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
Margarita
Division Bell
Robyn Gray recommends this contemporary classic with a subtle smoky note.
• 1 oz Los Siete Misterios Mezcal Doba-Yej
• 1 oz Aperol
• 1 oz maraschino liqueur
• 1 oz lemon juice
• Garnish: grapefruit zest
Paloma
Sabrine Dhaliwal offers her take on the easy-drinking Mexican classic.
• 2 oz Volcan de mi Tierra Blanco
• 1.5 oz grapefruit juice
• 0.75 oz lime juice
• 0.75 oz agave nectar
• Soda water
• Garnish: salted rim, grapefruit half-moon.
Fever-Tree Paloma
Mexico’s favourite cocktail, the refreshing Paloma, is also the easiest to make.
• ¼ tequila (we suggest a 100% agave, like Patrón)
• ¾ Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
• Garnish: grapefruit wedge
• Optional: salt rim
La Joya
Matthew Benevoli’s La Joya uses his homemade ginger bug.
• 1.25 oz blanco tequila
• 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur
• 0.75 oz ginger bug
• 1 oz orange juice (preferably fresh-pressed)
• 0.25 oz lemon juice
• Garnish: lemon twist, orange slice or vibrant flower
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.
Stray Bullets
Available at Brass Fish and The Three Brits. This one quickly became a staple at Brass Fish when we opened in February 2020. It found its way onto a few other menus and holds its own in the overall sales of cocktails in the pubs.
• 2 oz silver tequila (preferably Olmeca Altos 100% Agave)
• 0.5 oz simple syrup (1:1)
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz passionfruit purée
• Soda
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)
Return of the Sumac
Recipe by Chickadee Room bar manager Sabrine Dhaliwal. This new addition to the menu is a rich and savoury cocktail flavoured with sumac, a tangy, citrusy spice popular in Middle Eastern cuisine.
1.5 oz Sumac-infused blanco tequila (see note)
0.75 oz amontillado sherry
0.5 oz Cynar
2 dashes Bittered Sling Lem-Marrakech bitters
Garnish: lemon peel
Live @ 5
Recipe by Pourhouse Bar Manager Adam Domet. A re-interpretation of that summer classic, the Margarita, with the licorice-y hint of absinthe.
• 2 oz Altos Blanco Tequila
• 0.5 oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
• 1 tsp St. George absinthe
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 0.5 oz Five Alive Cordial (see below)