The Perfect Margarita

An authentic Margarita is made from three ingredients. Tequila, Cointreau (a Triple Sec), and fresh squeezed Lime Juice. This qualifies a margarita as a “Sour” cocktail, consisting of a Spirit, a Cordial, and a Juice. Therefore, a properly made margarita should NEVER see the inside of a blender. So those concotions you drink at retail resturants is trash. A Margarita should not be unsavory, it should be an indulgence and after reading this article, youl’ll understand why.

In our fast paced world where quick fixes, and marketing ploys�¯�¿�½ by corporate conglomerates dictate our lives, the Margarita has suffered terribly. Whether its commercially made mixe, or better yet it�¯�¿�½ the use of inferior,orncorrect ingredients by the unknowing; the�¯�¿�½ Margarita these days tastes more like a limeade experiment with a splash of orange juice then it does the delectable cocktail that it�¯�¿�½ was meant to be.

The hardest part of mixing any cocktail is finding the right balance of taste, a skill that seasoned bartenders have perfected for in their craft. In order to ensure the integretiy of the drink, the right balance of the flavors must be used, Essebtially, you must measure the exact ratio of ingredients. It seems like recipe books contradict each other, and they just confuse you more.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ A common mistake is that most recipe books indicate “equal parts” of the three ingredients should be used. The problem is that this does not make a well balanced drink when the ingredients. For one thing, the ingredients are different in potency, composition, and taste. Any bartender, or mixologist as we like to say, will tell you that the best ratio for a Margarita based on these factors is 3:2:1. Three parts Tequila, 2 parts Cointreau, and 1 part freshly squeezed lime juice.

As in all cocktails, quality ingredients make a quality drink. Unfortunately, most bars utlize barmix as a cheap substitue for lime juice. Dosen’t hurt to ask a bartender if they have fresh squeezed lime juice, and up sell for them is more tip from you (they might just do it). I’m sure in Margaritaville, they wouldn’t mind (they have an image to maintain). Also, ask for a tequla like Patron. This is a highly suitable brand to mix a quality Margarita, be careful when choosing the type of tequila; there are many varieties. For example, a silver (or blanco) tequila that is not aged, and offers the best results in a Margarita – due to its crisp full flavor. A tequila with “gold” in its name simply means that it has been artificially flavored and colored to make it look and taste like and aged (or Anejo) tequila. For the Triple Sec component of the drink, Cointreau is a sure bet. It is considered the highest quality in the Triple Sec family, and most potent (80 proof). Triple Sec is an orange flavored liqueur, other varieties are available, just make sure you compare it’s ingredients against Cointreau as refrence. Another example of a quality orange liqueur is Grand Marnier. And of course the juice should always be fresh squeezed.

Also, don’tÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ foreget to use salt the rim of your margarita glass!