margaritas

original recipe courtesy rick bayless

yield 8 drinks (small pitcher)

2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/4 cups water
8 lime wedges
coarse salt
2 1/4 cups tequila blanco* (silver tequila) (recommended : sauza)
1/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons triple sec** (or orange liqueur)

mix together tequila and triple sec (or orange liqueur) in freezer-safe pitcher/container. chill well. (mixture will not freeze completely because of the alcohol content.)

to make tangy limeade, combine lime zest, lime juice, sugar and water in a glass pitcher. stir/shake well, making sure that the sugar dissolves completely. chill for at least 2 hours (but no more than 12 hours).

once chilled, strain the limeade mixture into the orange-tequila mixture. if time allows, throw mixture into the freezer again for a short time.

to serve, shake well with ice cubes and strain into ice filled glass. squeeze the juice of 1/8 lime wedge into the glass. (for rustic margaritas, throw the spent lime wedge into the glass.)


original recipe recommendations
*sauza conmemorativo tequila
**gran torres or grand marnier