Classic and Refreshing Margarita

This simple refreshing classic is the perfect combo of salty, sweet,and tangy. It’s made with three simple ingredients. The classic Margarita combines, lime juice and 2 types of alcohol. Tequila and orange liquor. The most common ones used are Cointreau and Triple Sec. The perfect margarita is all about fresh, crisp flavors. Knowing what it shouldn’t taste like helps us understand what it should taste like. A classic and perfect margarita in my taste, should not be overly sweet and sticky, and the tequila flavors should never be non-existent but not overly unpleasant either. The tequila flavours should be smooth but add a peppery note to the drink. The tart lime juice and triple sec or Cointreau should combine into a citrus flavor that enhances and brings out the aromatic side of tequila. That makes for a balanced, smooth margarita without taking away from the tequila.

How to make the best margarita

First choose your vessel. Use a classic margarita glass or use any glass you got. The vessel doesn’t matter as much as what you do with it. That brings us to the salty part. I like to use a coarse flaky salt to salt my glass but any coarseness will do but salting the rim of a margarita is a must. There are a lot of variations of flavours when it comes to the salting. A lot like to add flavouring like spices or lime zest to the salt and that is totally fine. Get creative but make sure there is salt. More details on how to do this below.

The most important thing is choosing your tequila. I am no specialist when it comes to tequila but I do know there are decent tequilas out there at any price point. So choose the one you can find that tastes good to you and makes you happy - just make sure it’s one that is made from 100% agave. There are some really fabulous tequila mixes out there but I prefer a non mixed tequila for my margarita.

Lime juice is a huge component and a wedge or slice of lime to garnish is always a welcome touch. Crushed ice vs just mixing the drink with ice in the shaker is totally up to you. I like to do ice in the shaker plus serve mine with a few cubes. I tend to make my margarita strong so a few ice cubes in the margarita glass will not be enough dilute it. Then sip and enjoy.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Tequila made from 100 percent agave, preferably blanco
• 1 ounce Cointreau (or triple sec)
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Salt for garnish
• Agave or simple syrup to taste (optional)
• Ice
• Lime wedges/ lices for serving and for wetting rim of glass

Directions

1. Prepare your margarita glass by taking a wedge of lime, running it along the rim of the glass to moisten. Then holding glass upside down, dip rim into salt and set aside.
2. Add some ice to your cocktail shaker.
3. Pour in the tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice to your shaker and shake
4. Taste and add sweetener/simple syrup as desired.
5. Add some ice to your prepared glass and pour! Keep the strainer on your cocktail shaker so that the drink is strained while you pour it in.
6. Garnish with a lime wedge/slice