Classic Margarita
INGREDIENTS
- 1½ oz premium silver tequila
- 1½ oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 2 lime wedges
- kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Rub a wedge of lime around the rim of a chilled margarita glass, and salt the rim. Fill the prepared glass with ice. Shake the liquid ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into the prepared glass. Squeeze the remaining lime wedge over the drink, and drop it in.
VIDEO HOW-TO
NOTES
The beauty here is in the balance of tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, making this a versatile base for many creative variations such as the Cucumber Margarita, or frozen Strawberry Margarita. If you prefer your Margarita a bit sweeter, add 1 tablespoon of sugar; if you like it tart, add another squeeze of lime.
Legends surrounding the creation of the Margarita are numerous, with locations ranging from California to Mexico, but a few tales have remained steadfast. Setting the stage for creativity, the cultural climate of 1940s America had become enthralled with all things Latin, and bartenders were excitedly shaking up cocktails to promote this mysterious and fiery new spirit from Mexico. There was some speculation over one particularly brilliant bartender in California, who, in order to push the new fiery liquor, switched out the brandy and lemon juice for tequila and lime juice, turning the classic and wildly popular Sidecar made with triple sec into the now-classic Margarita cocktail.
Another legendary story gives an American socialite credit. Margaret Sames reportedly served a drink containing tequila, lime juice, and her favorite orange liqueur, Cointreau, at a party down in Acapulco in around 1948, in salt-rimmed glasses etched with the Mexican version of her name and purportedly the "Margarita" was born.
However this great tequila cocktail came about, one thing remains true: the key to the best Margarita is to adhere to the basic recipe, using freshly squeezed lime juice combined with 100 percent agave tequila and a premium orange liqueur. The classic approach involves pouring the shaken mixture into a margarita glass with a salted rim, but muddling the ingredients in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass with wedges of fresh lime and serving it on the rocks is equally accept- able. A Margarita made with Rose's lime juice or a bottled margarita mix is not recommended. A desirable alternative to freshly squeezed lime juice is frozen limeade, which makes a great shortcut, with the added bonus of sweetness. The simplicity of the Margarita makes it an ideal vehicle for frozen and blended variations made with fresh fruits.
