Margarita Noob

[steveo5556]

So I like the taste of margaritas at restaurants. Me and my friends at college are trying to make them and are failing. We do not know any specific recipe so we just add stuff, blend, taste, and then go from there. Does anyone have a good simple recipe? We have been using Jose Cuervo Especial, tripple sec, prepackaged lime juice, and sugar. I know most people on this website hate Jose Cuervo but our reasoning on that was we should use the cheap stuff until we get better at it. The sugar is just to give it a sweet flavor.

Another question I have is, the other night we made some and my friends drink all the tequila was on top and my drink all the lime juice was at the bottom. Why is that? my friend said it might be because the tequila was warm and that causes the ingredients to separate.

[Kamikazee]

A couple tips: Fresh limes are cheap, and fresh lime juice will make your margaritas MUCH much better than prepackaged lime juice. Also, granulated sugar is hard to dissolve in a margarita, so you have a few options for sweeteners. You can use the sugar you have to make "simple syrup" by mixing equal parts of sugar and very hot water until it dissolves completely, and then keep that mixture around in your refrigerator to add to your margaritas. You can also get a bottle of Agave Nectar at the grocery store, near the honey, and thats much better to use. Agave nectar is 1.5 times sweeter than regular cane sugar and its very low on the glycemic index, which means its okay for any diabetic friends of yours because it doesn't spike your bloodsugar as much as regular sugar does. Agave nectar is also made from the same plant that Tequila is made from, so it naturally compliments it and enhances the flavor. Also, do not use bottled margarita mix. Its disgusting and full of chemicals and crap you don't need anyway.

The "purists" margarita that most people here prefer is made up of only 3 ingredients... Good Tequila and Fresh lime juice, in roughly equal proportions, and sweetened to taste with a couple teaspoons of Agave nectar or simple syrup.

If you prefer a bit fruitier, not quite so strong margarita, more like what most restaurants serve, try using pineapple juice or apple juice as a mixer, and add a little triple sec as well for the orange flavor. The sweet fruit juice also makes adding extra sweetener unneccesary unless you just decide you want it sweeter. Here is my recipie for good margaritas:

3 parts tequila blanco (silver tequila)
1 part triple sec
2 parts fresh squeezed lime juice (adjust for personal taste)
3 to 4 parts pineapple juice or apple juice (i like pineapple better personally but both are good)

just a touch of agave nectar or simple syrup if its not sweet enough for you (taste it without first!)

Put everything in a big shaker with lots of ice, shake well until nice and cold, pour into your favorite glass rimmed with lime and kosher salt, enjoy!

Salt rimming tip: run a lime wedge around the edge of the EMPTY glass, pour a line of kosher salt on a plate, and hold the glass sideways and roll it in the salt. You want to get salt on the outside of the glass ONLY. Not in the inside where it will fall in your margarita and mess with the taste. A little salt goes a loong way too.

If you want a little extra kick, you can try adding a splash of Gran Gala on top. I like Gran Gala better than Gran Marnier, because its cheaper and yet still seems to have a superior orange flavor to me. I don't do this all the time, but sometimes its a pleasant addition.

Hope it helps! 

[bn087]

I made a topic awhile back called; What is your preferred margarita...

http://www.tequila.net/tqforum/index...pic,497.0.html

There you will find just about everyone on tequila.net's ideas on margaritas. Most everyone differs slightly but the traditional recipe is always the same...check it out.

[steveo5556]

Thanks guys, I got the agave nectar and I will try that.