Without exaggeration, The Partner and I can say that prior to today, we have not had a Margarita. I know this may cause some consternation around Lakeview where up to this moment El Tapatio and our friend, M., have held the title for Best Margarita. This version is of a different caliber.
To be fair, we did not make this Margarita strictly by the book. It is a bit of an improv – and not getting a baseline, for sure. While this may seem like I’m getting cocky, let’s look at it as needing to make necessary substitutions when different ingredients are in-house. We were out of Cointreau so substituted Grand Marnier. And as mentioned in the previous post, we’re desperately trying to drink down a store of OJ. So orange juice subbed for lemon juice. We also prefer ours on the rocks without salt. All that being said, this version was one of the smoothest and tastiest we’ve ever had. When out of balance, Margaritas can cut in one or a combination of 3 ways: Too much booze and it burns the throat. Too much syrup and it scratches the
To be fair, we did not make this Margarita strictly by the book. It is a bit of an improv – and not getting a baseline, for sure. While this may seem like I’m getting cocky, let’s look at it as needing to make necessary substitutions when different ingredients are in-house. We were out of Cointreau so substituted Grand Marnier. And as mentioned in the previous post, we’re desperately trying to drink down a store of OJ. So orange juice subbed for lemon juice. We also prefer ours on the rocks without salt. All that being said, this version was one of the smoothest and tastiest we’ve ever had. When out of balance, Margaritas can cut in one or a combination of 3 ways: Too much booze and it burns the throat. Too much syrup and it scratches the
throat. Too much citrus juice and the acidity burns the tongue & tonsils. Often, heartburn is the result more than any kind of enjoyable warm fuzzy. This version perfectly harmonized the 3 components of liquor, sugar, and citrus. It was smooth, vibrant and refreshing.
As several guests arrived for a spontaneous roof party, these flowed easily throughout the evening without gumming up the palate with syrupy sweetness. Several guests remarked at their goodness and one was even surprised that it was a Margarita. How tragic. This is what Chi-Chi’s has wrought.
Margarita
1 ½ oz. tequila
¾ oz. Cointreau
½ oz. lemon juice
½ oz. lime juice
Shake with cracked ice; strain into chilled wine goblet or cocktail glass with kosher salt on the rim; garnish with a lime wheel.
UPDATE: This recipe continues to yield, hands-down, the best Margarita The Partner and I have ever had (sorry M. :-). In the original post above, I didn't strictly follow the recipe as written. But I've since mixed it exclusively as written and it is smooth, citrusy, balanced sweetness, dangerous. A staple on the roof this summer, especially with guests who tended towards the familiar, all said this was the best Margarita they'd had. If you haven't taken the opportunity to mix this bad girl up, do it!
As several guests arrived for a spontaneous roof party, these flowed easily throughout the evening without gumming up the palate with syrupy sweetness. Several guests remarked at their goodness and one was even surprised that it was a Margarita. How tragic. This is what Chi-Chi’s has wrought.
Margarita
1 ½ oz. tequila
¾ oz. Cointreau
½ oz. lemon juice
½ oz. lime juice
Shake with cracked ice; strain into chilled wine goblet or cocktail glass with kosher salt on the rim; garnish with a lime wheel.
UPDATE: This recipe continues to yield, hands-down, the best Margarita The Partner and I have ever had (sorry M. :-). In the original post above, I didn't strictly follow the recipe as written. But I've since mixed it exclusively as written and it is smooth, citrusy, balanced sweetness, dangerous. A staple on the roof this summer, especially with guests who tended towards the familiar, all said this was the best Margarita they'd had. If you haven't taken the opportunity to mix this bad girl up, do it!
few people have had margarita the way it is supposed to be made, cool, tart, and skinny.
ReplyDeletei am back on the blog wagon!!! where are all the july posts?!?
ReplyDeletei think you have just as much fun taking the pictures as you do mixing the drinks. great shot!
We are the on the same wavelength-- I have had a margarita August. Yums. Beautiful pic, BTW.
ReplyDelete