Sunny days demand thirst-quenching cocktails like Margaritas, Palomas and Ranch Water, which all just happen to be a showcase for tequila. And that might just make tequila our favourite summer spirit.
What’s the best tequila for making Margaritas?
Mmmargaritas
Our favourite summer cocktail offers the perfect canvas for artful variations
The Margarita is a splash of happiness, the quintessential summer cocktail and one of the most popular drinks in the world. Whether you like it frozen or on the rocks, in a pre-dinner coupette, a plastic cup poolside or poured from a pitcher, it’s a classic that hits all the right notes with the bitterness of tequila, the tartness of fresh lime, the sweetness of orange liqueur and the salt, which heightens all the flavours.
Hibiscus Maragarita
• 1.5 oz tequila 1800 blanco
• 1.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 oz Cointreau or other triple sec
• 0.5 oz hibiscus syrup (see note)
• Garnish: Dried hibiscus flower
Jalapeño Margarita
• 2 oz jalapeño-infused reposado tequila (see note)
• 1 oz lime juice
• 0.5 oz agave water (2 parts agave syrup to 3 parts water)
• Garnish: Tajín Clásico Seasoning rim
Coconut & Mint Margarita
• 2 oz tequila reposado
• 0.75 oz pineapple syrup
• 1 oz coconut syrup
• 0.25 oz triple sec
• 1.5 oz fresh lime juice
• 3 mint leaves
• Garnish: Salt or Tajín Clasico seasoning for rim; slice of dried pineapple and pineapple leaf
Margarita
The classic, ideal for sipping all summer long, is Trevor Kallies’ suggested cocktail.
• 1.5 oz Altos Silver Tequila
• 0.5 oz Curacao, Triple Sec or Cointreau
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp simple syrup (1:1)
• Garnish: salted rim
In the mix
When it’s hot out, nothing tastes better than a bright, citrusy Margarita. But who has the energy to squeeze all those limes? Luckily for the lazy among us, Volcán De Mi Tierra Tequila has come to the rescue with a new made-in-Canada Margarita pre-mix designed to perfectly complement the tequila’s citrus, cherry and white pepper flavours.
Margarita Popsicles
Note that you will need popsicle moulds and, if you don’t have plastic holders, wooden popsicle sticks for this recipe.
0.5 cup sugar
1 cup water
0.75 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (5 to 6 juicy limes)
0.25 cup silver tequila
0.25 cup orange liqueur
Garnish: flaky sea salt (optional)
Seedlip Grove 42 Margarita
Recipe courtesy of Seedlip
• 10 oz Seedlip Grove 42
• 6 Tbsp agave syrup
• 4 oz fresh lime juice
• Ice
• Salt
• Lime wheel (for garnish)
The Old Fashioned may be tops, but bring on the Bamboo!
In January, Drinks International, a trade publication for the alcohol industry, released its annual list of the 50 best cocktails—or at least the best-selling ones—around the world. It’s perhaps no big surprise that the top drink, for the fifth year running, was that classic whisky-based bittered sling, the Old Fashioned.