Get the limes out – it’s National Margarita Day. Here are 10 recipes to put a unique spin on one of the world’s most famous cocktails.
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Whether you’re looking for something spicy, fruity or traditional, the Tequila (and mezcal) brands have fired up their creativity to make sure you’re sipping something delicious tonight.
And if you’re thinking of expanding your collection of agave spirits, why not check out the winners of .
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Grand Margarita
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Make your Margarita feel a little more premium by swapping out the triple sec for Grand Marnier’s Cognac liqueur – the brand says it’s ‘richer, more complex and more Grand’.
Ingredients
30ml Grand Marnier
30ml Espolon Tequila
20ml Lime juice
1 Lime
Salt
Method
Fill a wide, shallow dish with 2-3mm of fine salt. Half a lime and rub around half of the rim of a Margarita glass. Cut a thin wheel from one of the lime halves as a garnish. Holding the glass upside down, dip the wet half delicately into the salt.
Shake the Grand Marnier, Tequila and lime juice with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into the glass and place the lime garnish on the rim.
Herradura Champagne Margarita
If Cognac isn’t fancy enough for you, Herradura’s Champagne Margarita will have you feeling like royalty.
Ingredients
40ml Herradura Plata
15ml Elderflower liqueur
20ml Lime juice
5ml Sugar syrup
2 Strawberries
Champagne
Method
Muddle the strawberries in a shaker. Combine with the rest of the ingredients except the Champagne and shake. Strain and serve straight up, topped with Champagne.
Espanita Spicy Margarita
This Spicy Margarita recipe from Espanita Tequila ups both the spice and the lime.
Ingredients
60ml Espanita Lime
15ml Fresh lime juice
2-3 slices of jalapeño pepper, seeds removed
15ml Triple sec
2-3 dashes Lime bitters
Method
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the jalapeño pepper with the lime juice. Add the Tequila and triple sec. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds. Strain into a lowball glass filled with fresh ice, add lime bitters, stir, garnish with a couple of jalapeño slices and serve.
Bell Pepper Cocktail
If you like the idea of a Spicy Margarita but have sensitive tastebuds, this milder version created by of Gleneagles hotel could do the trick.
Ingredients
2 bar spoons of marmalade
25ml Lime juice
25ml Cocchi Rosa or any other aromatised wine
50ml Bell pepper-infused Tequila
For the bell pepper-infused Tequila, separate the stem and pit from a bell pepper. Use the flesh for making your favourite dish and keep the stem and pit (including seeds) for the Tequila. Roast the stem and pit in the oven at 160ºC for 30 minutes and let them cool. Pour one litre of Tequila over the roasted pepper and leave in the fridge to infuse overnight. Strain the ready-made liquid into a bottle. One bottle will make 14 drinks.
Method
Place all ingredients in a shaker and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Rim the glass with salt and paprika powder.
Toreador
The classic Tequila cocktail recipe predates the Margarita and was first found in the Café Royal Cocktail Book, published in 1937.
Ingredients
50ml El Tequileño Reposado Gran Reserva
25ml freshly squeezed lime juice
25ml Apricot liqueur
Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker over cubed ice. Shake until ice cold. Fine strain into a cocktail coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Volcan Mandarin Margarita
As if the Margarita wasn’t summery enough, this recipe makes it even more fruity and fresh.
Ingredients
50ml Volcan Blanco Tequila
30ml Fresh lime juice
Juice of one mandarin or tangerine
Pinch of salt
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice cubes for about 30 seconds. Strain into a tumbler filled with fresh ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick and lime slice.
The Curious Margarita
Tequila doesn’t have to hog the spotlight – this spicy recipe makes mezcal the star of the show.
Ingredients
45ml The Lost Explorer Espadín
15ml Ancho Reyes Verde
20ml Agave syrup
25ml Lime juice
Tajín seasoning
Jalapeño slice
Method
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake it up. Strain into a Tajín-rimmed Old Fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a single jalapeño slice.
Pacific Margarita
This Asian-inspired Margarita takes the best parts of two continents and combines them in one refreshing cocktail.
Ingredients
30 ml Tequila Pacific & Lime
10ml Shōchū
25ml Yuzu sake
20ml Lime juice
8ml Sugar syrup
2ml Noble Coyote Mezcal – Espadin
0.5g Fresh wasabi
Method
Add all ingredients except wasabi into a cocktail shaker. Grate the fresh wasabi into the mixture. Remember, a little goes a long way.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 15 to 20 seconds to combine and cool the ingredients. Strain the cocktail into a glass, using a fine strainer to catch any wasabi bits.
Garnish with a slice of lime or a lime twist for an extra zesty touch.
Kiwi and black pepper Margarita
This recipe from Sierra Tequila is a fun and fruity take on a Margarita that still packs a punch.
Ingredients
60ml Sierra Antiguo Plata
20ml Triple sec
30ml Fresh lemon juice
50ml Kiwi purée
1 bar spoon Black pepper
Method
Infuse the Tequila with the black pepper for one hour.
Fill up your cocktail shaker with ice cubes, put all ingredients into it and shake until it’s chilled.
Strain into a classic Margarita glass with a salt rim. Garnish with a kiwi slice and black pepper.
Patrón Tommy’s Margarita
No triple sec? No problem. The Tommy’s Margarita cocktail was invented in the nineties, with its creator aiming to spotlight agave.
Ingredients
60ml Patrón Silver
30ml Fresh lime juice
15ml Agave nectar, to taste
Salt for rim
1 Lime wedge for garnish
Method
Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.