Seven days from now we’ll be celebrating the empress of the American cocktail scene, the mighty, marvelous, magnanimous Margarita. American guests can’t get enough of Queen Margarita, cementing her status as cocktail royalty in this country.
Royalty expects to be recognized with pomp and circumstance. In America, we celebrate this sovereign sip on National Margarita Day. So, when Thursday, February 22 rolls around, pull out all the stops to help your guests raise a glass to hail the queen.
Ensure that you and your staff know how to nail a margarita build, then get inventive. The recipes below should help you get your creative lime juices flowing for National Margarita Day.
Cheers!
Spicy Ancho Verde Margarita
Recipe and image courtesy of Ancho Reyes
- 1 part Ancho Reyes Verde
- 1 part Milagro Silver Tequila
- 1 part Fresh lime juice
- 1/3 part Agave nectar
- Lime wheel to garnish
Add all ingredients to a shaker, add ice, and shake hard. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass with half its rim salted. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Smoke and Fire
Recipe and image courtesy of Montelobos Mezcal
- ¾ part Montelobos Mezcal
- ¾ part Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur
- ¾ part Milagro Silver Tequila
- 1 part Fresh lime juice
- ½ part Agave nectar
- Lime wedge to garnish
Using a lime wedge, wet the rim of an Old Fashioned glass, salt it and set aside. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake, and double strain over fresh ice into the glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Lobo Negro
Recipe and image courtesy of Montelobos Mezcal
- 2 parts Montelobos Mezcal
- ¾ part Ginger syrup
- 1 part Fresh lime juice
- 7 Blackberries (4 to muddle, 3 to garnish on a pick)
Add blackberries to a cocktail shaker and muddle. Combine the rest of the ingredients and shake well to mix. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with 3 blackberries on a pick.
Prickly Pear Margarita
Recipe courtesy of Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, NM; Image: The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley
- 1/2 oz. The Perfect Purée Prickly Pear, thawed
- 1 1/2 oz. Tequila
- 1/2 oz. Triple sec or orange liqueur
- 7 oz. Ice cubes
- 2 oz. Lime juice
- Coarse salt
- Lime wedge
Blend the Prickly Pear purée, tequila, triple sec and ice cubes. Rub a lime wedge around rim of each Margarita glass and dip rims into coarse salt. Pour into glass and serve immediately.
The Rosella Margarita
Recipe by Jesse Torres, bar manager at Rosella at the Rand; Image: Jessica Giesey
- 1 oz. Cimarrón Tequila Blanco
- 1/2 oz. Arette Tequila Reposado
- 3/4 oz. Combier
- 3/4 oz. Lime juice
- 1/4 oz. Simple syrup
- Orange peel to express oils
- Lime wedge to garnish
Shake well with ice and serve either up or on the rocks in chilled, salt-rimmed glasses. Express the oils of an orange over the drink and garnish with a lime wedge.
Frozen Berry Margarita
Recipe and image courtesy of Tequila Avión
- 2 oz. Tequila Avión Silver
- 1 cup Frozen mixed berries
- 1 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz. Agave nectar
- 2 drops Vanilla extract
Blend all ingredients on high until smooth. Serve in a rocks glass and garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge.
Blood Orange Margarita
Recipe and image courtesy of Tequila Corralejo
2 oz. Corralejo Reposado Tequila
3 oz. Fresh blood orange juice
¾ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz. Simple syrup
Rub the rim of an Old Fashioned glass (or similar vessel) with the edge of a blood orange slice. Swirl the rim through a small pile of kosher or sea salt to salt the rim. Combine all ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Put a few cubes of ice in the salted glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass and enjoy.
Note about simple syrup:
A basic simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in water. For example, one cup sugar dissolved in one cup of water.