Margarita Day is Feb. 22–mark the occasion by mixing some up! The classic tequila drink is the long-standing, most-popular cocktail in the U.S.; here are a few fresh variations on it to try.
TCI Jerk Margarita
(shown above)
1 part Cointreau
1 part Agave nectar
1 part Lemon juice
2 parts Tequila Herradura anejo
Jerk salt for glass rim*
Mix all liquid ingredients on a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well and poor into the jerk-salt-rimmed glass.
*Jerk salt for glass rim:
5 tbsps. Turks & Caicos native salt
¼ tsp. Lemon zest
¼ tsp. Lime zest
Jamaican Jerk seasoning paste (cinnamon, scotch bonnet pepper, thyme, cilantro, soy sauce, orange juice)
Mix all ingredients and let them dry for 24 hours.
The mixologists at Gansevoort Turks + Caicos on the island of Providenciales created this recipe.
PurpleRita
1 oz. Don Julio reposado tequila
½ oz. Sweet vermouth
½ oz. Six Grapes port
1 oz. Sour mix
Combine ingredients and serve on the rocks, garnish with an orange peel.
The mixologists at the La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico, created this recipe.
Sprout’s Detox Margarita
1 oz. Casa Noble silver tequila
½ oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Aloe fresh pulp juice
¼ oz. Agave
2 oz. Lime sour
The mixologists at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, AZ, created this recipe.
Painted House Margarita
2 oz. Silver tequila
1 oz. Triple sec
1 ½ oz. Pom Pomegranate Juice
House-made sour mix*
Salt
Lime wheel
Combine tequila, triple sec, sour mix and pomegranate juice over ice in a pint glass and shake back and forth into a metal shaker. Rim the pint glass with salt, pour contents from shaker into glass, and garnish with a lime wheel.
* For sour mix:
Mix two cups of simple syrup to one cup of lemon juice, one cup of lime juice, and 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice
The mixologists at the Harbor View Hotel on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard created this recipe.
The Next Level
2 oz. DeLeón Platinum tequila infused with fresh sage
¾ oz. Clarified lime juice
¾ oz. Fresh cane syrup
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir thoroughly to chill. Strain into
coupe glass.
The mixologists at DeLeón created this recipe.
Silky Smooth Margarita
1 ½ oz. Partida Blanco tequila
½ oz. Tuacca or Licor 43
½ oz. Fresh lime juice
½ oz. Agave or simple syrup
1 tbsp. Key Lime curd (such as Stonewall Kitchen)
Add all ingredients to shaker and shake well. Double strain into a cocktail glass.
The mixologists at Sugar Café in San Francisco created this recipe.
Apple Margarita
2 oz. Maestro Dobel tequila
1 ½ oz. Triple sec
2 oz. Apple cider
Cinnamon and sugar for glass rimming
Apple slices for garnish
Rim a Margarita glass with cinnamon/sugar mix. Combine liquid ingredients over ice, shake and strain, garnish with apple slices.
The mixologists at Maestro Dobel created this recipe.
¾ oz. Licor 43 liqueur
¾ oz. Tequila
1 ½ oz. Fresh lemon juice
¾ oz. Simple syrup
Add ice to a rocks glass and set aside. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
The mixologists at Licor 43 created this recipe.
Moonshine Margarita
2 parts Ole Smoky Original Moonshine whiskey
1 part Lime juice
1 part Simple syrup
1 part Triple sec
Rim a glass with a salt and sugar mixture and fill with ice. Combine ingredients in mixing tin and shake with ice, strain into glass of fresh ice.
The mixologists at Ole Smoky created this recipe.