Jul 15 2007
Ode To the Margarita
The frosty glass was edged in large-grained salt. As I sipped the green-hued concoction, the salt, reminiscent of the primordial soup from which we emerged, mixed with the sweet-bitter tang of lime and the green astringency of tequila, creating an elixir paradoxically refreshing and mellowing.
Ms. Q does not drink frozen alcoholic concoctions.
Alcoholic “slushies” are not for her.
In such instances where a chilled liquid of intoxication is called for, it’s “on the rocks” and “over ice.”
I drink water, coffee, occasionally tea and usually red wine. I rarely drink anything else. But sometimes…only a Margarita will do and when I want one, it should be Perfect.
The Perfect Margarita
- 3 ounces 100% agave white or reposado tequila *
- 2 ounces Cointreau or Grand Marnier
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice, if using Cointreau
or
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice, if using Grand Marnier
Instructions
- Shake all of the ingredients over ice for 10-15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled, salt-rimmed (optional) cocktail glass.
Serves 1
* Ms. Q is not an expert on Tequilas.
However, she’s read that the best (top-shelf) ones are: Chinaco, Don Julio, El Tesoro, and Herradura and that Cuervo makes a dynamite reposado tequila called Tradicional.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oh yeah my friend makes hers using Grand Marnier. My mom & dad always squeeze the limes. That makes it worth it I think. If it’s that mix stuff though, I figure better just to drink the tequila.
Jill: Yep, limes and Grand Marnier – they make a difference!
I think I’ll mix these for my next party.. Hmmm….
So I’m designing this mixed drink in honor of one of my friends (LONG story), it’s called “The Golden Kippah.”
How does this sound so far? I won’t be able to mix and test until next week. In theory, it sounds delicious:
Soak some fresh cut strawberries in reisling wine overnight, chilled. When it’s time to serve, scoop a few strawberries into a cup, fill 3/4 of the way with reisling. Pour a shot of rum over a sugar cube sitting in a sugar cube. Let dry for a moment, then light the sugar cube on fire and let the carmelized sugar drip into the cup. Maybe garnish with a strawberry or something.
Hmm?
Irisi: The Perfect Margarita is pretty strong! Delicious, though.
Your drink sounds very good but I’m not sure about:
“Pour a shot of rum over a sugar cube sitting in a sugar cube.”
I can’t quite see how this is done. You could probably test that part if not the riesling part.
True, true. Sometimes, only a margarita will do. I favor Tres Generations (Generaciones?) Tequila, and no salt. Definitely on the rocks.
Thought you might be interested in the variation: http://www.nathandrach.info/archives/71.html
Riley: I forgo the salt as well and you know more about Tequila than I do!
Natron: Your variation sounds interesting – orange liquor, huh? I tend to stick to mixed drinks that involve only liquor and juice – no mixers or sodas which I don’t have on hand. So it’s Black Russians and Kamikazes, that type of thing. Which I actually don’t drink all that much and these days, I can’t even recall drinking anything with Vodka in it!
Awesome! I might have to try that sometime
*Ms. Q does not condone underage drinking!!!
-Gregg
Gregg: Well, unless they visit your website(s) they wouldn’t know you under the drinking age!
I wasn’t all that interested in drinking in my 20s. I’d have the occasional tropical drink like a pina colada or strawberry daiquiri but I never really liked that intoxicated feeling. I also didn’t like the taste of alcohol!
I had that friend who was really into wine and whenever we’d go out for dinner he’d have a glass and sometimes I’d ask for his recommendation and have a glass as well. He’d start talking about “smoky” or “peppery” flavors and I had no idea what he was talking about. Then one day I was sipping a glass of wine and…I got it.
I really only started seriously drinking wine the last 10 years and have pretty much loss my taste for liquor.
Which is all my long winded way of saying, if you aren’t interested in drinking, why start!
oh, wait, vicoden..
I meant a sugar cube sitting on a slotted spoon.
my bad.
oh, and also the rum is supposed to go into the cup with the reisling and carmellized sugar..
I thought rum and reisling might go well together..
Irisi: hahaha! Good thing you didn’t write that Vicoden was dipped in rum and set ablaze to drip slowly into the riesling.
Your rum+riesling drink sounds good! You must post it if it works out – take photos of the blazing sugar cube!
I hope you’re feeling good these days!
Vodka rocks! The last vodka drink I had was a straight up, plain old, ordinary martini. Quite nice as some of my coworkers and i were interested in just a little get together to blow off a little steam and think about something other than work.
I’ve had some margaritas, but they just don’t grab my fancy.
While I like rum, I’ve never developed a taste for wines, so the thought of putting rum together with a reisling sounds gahstly to me.
Rum mixed with 2 other kinds of rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine, over ice, in a 18 oz. glass (preferably chilled) – that’s my drink. One of my old hangouts would just start making it when I came in.
Back to vodka. I’m a sucker for Absolut Currant. Otherwise, I like a plain vodka. Kettle One is nice. Stoli blue lable when you can find it is also pretty decent.
Though, if one wants to do shots, there can be only one – Bacardi 151. Not for the faint of heart. Totally hard core.