Jeff Flowers on July 19, 2013 0 Comments Summer get-togethers are not complete without a tasty plate of food in one hand and a cold drink in the other. One thing that is sure to take your party from good to great is a fun fiesta theme – complete with margaritas. Here are some tips and a couple of recipes to make sure your summer fiesta makes Jimmy Buffett proud. Your Margaritaville party deserves the best. But remember, Margaritas are only as good as their worst ingredient, so use quality, 100% agave spirits, real Triple Sec and freshly squeezed lime juice. For those who like salted rims, use coarse sea salt or kosher salt – never table salt. Make sure to run a lime wedge around the rim to make the salt stick. The Classic Margarita source Before you go crazy with variations, first you must master the classic margarita. What you will need: 1 cup of tequila 3 ounces orange liqueur 3 ounces fresh lime juice 1 ounce agave nectar (optional) Yield: 4 Margaritas Directions: Shake the ingredients with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass with a salted rim. If your mixture is too sweet, add more lime. If it’s too tart, add more agave or orange liqueur. The agave nectar is optional, but the earthy flavor adds an excellent touch. For a less strong margarita, cut back on the tequila. The Ultimate Margarita Much like the classic, the ultimate margarita possesses some of the same ingredients, but adds a few more for an extra kick. What you will need: 1 cup of Patrón Silver 2 ounces Grand Marnier 1/4 cup of Triple Sec 1/2 cup of your favorite lager beer 1/2 cup of fresh-squeezed lime juice Yield: 4 Margaritas Directions: Set the beer to the side, and shake the rest of the ingredients together with ice. Strain the mixture into a salt-rimmed glass and add a splash of the beer on top. Watermelon Margaritas source Nothing says summer, like a wedge of watermelon. So, why not add that same summer taste into your favorite cocktail? What you will need: 1/2 cup of your favorite tequila 3 tablespoons of Triple Sec (1.5 oz) 2 tablespoons of sugar 2 ounces of fresh-squeezed lime juice 3-4 cups of cubed watermelon (no seeds) Yield: 4 Margaritas Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until the mixture is at your desired consistency. Pour into a glass with a few icecubes to ensure it stays cold. For bonus points, be sure to add sugar on the rim of your glass. The Spicy Margarita To add some spice to the mix, try a margarita variation that simply swaps one citrus out for another. You can also sub in aged tequila like Reposado or Mezcal for the more typical blanco. Instead of adding ingredients, try this “less is more” margarita recipe. What you will need: 1 cup of 100% agave tequila 4 ounces of Grand Marnier 4 ounces of freshly-squeeze lime juice 4 ounces agave nectar syrup Yield: 4 Margaritas Directions: Shake the ingredients with ice, and strain into your favorite margarita glass. For an extra spicy kick, garnish the margarita with a fresh-cut serrano or jalapeno pepper. The “Morning After” Margarita source The “morning after” margarita is the perfect alternative to a mimosa or Bloody Mary. What you will need: 6 ounces of your favorite tequila 3 ounces of Cointreau 3 ounces of freshly-squeeze lime juice 4 ounces of mango nectar 4 ounces of fresh tangerine juice 2 ounces of ginger juice Yield: 4 Margaritas Directions: Shake all of the above ingredients with ice. Strain and pour over ice in a glass. For garnish, skip the lime wedge and add a tangerine wedge. Margarita Party Accessories Whatever variations you choose for your margarita party, remember that quality, fresh ingredients make the most memorable margaritas. But why stop there? Make your summer party a real success with one of these popular party accessories: Europro Ninja Master Prep Mixer Europro Ninja Kitchen System Tailgator Gas Powered Portable Blender Do you have a favorite margarita recipe? If so, we’d like to hear in the comments below.
