all things food
If you’re a margarita fan like us, you will love all of … Read more
The post Best Margarita Recipes appeared first on Sugar and Charm.
If you’re a margarita fan like us, you will love all of ... Read more
The post Best Margarita Recipes appeared first on Sugar and Charm.
If there’s a way to distill the LA experience down to one moment, it’s this: sitting on Gracias Madre’s sunny patio in West Hollywood, sipping on a margarita while looking out for Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.
“Anytime anyone says that they came strai…
If there’s a way to distill the LA experience down to one moment, it’s this: sitting on Gracias Madre’s sunny patio in West Hollywood, sipping on a margarita while looking out for Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.
“Anytime anyone says that they came straight here from the airport, I’m always like, ‘Welcome to the most California restaurant there is,’” Gracias Madre beverage director Maxwell Reis jokes. “We’re on the street where celebrities go if they want paparazzi to see them. People are camping out at a two-top in the patio trying to spot famous people. It’s hilarious.”
We’ve teamed up with 1800® Tequila to celebrate National Margarita Day the only way we know how: shaking up some cocktails with top-notch tequila, of course. Their premium tequilas range from the smooth, silky añejo 1800 Cristalino to the classic 1800 …
We’ve teamed up with 1800® Tequila to celebrate National Margarita Day the only way we know how: shaking up some cocktails with top-notch tequila, of course. Their premium tequilas range from the smooth, silky añejo 1800 Cristalino to the classic 1800 Blanco—both equally perfect for making delicious margaritas.
As a born Southerner, I have to go above and beyond to survive winters in the Northeast. In my hometown of Atlanta, winter— if you can even call it that—is suuuper mild. But in Boston, my home of five years, this season is serious business. Up here, winter means a full-time commitment to proper layering, periodical snow shoveling (admittedly, my husband does most of this, so shout out to him), and tasty pick-me-ups to remind me of warmer days.
Margaritas—especially fruit-forward frozen margaritas—get a bad rap for being hangover-inducing cocktails after one sip. And sure, with cheap tequila, too much sugar, and a lot of artificial fruit syrups that is absolutely true. But a good margarita made with smooth tequila, triple sec, fresh limes, and homemade simple syrup will taste good and not leave you feeling wrecked before the glass is done. (We can make no guarantees about no hangovers after more than one, however.) Pull up a cocktail shaker or a blender and try some of these riffs on the classic cocktail.
If you need me, I’ll be wasting away again in Margaritaville with this absolute classic margarita made with tequila, Cointreau, freshly squeezed lime juice, and agave syrup.
Margaritas—especially fruit-forward frozen margaritas—get a bad rap for being hangover-inducing cocktails after one sip. And sure, with cheap tequila, too much sugar, and a lot of artificial fruit syrups that is absolutely true. But a good margarita made with smooth tequila, triple sec, fresh limes, and homemade simple syrup will taste good and not leave you feeling wrecked before the glass is done. (We can make no guarantees about no hangovers after more than one, however.) Pull up a cocktail shaker or a blender and try some of these riffs on the classic cocktail.
If you need me, I’ll be wasting away again in Margaritaville with this absolute classic margarita made with tequila, Cointreau, freshly squeezed lime juice, and agave syrup.
From the outset, Mariano Martinez’s restaurant, the place that put frozen margaritas on the map, was an experience. Then called Mariano’s Mexican Cuisine, the original was located in Dallas’ Old Town shopping center, a 5-minute ride from Southern Metho…
From the outset, Mariano Martinez’s restaurant, the place that put frozen margaritas on the map, was an experience. Then called Mariano’s Mexican Cuisine, the original was located in Dallas’ Old Town shopping center, a 5-minute ride from Southern Methodist University. Inside, Mexican music piped through the dining room and blue lighting simulated moonlight. Sorority sisters wearing skirts and gaucho hats worked as greeters. The floor was covered with inexpensive shag carpeting, and at the end of service, employees used yard rakes to clean up fallen tortilla chips. The house specialty was the margarita.
