Happy National Margarita Day!
Freshly squeezed lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, ice and salt are all you need for National Margarita Day, but should you want to shake things up with a twist on the traditional cocktail, check out these recipes.
Original Margarita
Ingredients
1 ounce Cointreau
2 ounces Blanco Tequila
1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and add ice. Shake and strain into a salt-rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Jalapeño Margarita
This spicy version of a classic margarita from My Neighbor Felix in Denver uses jalapeno-infused tequila to add a fresh pepper kick and is finished with a habanero salt rim.
Ingredients
2 ounces Tanteo jalapeno tequila
1 ounce Lime
3/4 ounces Agave
Habanero Salt
Directions
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass.
Rim with habanero salt.
Basil Paloma
Ingredients
2 parts Tequila
1 1/4 parts fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
1 part fresh lime juice
1/2 part simple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
Basil sprigs
Grapefruit slice
Directions
Lightly muddle 2 to 3 basil leaves in a shaker.
Add the remainder of the ingredients into the shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with a basil sprig and grapefruit slice.
Azalea Margarita
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Patrón Silver
1/2 ounce Patrón Citrónge Orange
1 ounce Pineapple juice
1/2 ounce Lime juice
1/2 ounce Grenadine
Directions
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill—strain into a rocks glass.
Margarita Caliente
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Patrón Silver
1 ounce Patrón Citrónge Orange
1 ounce Fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce Passion fruit syrup
4 Dashes Chipotle Tabasco
2 Bar spoons orange marmalade
Orange twist for garnish
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake to chill and texturize.
Strain into a double old-fashioned glass with a large ice cube.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Smokin’ Hot Pineapple
Ingredients
2 parts Hornitos Plata Tequila
3/4 part jalapeño rosemary syrup
1/2 part fresh pineapple juice
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Rosemary sprigs
Pineapple chunk
Directions
Combine equal parts sugar and water with 1 jalapeño slice and 4 rosemary sprigs and bring to a boil to create jalapeño rosemary simple syrup.
Add all ingredients together in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
Pour ingredients from a shaker to a highball glass with ice. Garnish with a pineapple chunk and rosemary sprigs.
Carlos Rosas, bartender at at Pitiona restaurant in Oaxaca, Mexico shared two variations using mezcal and fresh fruit purees.
Passion Mezcal Margarita
Ingredients
2 ounces Vamonos Riendo Mezcal
2 ounce passion fruit
1 ounce honey
1 strawberry
Directions
Cut passion fruit in half and place in the blender at low speed to keep the seeds intact.
Strain and shake in a shaker with Mezcal and honey.
Pour over ice. Garnish with a strawberry.
Make Me Blush Mezcal Margarita
Ingredients
2 ounces Vamonos Riendo Mezcal
2 ounces guava
3 pieces of cherry
1 ounce honey
Directions
Blend guava with water and add 2 ounces in a shaker with mashed, strained cherries, honey and Mezcal.
Garnish with a cherry.
Hacienda de Lavender Margarita
Atlanta-based bartender Jarrett Holorough shared another riff on the classic using an aged Reposado with a touch of sweet, floral lavender.
Ingredients
2 ounces Herradura Reposado
1 ounce Lime Juice
1 ounce Lavender Syrup
1/4 ounce Orange Juice
Pinch of Salt
Directions
Add all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice, shake, and strain over ice into a rocks glass. Then garnish with two pieces of Lavender.
Editor's note: This was originally published on Feb. 22, 2021.