How to Make the Perfect Margarita

For those of you still recovering from Cinco de Mayo festivities, I’m here to keep the party going and to share with you some of the best margarita recipes that you need to try- right now. Margaritas are one of my favorite summertime drinks and that tequila never fails to give me a swift kick to my ass. But after a long week and for some of us cold winters, sometimes we just need a drink to put us in our place and a good toast to summertime. So at your next get together, don’t go out and buy a crappy mixer, be sure to impress with fresh ingredients by following these recipes.

The Classic

For some of us, you can’t go wrong with a classic margarita. The salted rim, tangy lime, and strong kick of tequila has this margarita staying true to its roots. If this sounds like you, than this classic recipe is a must.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Resposada or Anejo Tequila
• 1 ½ oz fresh Lime Juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 3 dashes Orange Bitters
• Kosher or Sea Salt for the rim

Directions

1. Rub the rim of your glass with the edge of a lime and swirl the rim through a small pile of kosher or sea salt. Add one or two large ice cubes into the glass.
2. Combine tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and bitters in an ice filled shaker.
3. Shake for 15 seconds then pour into glass.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Cilantro Jalapeño Margarita

Who doesn’t love jalapeño? For those of you looking for some heat to their margarita this recipe is for you.

Ingredients

• Sugar
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 2 oz tequila
• 2 limes- 1 juiced and 1 quartered
• 1 jalapeño halved and seeded
• Handful fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Combine sugar and chili powder into a shallow dish. Dip glass into simple syrup then sugar mixture to create rim.
2. Fill margarita glass with ice.
3. Add simple syrup, Cointreau, tequila and lime juice into shaker. Shake to combine then strain into glass.
4. Add jalapeño, cilantro and lime wedges.

Mexican Bulldog Margarita

This combination of the two ultimate summertime drinks of Corona and Margaritas is sure to please your crowd.

Ingredients

• 5 Cups Ice
• 1 Cup Tequila
• ½ Cup Grand Marnier
• 5 Limes, more for garnish
• 1 Orange
• 1 Cup Simple Syrup
• 6 Coronas
• 1/3 Cup coarse Salt

Directions

1. Once at room temperature, gently roll limes and oranges on counter while applying pressure without breaking them open. This way the citrus will yield more liquid when you juice them.
2. Juice limes and orange in a large measuring cup, add tequila, Grand Marnier, and simple syrup. Mix together.
3. Pour salt in a shallow bowl. Rub one of the juiced limes along the rim of each glass then dip into salt to create rim.
4. Add ice into blender then just enough of the margarita mixture so that the ice is not covered. Blend until desired thickness is achieved.
5. Pour mixture into glass. Open coronas and place it upside down submerging it into the margarita.
6. Garnish with lime and enjoy!