Today Addie Broyles of the Statesman posted a how-to video on her Relish Austin blog. The speaker is some know-it-all in a snap shirt who thinks he knows everything about the Margarita cocktail.
Of course the know-it-all is me, and since I posted this hateful margarita how-to video last week, I suppose I deserve all of the critiques and criticisms that anyone can throw at me.
Perhaps I should cast the first stones:
1) It's Pepe Zevada, not Pepe Zavala
2) It sounds like I'm pitching Paula's Texas Orange based on price only, but it is also of excellent quality
3) Platinum tequila? I got my precious metals confused, and meant silver. Maybe I had Treaty Oak Platinum Rum on my mind. Maybe I had that margarita on my mind and lost control of my vocal faculties...
4) "Fresh lime juice is not an option"--I think I meant fresh lime juice is not optional.
Here is the recipe I follow:
Classic Margarita
1 1/2 oz. 100% agave silver tequila
3/4 oz. Paula’s Texas Orange (or Cointreau)
3/4 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice
(If a sweeter drink is desired, start with a scant 1/2 oz. simple syrup or agave nectar and adjust to taste. I prefer a more tart beverage)
I am of the opinion that the tequila:orange:lime ratio in a Margarita is something like the ratio of gin to vermouth in a Martini in that the drinker really has to experiment to find a suitable balance. Paula from Paula's Texas Orange calls for equal parts, not surprisingly, of tequila and orange liqueur; a lot of recipes call for 1 1/2 oz : 1 oz, respectively. Play around with ratios, just don't mess with the holy trinity of these two ingredients plus fresh lime juice.
Comments (1)
Congrats. This is the best "How to make a Margarita" recipe and set of instructions on the entire web. I would add just a few things to help someone who is new to the process of making fresh margaritas at home..
1. Like the man said, you want to stick with 100% agave tequila. But even within that category, different tequilas have different levels of agave pepper taste than others. In my experience, a little less agave pepper taste makes a smoother margarita. It can be confusing at the liquor store with so many options for premium tequila. In my personal quest for the perfect margarita, I've come up with the following list to help as you stand staring at the shelves of your local store: Chinaco, Herradura, Don Julio, Casa Noble.
(The writer already mentioned this but it is worth repeating - make sure you get silver or blanco tequila. The darker tequilas (repasado, anejo) have been aged in a barrel and you don't want that barrel flavor for a good margarita.
2. You can make your own simple syrup with two spoonfuls of sugar and some water in a coffee cup in the microwave for 30 seconds. If your using agave nectar for sweetner, one shot of filter watered added to the margarita helps dilute the lime juice a bit.
3. Did you see that fruit squeezer the man was using in the video? If you don't have one, buy one. It makes squeezing limes so easy, you wont be temped to go back to the pre-made sweet/sour mix "swill".
Posted by Michael Reilly | December 31, 2008 5:42 AM
Posted on December 31, 2008 05:42