My first margarita was on a holiday in Mexico. The hot, tropical air and beach and that holiday feeling mixed with tequila, ah…so amazing. For many years the only time I enjoyed a margarita was on a vacation. Then, a few years ago, I was looking for that vacation feeling and ordered a margarita at a local restaurant. It was awful. Cheap tequila, lime juice from concentrate, some sort of citrus flavour and simple syrup – the cheap ingredients made for a horrible drink. No wonder so many people swear off tequila. I decided to set out and recreate an authentic margarita at home.
I went through a lot of trial and error and experimented with a range of ingredients until I found the perfect recipe. Now, the margarita, at its heart, is a simple recipe so I am not claiming to have invented anything here. Though with all the different stories concerning the origin of the Margarita I might as well stake my claim. 😊 Seriously though, before I dive in, please take one thing away from this post: the key to an authentic and delicious margarita, that will carry you to the beaches of Mexico, is to use quality ingredients. Alright, let’s get started!
Tequila
The first and most important ingredient is, of course, tequila. There are so many options on the liquor store shelf that it can be overwhelming. Click Here (https://orrinhargrave.com/overwhelmed-in-the-tequila-aisle-6-blancos-to-simplify-your-choice/ ) to read my full post on 6 great tequilas you can use to make a vacation worthy margarita. Be sure to use a blanco tequila (also known as silver or plata) that is 100% blue agave. It will give you the bold flavour profile you want when enjoying a margarita.
Cointreau
Cointreau is made from dried peels of sweet and bitter oranges and the fresh peels of sweet oranges. It is one of the founding ingredients in the original cocktail recipe. It adds a distinct citrus flavour that compliments the tart and tangy flavour of lime. The combination is a key factor in a perfect margarita. There are other citrus flavoured alcohols on the market but none compare to Cointreau. Cointreau is a quality ingredient that will elevate your margarita above all others.
Lime
Fresh limes are a very important ingredient in your margarita. I would say second only to the tequila you choose. Do not use lime concentrate, bottled lime juice or any sort of pre-made mix. I use organic limes and squeeze them fresh for every margarita. Look for limes that are round, juicy and have a thin rind. The limes that are more pointed on each end and bumpy and have a thick rind may be cheaper but they have a more bitter flavour will ruin your margarita completely. I personally use the President’s Choice Organic Limes from Superstore. You can find them at Save-on foods as well but they tend to be more expensive there.
Lime squeezer
While on the subject of limes, I highly recommend investing in a citrus squeezer. You will want every last delicious drop from your limes. I have tried the lemon/lime squeezer from Superstore but it was actually a bit small and I broke the handle on two of them within a week. The Orange Juicer is a bit bigger but it will get all the juice from your limes with very little effort. There are squeezers on Amazon too but I haven’t tried any of them so can’t recommend one. I do recommend getting some sort of squeezer though. It will change your citrus life.
Agave
A margarita needs a touch of sweetness. How much, exactly, will be up to you. (I will recommend an amount to begin with in my recipe.) Whatever you do, please, please do not use sugar or simple syrup (sugar dissolved in water). The Cointreau already adds a sweet flavour but you may find, like I do, that the margarita just needs a little more to bring it all together. I have tried a number of different options, but the absolute best flavour is organic raw blue agave syrup. I use Wholesome organic raw blue agave syrup. You can find it in a number of places. I get mine from the organic section in Superstore. It is fair trade, low glycemic, delicious and a must for your margarita.
Salt Rim
Personally, I do not salt the rim of my margarita. (*gasp*) I only do this because of sodium intake. Salting the rim, however, is a nice finishing touch to your margarita and it is part of the traditional recipe and presentation. The first key to a good salt rim is to wet the glass edge with a lime rind, so be sure to save one after you have squeezed the limes. Secondly, try not to get too much salt inside the glass. I have had a few margaritas with half the glass rim salted and I think that is a nice touch. Lastly, use a course salt like a sea salt. It is thick and chunky and looks great on the glass. Do not use table salt. Not only does it look bad, you will end up with way, way too much salt and ruin the drink.
There are a lot of nice salt rimmers on the market but if you are not sure you want to invest in that yet, you can spread some coarse salt on a small plate and after wetting the glass edge with a lime turn the glass upside down in the salt. However, don’t feel like you need to salt the rim if, like me, you are concerned about your sodium intake.
The Recipe
Ok, let’s make a vacation worthy margarita! This recipe makes two drinks. I make this and split it in half, one for me and one for my wife.
Ingredients
Blanco Tequila 4 shots (6 oz)
Cointreau 2 shots (3 oz)
2 freshly squeezed organic limes (1.5 oz or 3 Tbsp))
4 tsp organic raw blue agave (adjust to personal preference as necessary)
Tools
Citrus squeezer
Shaker cup
Instructions
Step One
Roll the limes against the cutting board using the palm of your hand to loosen up the juices inside.
Step two
Cut the limes in half widthwise.
Step Three
Place one half at a time in the citrus squeezer and squeeze out all the juice into a shaker cup.
Step Four
Add 3 Tsp of organic Wholesome organic raw blue agave into the lime juice.
Step Five
Add 4 shots of Tequila.
Step Six
Add 2 shots of Cointreau.
Step Seven
Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously (feel free to dance while you shake the shaker. It adds to the drink!)
Step Eight
Add ice to two glasses (salted rims or not) and pour half the shaker into each glass.
Step Nine
Enjoy!