margaritas

original recipe courtesy rick bayless

yield 16 drinks (large pitcher)

4 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup plus 4 teaspoons sugar
2 1/2 cups water
16 lime wedges
coarse salt
4 1/2 cups tequila blanco* (silver tequila) (recommended : sauza)
1/2 cup plus 2 1/2 tablespoons 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