It was 1971—the same year that a coffeehouse called Starbucks opened its doors in Seattle and just a year after Texas passed a constitutional amendment making liquor by the drink legal. Prior to that, it was a “brown bag state,” meaning customers could bring a bottle of alcohol to a restaurant as long as they kept it in the bag, off the table. As Mariano explains on a recent phone call, people would order a “setup,” like Coke over ice with a lime, and pour their liquor of choice—usually whiskey or rum—into the mix.
This year, it’s a sure bet that holiday gatherings will likely be more intimate, with perhaps more celebrating online rather than around a table. As you cozy up to the chimney…or computer, it’s nice to have a drink in hand either to take the chill off or to make things feel more festive. Unless you’re the lovely Ina Garten, who prefers to make drinks by…
This year, it’s a sure bet that holiday gatherings will likely be more intimate, with perhaps more celebrating online rather than around a table. As you cozy up to the chimney…or computer, it’s nice to have a drink in hand either to take the chill off or to make things feel more festive. Unless you’re the lovely Ina Garten, who prefers to make drinks by the pitcher, individual drinks are a nice way to celebrate more intimate gatherings and you can make just one to two, or scale ’em up to make four or six, if necessary. My hot chocolate recipes (below) can easily be made in advance – in fact, they’re better if they are – then rewarmed right before serving. Marshmallows and whipped cream are optional, but if I’m going to be honest, they’re encouraged.
Here are my favorite and most popular drink recipes on the blog that’ll warm you up, including two types of hot chocolate (there are several others in Drinking French, including a Salted Butter Caramel version), French mulled wine, an apple-based cocktail, and a few libations with cranberries. There’s also a brown-buttery Old Fashioned, a pink Cosmo to brighten things up, a creative Kir, and Jeff Morgenthaler’s amazing eggnog. So no matter where you are, whether you’re at home with friends and family or able to gather out and about, here are some drinks I hope will help make this holiday season more enjoyable…
A winter classic in many countries, when they’re open (they’re closed at the moment), cafés in Paris will have the words ‘Vin chaud’ scribbled on a blackboard either inside or out, beckoning people to come in from the cold to have a glass. Patrons are usually huddled around terrace tables or standing at the bar, sipping glasses of warm spiced wine, but this year, mulled wine maison will be in fashion. My version of vin chaud is spiced with cardamom, star anise, cloves, and fresh ginger. And it’s even better if you tip a bit of brandy in it!
Continue Reading Holiday Drinks...
We’ve partnered with Cointreau to share all the delicious ways you can riff on The Original Margarita—the iconic cocktail recipe that dates back to 1948. Bonus: a handful of our top grilled dishes to serve with them.
There’s nothing better than chil…
We’ve partnered with Cointreau to share all the delicious ways you can riff on The Original Margarita—the iconic cocktail recipe that dates back to 1948. Bonus: a handful of our top grilled dishes to serve with them.
There’s nothing better than chillin’ poolside, grilling up some bites on the BBQ (currently dreaming of these spicy shrimp skewers), and washing them down with a delicious summer sipper.
I have another recipe on the site for Strawberry Margaritas that uses fresh strawberries, but this recipe uses strawberry-infused vermouth, which I had on hand after making a Strawberry Spritz. I like it so much, I decided to give it a go in a Margarita. It worked so well, even better than expected, that I just had to share. I think you’ll like it, too….
I have another recipe on the site for Strawberry Margaritas that uses fresh strawberries, but this recipe uses strawberry-infused vermouth, which I had on hand after making a Strawberry Spritz. I like it so much, I decided to give it a go in a Margarita. It worked so well, even better than expected, that I just had to share. I think you’ll like it, too.
Continue Reading Strawberry Margarita...
We’ve teamed up with Don Julio, makers of top-shelf tequilas since 1942, to highlight creative (yet totally doable!) ways to shake up your cocktail game. Here, Chef Claudette Zepeda shares two spring-ready tequila drinks with a smoky twist—plus, a vege…
We've teamed up with Don Julio, makers of top-shelf tequilas since 1942, to highlight creative (yet totally doable!) ways to shake up your cocktail game. Here, Chef Claudette Zepeda shares two spring-ready tequila drinks with a smoky twist—plus, a vegetarian-friendly riff on al pastor tacos to serve them with.
