Ingredients
- 2 oz Blanco Tequila
- 1 oz Triple sec
- 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
Method
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass.
- Garnish with 2-3 slices of jalapeño pepper.
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Ah, yes — the infamous ‘spicy’ Margarita. Few beverages — save for the Negroni or Old Fashioned — are as misunderstood or maligned.
A bona fide crowd pleaser (thanks to ‘2 for 1’ deals and the fashion influencer brigade), it doesn’t take a genius to perceive why this shaken Tequila cocktail has held so much sway at bar counters all around the globe since its introduction in 1938.
Distantly related to the Brandy Daisy – a niche 19th century cocktail that has been consigned to the annals of history – the Margarita (‘daisy’ in Spanish) is among the world’s most popular sour cocktails.
Refreshing and dangerously drinkable (though nevermore so than in summer) it is, like many foundational mixed drink recipes, made using the smallest number of ingredients.
The Tequila blanco (i.e. unaged) and limes are fairly easy to procure; but for home mixologists, it can often be the Triple Sec that proves a bit of a head-scratcher. To all intents and purposes an orange-flavoured liqueur, the latter isn’t something you’re all that likely to drink solo.
As a supporting player in cocktails, though? It helps to balance out the acrid tang of freshly squeezed citrus and enhance what sweet orangey accents are already present. Assuming you’re still fixated on what Tequila to use – we really like Trombo – then dispense with all the brow-furrowing and simply opt for Cointreau.
Ostensibly the original inventors of the ‘Triple Sec’ formula, the brand’s treacle-sweet and zingy namesake is a good staple to have at home: perfect for adding to a number of desserts, even when cocktails aren’t on the cards.
Remember: during the garnishing phase, salting the rim of your glass is optional; as is the addition of freshly cut chilli — it’s your choice really.
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