infuse for a little while before
straining off. Use the spicy tequila to make your Margarita in the usual way. The
infused tequila can be used to create other fruity Margaritas with a bit of extra bite.
Fruity Margaritas
Speaking of fruit, Margaritas work effortlessly well with citrussy notes – like in
Edmunds’ ready-to-serve Kumquat Margarita and Pink Grapefruit Margarita – but
also play nicely with other fruit flavours, so it’s worth experimenting to see what you
like. Pineapple and mango Margaritas deliver a tropical hit that evoke beach and
poolside vibes.
Frozen Margaritas
For the full holiday experience, though, you can’t beat a frozen Margarita. Most
Margaritas can be served ‘frozen’ if you blend ingredients with crushed ice rather
than shaking them. With fruit Margaritas, you can freeze the fruit beforehand and
simply blend these chunks with the spirits to create ready-to-serve cocktails without
added ice. Strawberries and watermelon make particularly good frozen Margaritas.
Fizzy Margaritas
If you’re in the mood for long and cool rather than short and punchy, a fizzy
Margarita might be the smart option. The simplest way is to serve your classic
Margarita in an ice-filled Collins glass topped with soda water. If you’re planning a
party, though, you could put Champagne or Prosecco Margaritas on the menu. Mix
the Margarita ingredients – silver tequila, Triple Sec and lime juice – in a jug and
leave to chill for a while. When guests arrive, pour a bit of the mix into flutes and top
with ice-cold fizz.