In my mind, you can never go wrong with a margarita.
This virgin margarita tastes just as good as the real thing! This mocktail is tangy and lightly sweet, with a secret ingredient that takes it over the top. Craving a margarita but can’t drink? Or serving a crowd and need a non-alcoholic option? Enter this virgin margarita! It’s tangy and refreshing, punctuated by that classic salt rim. Even better, it’s got a surprise that brings a bit of “funk” to the flavor that’s reminiscent of tequila. With a focus on tart flavors and balanced with just enough sweet, it’s truly the mocktail version of our Classic Margarita! (Side benefit: it’s lower calorie too!) Here are all our secrets. What’s in this virgin margarita? Here’s how to make everyone’s favorite cocktail into a margarita mocktail! The margarita is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an “official” definition of the margarita: tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. But how to make that taste as intriguing…with no alcohol at all? (A zero-proof margarita, if you will?) Here’s what we used did: Lime juice: Always. Lemon juice: Using lemon as well as lime brings nuance to the citrus. Tonic water: Bubbles add a sparkle! […]
This virgin margarita tastes just as good as the real thing! This mocktail is tangy and lightly sweet, with a secret ingredient that takes it over the top.
Craving a margarita but can’t drink? Or serving a crowd and need a non-alcoholic option? Enter this virgin margarita! It’s tangy and refreshing, punctuated by that classic salt rim. Even better, it’s got a surprise that brings a bit of “funk” to the flavor that’s reminiscent of tequila. With a focus on tart flavors and balanced with just enough sweet, it’s truly the mocktail version of our Classic Margarita! (Side benefit: it’s lower calorie too!) Here are all our secrets.
Here’s how to make everyone’s favorite cocktail into a margarita mocktail! The margarita is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an “official” definition of the margarita: tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. But how to make that taste as intriguing…with no alcohol at all? (A zero-proof margarita, if you will?) Here’s what we used did:
The secret to making this virgin margarita taste over the top delicious? Pickle juice. Adding intrigue to the flavor of a mocktail is essential to making them more than just fruit juice. It’s customary to experiment with all sorts of things, including non-alcoholic spirits. But we didn’t want to add a special ingredient you’d have to purchase specially.
That’s where pickle juice comes in! It brings a briny funk to this virgin margarita that makes you feel like there’s a little alcohol in it. But it’s not so much that it’s noticeable! It’s also totally optional, so you don’t have to do it if it weirds you out. But after multiple taste tests, pickle juice in a virgin margarita was the clear winner!
We love our cocktails crisp and tart around here. So just like our Classic Margarita, there’s barely any added sugar in this margarita. This stands out from the standard margarita mocktail, which is usually so sickly sweet it’s barely a margarita at all! This shouldn’t taste like sweet syrupy juice: it should be crisp and tart. The sugar comes from two sources:
Tonic water is a carbonated water that also contains quinine and is lightly sweetened. It was originally was used against malaria, but these days the quinine levels are much lower. Quinine adds a slightly bitter flavor, but its not as detectable with today’s lower levels. Even so, if you taste tonic water there’s something about the nuance of bitter and sweet which is hard to replace.
True cocktails and mocktails use tonic water, so we’d recommend finding some if you can! Sparkling water adds only bubbles, but doesn’t have the nuance in flavor. We buy a brand that comes in small cans, which is nice since you’ll only use a little in this virgin margarita.
If you also drink alcohol (or have friends who do), we’ve got lots more variations on this classic drink! Here are some of our favorites:
Anytime works for a virgin margarita! This one is perfect as a:
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes 
Yield: 1 drink This virgin margarita tastes just as good as the real thing! This mocktail is tangy and lightly sweet, with a secret ingredient that takes it over the top.
Category: Mocktail
Method: Stirred
Cuisine: MexicanKeywords: Virgin Margarita, Margarita Mocktail, Zero Proof Margarita
A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe