Considering the Margarita is the most popular drink in the U.S. and has been for several years, the venerable tequila/Triple Sec/lime juice cocktail hardly needs its own holiday. Nonetheless, Feb. 22 is National Margarita Day–and it falls on a Saturday. That’s cause for celebration: Here are a few recipes that offer a twist on the classic Margarita.
Santana Margarita
2 oz. Espolon Reposado Tequila
1 oz. Fresh lime juice
1 oz. Triple Sec
½ oz. Fresh lemon juice
1 oz. Simple syrup
2 oz Strawberry puree*
Combine all into mixing glass. Pack with ice and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds. Strain into margarita glass with salt rim. Garnish with lime wedge.
*For strawberry puree:
Combine 1 pint fresh strawberries, stemmed, and 2 oz. simple syrup (add more or less depending on sweetness/tartness of strawberries) in a blender. Blend ingredients until smooth puree forms.
Recipe courtesy of the Feliz restaurants in Philadelphia: Cantina Feliz, La Calaca Feliz and Taqueria Feliz.
Prankster Margarita
2 oz. Suerte Blanco tequila
¾ oz. Lime juice
¾ oz. Simple or agave syrup
¼ oz. St. George Absinthe
Shake ingredients and pour over fresh ice in glass with a tarragon salt rim (whiz some fresh tarragon with some sea salt and a touch of sugar in a spice grinder). Garnish with a lime wheel on the side of the glass with a tarragon sprig slid inside.
Summer Jane Bell, a San Francisco-based mixologist and Suerte’s brand ambassador, created this recipe.
Blood Orange Margarita
1½ oz. Silver tequila
1oz. Purr spiced blood orange liqueur
½ oz. Lime juice
½ oz. Blood orange puree
Combine all ingredients into a glass shaker and add ice and shake then pour over fresh ice into a saucer glass with a salt rim. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Jeff Leanheart, beverage director for The Smith in New York, created this recipe.
3 Amigos Blues Margarita
1½ oz. 3 Amigos Organic Blanco tequila
2½ oz. Blue Caracao liqueur
1 oz. Agave syrup
1 oz. Fresh lime juice
Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice and shake until blended and chilled. Pour into Martini glass and garnish with orange and lime wedges.
3 Amigos Smokey Margarita
1½ oz. 3 Amigos Reposado tequila
1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
1 oz. Fresh lime juice
4 oz. Water
1 oz. Agave nectar
¼ tsp. Chipotle puree*
1 scoop ice
In cocktail shaker combine chipotle puree with other ingredients, add ice and give it 10-12 good shakes, or until very cold. Pour into Margarita glass rimmed with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
*For chipotle puree:
Blend ½ can chipotle peppers and 1 oz. agave nectar in blender until smooth.
The mixologists at 3 Amigos created these two recipes.
StrawBeerita
3 oz. Chilled beer, lighter-style lager
1 oz. Licor 43
1 oz. Tequila
½ oz. Lime juice
3 Strawberries
Lime
Cut strawberries and a few lime slices and muddle in a shaker. Add tequila, Licor 43, lime juice and ice and shake. Pour mixture into a Margarita glass and top with beer. Garnish with a strawberry slice and lime wedge.
The mixologists at Licor 43 created this recipe
Cruzcumber Margarita
2 oz. Cruz Silver tequila
¾ oz. Agave nectar
Juice of 1 Lime
2 Cucumber wheels
1-2 oz. filtered water
Muddle cucumber with tequila. Add remaining ingredients. Shake with ice and serve over fresh ice (do not strain).
Blueberry Basil Margarita
2 oz. Cruz Silver tequila
1 oz. Agave nectar
12-15 Blueberries
Juice of 1 Lime
1-2 oz. Filtered water
A few sprigs of basil
Muddle blueberries and basil with tequila. Add remaining ingredients. Shake with ice and serve over fresh ice (do not strain). Garnish with basil leaf float
The mixologists at Cruz created these two recipes.
Caliente Kiss Margarita
(Serves 6)
1 part Sauza Blue Silver 100% Agave tequila
1 part Tomato sauce
Squeeze of Sriracha chili sauce
Dash fresh black pepper
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Dash celery salt
Dash paprika
Dash cumin
Juice of ½ lemon
In a shaker filled with ice combine all ingredients. Shake well and pour into tall glass over ice. Garnish with cucumber slice.
The mixologists at Sauza created this recipe.