Category Archives: tequila

margarita cocktail

Margarita

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Why has the Margarita become one of the most popular cocktails in the world? This delightful concoction, a perfect blend of tequila, lime, and triple sec, carries with it a fascinating history that adds to its allure. Let’s take a journey through time and uncover the origins and evolution of the Margarita.

The Birth of the Margarita can be found in multiple competing stories.

One story dates back to the late 1930s in Mexico. It is said that a socialite named Margarita Sames created the drink at her Acapulco home for her friends. Her friend Tommy Hilton (of the Hilton hotels fame) was so impressed with the cocktail that he added it to the bar menu of his hotel chain, thus popularizing the drink.

Next, the Margarita may have been derived from the daisy cocktail, a popular sour cocktail in the 1930s and 1940s. The name “margarita” may come from the Spanish translation of “daisy”.

Another story claims that a bartender named Danny Negrete in Puebla, Mexico, created the drink in 1936 as a wedding gift for his sister-in-law, Margarita. The recipe called for triple sec, fresh lime juice, and Tequila Blanco over crushed ice.

And yet another story claims that the Margarita was invented in 1941 by bartender Don Carlos Orozco at the Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada, Mexico. According to this tale, Don Carlos created the cocktail for Margarita Henkel, the daughter of a German ambassador, who was the first person to taste it.

Regardless of its exact birthplace, the Margarita quickly made its way north of the border. By the 1950s, it had become a favorite in Southern California. Hollywood stars, in particular, played a significant role in its rise to fame. The cocktail was a hit at glamorous parties and featured in numerous movies, cementing its status as a symbol of elegance and leisure.

The classic margarita recipe is simple, yet perfectly balanced. Here’s how to make it:

  • Rim the edge of a margarita glass with a lime wedge and dip it in salt.
  • In a shaker filled with ice, combine 2 oz tequila, 1 oz lime juice, and 1 oz triple sec.
  • Shake well and strain the mixture into the prepared glass.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge.

Variations

Over the years, the margarita has inspired countless variations. Some of the most popular include:

  • Frozen Margarita: Blend the ingredients with ice to create a slushy version, perfect for hot days.
  • Fruit Margarita: Add fresh fruits like strawberries, mangoes, or peaches to the mix for a fruity twist.
  • Spicy Margarita: Infuse the cocktail with jalapeños or other hot peppers for a kick of heat.

The margarita’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its versatility and refreshing flavor. Whether enjoyed on a sunny beach or at a chic urban bar, the margarita continues to be a favorite choice for cocktail lovers around the world.

old fashioned

The Old Fashioned: A Timeless Classic

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The Old Fashioned traces its roots back to the early 19th century. It emerged during a time when cocktails were gaining popularity in America, with bartenders experimenting with various spirits, bitters, and sweeteners. The term “cocktail” itself originally referred to a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters.

The exact origin of the Old Fashioned is a bit murky, but it is generally believed to have been invented in the early 1800s. The cocktail was first referred to as an “Old Fashioned” in the 1880s, when it became a staple at the Pendennis Club, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipe was supposedly introduced to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City by a club member, cementing its place in cocktail history.

The Old Fashioned is known for its simplicity and balance, requiring only a few key steps:

  • Place a sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass.
  • Soak with 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters and muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Fill the glass with large ice cubes and pour in 2 oz. bourbon or rye whiskey.
  • Stir gently to combine.
  • Garnish with an orange twist and a cherry.

While the classic recipe remains a favorite, there are infinite variations you might enjoy, including:

Tequila Old Fashioned (pictured, left): Substitute extra añejo tequila for the whiskey, orange bitters and garnish with a twist of lime. This gives it a brighter, more citrus forward flavor profile.

Smoky Old Fashioned: Add a splash of smoky Scotch whisky for an extra layer of complexity.

Spiced Old Fashioned: Experiment with different bitters, such as orange or chocolate bitters, to add a unique flavor profile.

Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila: A Luxurious Sip of Tradition

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Aged to Perfection

Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila is aged for an impressive seven years in French oak barrels. This extended aging process imparts a deep, complex character to the tequila, setting it apart from its younger counterparts. The result is a spirit with a marvelous dark amber color and a rich bouquet of aromas, including fruits and toasted oak.

Flavor Profile

The first sip of Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila reveals a symphony of flavors. You’ll notice prominent notes of vanilla, caramel, and dark chocolate, balanced by a smooth, elegant finish. This tequila is designed to be savored, making it perfect for special occasions or quiet moments of indulgence. The sweetness and complexity make it an excellent choice for those who appreciate a refined, dessert-like tequila.

Craftsmanship and Quality

Handcrafted from the finest blue agave, Mandala Extra Añejo stands out for its purity and depth. The meticulous production process ensures that each bottle meets the highest standards of quality. The tequila is distilled in the heart of Jalisco, Mexico, a region renowned for producing some of the world’s best tequilas.

