The Classic Margarita

Blended Slushy 1.5oz Tequila .75oz Juice of 2 3tsp Sugar Blend the above for a few seconds Add ice cubes [6 large or 1.25 cup] and blend until slushy. Metric : 50ml Tequila 25ml Orange Liq. 300ml ice On the Rocks 1.5oz Tequila .75oz Juice of 1 * [sucre if you must] Add cracked ice [2 large cubes] and stir. Metric : 50ml Tequila 25ml Orange Liq. 100ml ice
	Cognoscenti salt the rim.
Good Margarita Tequilas [Consistent and often on sale] Cuervo Tradicional Sauza Hornitos

Tequila Notes

Tequila is distilled only in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, from the blue agave cactus. It takes about 10 years for a cactus to reach the required size. The spines are removed and the 'piña' are processed. wikipedia Tequila explains the process.

Better tequilas are made from only 100% blue agave. Lesser tequilas must be made from at least 51% agave to be called Tequila. The low budget tequilas contain water, sugar and other ingredients to mimic the taste of the better tequilas. Don't let a golden color fool you. That tequila is NOT aged to perfection. It has caramel or other adulterants added to it. UGH!
The Blue Agave

There are three classes of tequila:
   blanco - aged less than a month (or not at all)
   reposado - aged at least six months
   anejo - aged a year or more
Piña

The aging MAY mellow out the sharp bite that unaged tequila can exhibit. Some blanco tequilas are as smooth as silk and some anejos are akin to paint thinner!
  Caveat emptor!

Fine tequila may be drunk straight, like great whisky, cognac, armagnac and bourbon.
It's a shame to mask its exquisite taste with ice, lime and sugar.

Other agaves are processed similarly in other states and produce similar spirits. Perhaps the best known is Mezcal from Oaxaca. Others worth mentioning are Sotol from Chihuahua and Bacanora in Sonora. These spirits can be more 'rustic' than a fine anejo tequila... Another interesting spirit is 'Racilla.' It's campesino tequila, 90-proof Mexican MoonShine and guaranteed to make you yell ¡Arriba!

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Orange Liqueurs

   Cointreau This unique French spirit combines the subtle harmony of bitter and sweet oranges. Horrendously expensive, it has that je ne sais quoi!  Recommended if you are using premium tequila and no sucre.

   Citrónge An excellent Mexican spirit with a just bit more zing than Cointreau BUT 1/2 the cost! It was created by the importers of Patron Tequila. They maintain you MUST use a Mexican Orange Liqueur in a margarita. ¡Olé!

   Controy This excellent Mexican spirit lacks the subtle sweetness of, and is more variable than, Cointreau and Citrónge. It's a bit more cloying BUT only 1/3 the cost of Cointreau! Only CommonSewers will complain.

   Triple Sec A workmanlike orange liquer. Strong flavored and a bit sweet. Very inexpensive. Great if using sugar. The most variable, ranging from 20% to 40% alcohol, and from bitter orange to cloyingly sweet. De Kuyper and Hiram Walker are two recommended brands. If the price is very low, expect low alcohol and poor flavor, often approaching medicinal.

   Grand Marnier We find this French spirit far too sweet, but it is favored by some. Again, far too expensive, especially if adding sugar.

   Curaçao This Caribean spirit comes in Clear, Orange, Brown and Blue colors. Only slight variations in taste between the colors. Can be more bitter than any of the above. Same variations in quality as Triple Sec, so stick with the better brands.

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Get the Lime right

Choosing, storing and juicing limes are pivotal to the creation of a margarita:
- Buy brightly coloured, smooth-skinned ones that feel heavy for their size.
- Small brown areas on their skin, called scald, won't affect flavour or juiciness, but a shriveled, dry look or a hard skin will.
- Store limes in a plastic bag in the fridge. They keep about 10 days.
- Before juicing, roll the lime firmly with your hand. This breaks the inner membranes, allowing the juice to flow more freely.
- A Lime Squeezer similar to that pictured extracts maximum juice and minimal pulp.

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Tequila is distilled only in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, from the blue agave cactus. It takes about 10 years for a cactus to reach the required size. The spines are removed and the 'piña' are processed. wikipedia Tequila explains the process. Better tequilas are made from only 100% blue agave. Lesser tequilas must be made from at least 51% agave to be called Tequila. The low budget tequilas contain water, sugar and other ingredients to mimic the taste of the better tequilas. Don't let a golden color fool you. That tequila is NOT aged to perfection. It has caramel or other adulterants added to it. UGH!	The Blue Agave
There are three classes of tequila: blanco - aged less than a month (or not at all) reposado - aged at least six months anejo - aged a year or more	Piña
The aging MAY mellow out the sharp bite that unaged tequila can exhibit. Some blanco tequilas are as smooth as silk and some anejos are akin to paint thinner! Caveat emptor! Fine tequila may be drunk straight, like great whisky, cognac, armagnac and bourbon. It's a shame to mask its exquisite taste with ice, lime and sugar.
Other agaves are processed similarly in other states and produce similar spirits. Perhaps the best known is Mezcal from Oaxaca. Others worth mentioning are Sotol from Chihuahua and Bacanora in Sonora. These spirits can be more 'rustic' than a fine anejo tequila... Another interesting spirit is 'Racilla.' It's campesino tequila, 90-proof Mexican MoonShine and guaranteed to make you yell ¡Arriba!

		Orange Liqueurs
	Cointreau	This unique French spirit combines the subtle harmony of bitter and sweet oranges. Horrendously expensive, it has that je ne sais quoi! Recommended if you are using premium tequila and no sucre.

	Citrónge	An excellent Mexican spirit with a just bit more zing than Cointreau BUT 1/2 the cost! It was created by the importers of Patron Tequila. They maintain you MUST use a Mexican Orange Liqueur in a margarita. ¡Olé!

	Controy	This excellent Mexican spirit lacks the subtle sweetness of, and is more variable than, Cointreau and Citrónge. It's a bit more cloying BUT only 1/3 the cost of Cointreau! Only CommonSewers will complain.

	Triple Sec	A workmanlike orange liquer. Strong flavored and a bit sweet. Very inexpensive. Great if using sugar. The most variable, ranging from 20% to 40% alcohol, and from bitter orange to cloyingly sweet. De Kuyper and Hiram Walker are two recommended brands. If the price is very low, expect low alcohol and poor flavor, often approaching medicinal.

	Grand Marnier	We find this French spirit far too sweet, but it is favored by some. Again, far too expensive, especially if adding sugar.

	Curaçao	This Caribean spirit comes in Clear, Orange, Brown and Blue colors. Only slight variations in taste between the colors. Can be more bitter than any of the above. Same variations in quality as Triple Sec, so stick with the better brands.
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	Get the Lime right
	Choosing, storing and juicing limes are pivotal to the creation of a margarita: - Buy brightly coloured, smooth-skinned ones that feel heavy for their size. - Small brown areas on their skin, called scald, won't affect flavour or juiciness, but a shriveled, dry look or a hard skin will. - Store limes in a plastic bag in the fridge. They keep about 10 days. - Before juicing, roll the lime firmly with your hand. This breaks the inner membranes, allowing the juice to flow more freely. - A Lime Squeezer similar to that pictured extracts maximum juice and minimal pulp.
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