The Blender Margarita
Most summer drinks are very good at being sweet and cooling refreshers. But when it comes to showcasing the spirits they’re made with, many fall short. Not so for the Margarita. Yes, it’s vivacious, restorative and cold, but when built with top-drawer Tequila it fairly brags about its makeup. The odd alchemy of this mix of lime, triple sec and Mexico’s agave liquor features each of its ingredients even as they meld seamlessly. Trick out your Margaritas by choosing carefully from the wealth of excellent añejo Tequilas that fill the market.
Pure blue agave Tequilas—not those sugar-added mixtos—make singular drinks. For instance, when made with the peppery Roca Patron Silver, a Margarita speaks of earth and summer lawns. Don Julio Reposado gives the drink notes of corn, nuts and butter. With lime juice, the famously smooth Casa Noble shows its savory side with spice and wood to go with its vanilla.
Take the same care with the secondary mixers. The lime juice, of course, should be fresh squeezed. For triple sec, don’t settle for bargain orange liqueurs. Use Cointreau or Grand Marnier and the mix is promoted to the Cadillac Margarita. If you want to sweeten it, use agave syrup for symmetry.
It may seem heretical to suggest using a blender. Most cocktail cognoscenti preach the old-fashioned method: shake and strain by hand. But that’s no way to serve a crowd and still partake yourself. The classic Waring blender delivers by the pitcherful. If you can’t stay tethered to a wall outlet, the portable BlenderCap from Cruz works on batteries, yet still carries a decent payload. But avoid the cardinal sin of over-crushing the ice. This is an elegant cocktail, not a slushy.
