The Perfect Margarita

Summer is upon us, and so it is time to start enjoying that most wonderfully warm-weather drink, the margarita. I have been working on my margarita recipe for nine years now - no really - and I think I have come up with something really spectacular. I wanted to share my recipe with you all, and of course I want to hear your recipes as well (for comparison sake). In short, I want to know that I am drinking the perfect margarita every chance I get, and I can only know that if I try what else is out there!



It's a tough piece of research, but somebody has to do it!



Here is my latest recipe:

(makes one margarita)

one lemon
one lime
1.5 shots Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice
1 shot Triple Sec
2 shots Tequila (I prefer silver tequila for a margarita myself...)
ice cubes
Cocktail shaker
two bowls
fine mesh strainer
margarita glass rimmed with salt
1. Zest the lime (only the lime - I have tried it with the lemon too, not as good...) into one bowl.

2. Juice the lemon and the lime into the same bowl. It's okay to get seeds and pulp in there, they will be strained out later.

3. Add the Rose's, Triple Sec and tequila to the bowl.

4. Give the mixture a stir, and let the mixture steep in the fridge for at least 10 minutes, up to an hour (as if you could wait that long...)

5. Strain the mixture through the fine mesh strainer into the other bowl (press the solids to get all the flavor out.)

6. Pour into shaker, add four or five ice cubes.

7. Shake thoroughly and pour (use shaker's strainer to keep ice out) into margarita glass.



I have been enjoying these all season long so far, and my friends have agreed they are some of the best ever. I am always looking for new methods though, so if you have any ideas - lay them on me!

Feedback appreciated

That's awesome! If you do, please offer feedback here! I would love to know what others think about this! (Is it really as great as I think it is, or am I just too drunk off them to tell the difference?...)

oldschool - Your recipe sounds neat, and I am thrilled to know there is a good sour mix available at Target of all places. However, your recipe seems very orange-oriented. Equal parts tequilla to orange liquers and then a load of orange juice. I am much more of a lime person myself in the flavors, and the lemon is only there in my recipe to help counteract the bitterness of too much lime, and the roses is there because it is basially a sweetening syrup that gives some lme flavor at the same time.


This to me on the other hand goes too far in the opposite direction. I have had this style of margarita, and I find it way too bitter to be enjoyable as a drink. I love some good shots of tequilla - so no sugar there of course - but if I am going to have a refreshing margarita, I am going to put a little sugar in it if only to keep myself from puckering through the whole experience. You are made of tougher stuff than me castironchef! :)

Thanks for the input people - it iss good to see some other directions that mamrgaritas can go in! Funny how much variation there is in what so many would consider to be a "standard" drink!

oldschool - indeed I will give your recipe a shot. I am looking for the best, and the only way to know that is to give everything a try.

And yes, while it is better to have all fresh ingredients, I do likewise cringe at the thought of making my recipe above for 40 people. My arms would give out about halfway through the process, and so yes, I would need a shortcut of some kind with some mixes. While not as good, they are the only way to go when bulk is needed.