Presentation

One of the most striking features of Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila is its presentation. The bottle itself is a work of art, often adorned with intricate designs that reflect the cultural heritage of Mexico. This makes it not only a delightful drink but also a beautiful addition to any collection.

Perfect Pairings

Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila pairs wonderfully with a variety of foods. Its rich, sweet profile complements desserts like chocolate cake or crème brûlée. For a more savory pairing, try it with aged cheeses or a charcuterie board. The versatility of this tequila makes it a fantastic choice for both casual sipping and gourmet dining.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila is a luxurious and sophisticated spirit that offers a unique tasting experience. Its complex flavors, elegant presentation, and rich heritage make it a standout choice for any tequila lover. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila is sure to elevate the moment.

Have you had the chance to try Mandala Extra Añejo Tequila? What are your thoughts on its flavor and presentation? Let me know in the comments below!

Angel Wings featuring RumChata

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angel wings cocktail

I love challenging myself to come up with creative new ways to mix RumChata, and the cinnamon-and-cream deliciousness always mixes very well with other items in the bar.

Because Fall is coming soon, I’ve begun thinking about seasonal flavors I can mix with RumChata, and decided on a spiced concoction that turned out really beautiful and really tasty. I’ve named it the Angel Wings because of the deceptively pink-ness of the drink, which is surprisingly strong. Here’s how to make it:

Angel Wings (by Greg Mays)

  • in a cocktail shaker, combine:
  • 1 oz RumChata
  • 2 oz reposado tequila
  • 1/2 oz herbal liqueur (like Jägermeister)
  • 1/4 oz Grenadine
  • shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
  • garnish with cherries

The spice and the tequila balance very well with the spices in RumChata and make for a bright, flavorful and tasty cocktail.

Special thanks to our sponsor RumChata.

Hornitos Plata and Hornitos Reposado

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hornitos reposado and plata

Over half a century ago on Mexican Independence Day (September 16), Don Francisco Javier Sauza (yeah that same Sauza), created Hornitos tequila, an aromatic 100% blue agave experience that’s sweet and calming with a little bit of bite.

Hornitos Plata. This is Hornitos’ unaged tequila (“plata” is Spanish for silver). Plata has never made contact with wood barrels, so it’s a clear tequila. Because of its young age, Plata is more of an herbal and floral experience in the smell and taste. This is agave at its purest: very sweet, crisp and clean.

Hornitos Reposado. This “rested” tequila has an aromatic rush of blue agave, unexpected and exciting. The sting in the air that is immediately present in the nose of other tequilas is non-existent here. Instead, a sweet, calming waft of blue agave gets your attention. The flavor is mellow and very smooth, with a bit of welcome spice. Not a tequila I would associate with taking shots, Hornitos Reposado is smooth enough to sip, and enjoy the warmth in your chest of a nice, aged tequila.

Hornitos Reposado will run you $25 and Hornitos Plata, $20. The flavors of both are subtle, and though they’d be fine cocktail tequilas, I will likely enjoy Hornitos Reposado more often as a sipping tequila. The Plata is a little more floral and herbal than I’d prefer.

Hornitos Spiced Honey

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hornitos spiced honey

Clearly, there are waves and trends that hit the liquor companies over the years, and I understand the legitimate need to create something new and keep buying eyes on your brand. When I started this blog, flavored vodkas were at their peak, and I even reviewed (it’s true) some of the stranger among them.

That initial wave of vodka flavors has subsided, though there’s always room for pleasant-tasting vodkas. Now, they’ve been replaced by flavored whiskeys and, in the past year or so, tequilas too.

When Lisa and I opened Hornitos Spiced Honey for the first time (podcast link), we weren’t sure what to expect. In fact, we guessed it could be similar to American Honey Sting, Wild Turkey’s ghost-pepper-infused whiskey. Thankfully, it’s not. This Hornitos variation (only their second flavor offering) is a “spiced honey liqueur,” a warm honey-and cinnamon combo that’s more like a tea companion than the dare shot that American Honey Sting is.

Spiced Honey is sweet, yes, but still comes in at the 35% ABV level, which is expected from flavored liquor these days. The flavors are natural and rich, but not overpowering, and it’s surprising how little you taste the tequila, which I’m sure is the point. Hornitos Spiced Honey is worth a try, and it is something I’d imagine mixes excellent with a cinnamon liqueur like RumChata or Chila Orchata or just in a White Russian or other desserty drink. At $20 a bottle, you’re bound to find some clever ways to enjoy this tequila.

We tasted Hornitos Spiced Honey on the Simple Cocktails Podcast. Click here to listen.

Hola Harvey

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hola harvey wallbanger

I’ve covered Galliano before, the famous electric-yellow herbal liqueur from Italy. It’s the critical ingredient that turns a simple Screwdriver into the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail. We’ve tasted it a few months back on the podcast, too (listen here).

For Cinco de Mayo this year, I found a tropical recipe that riffs on the Harvey Wallbanger that’s both easy and tasty:

Hola Harvey

  • in a shaker, combine:
  • 1 1/2 oz blanco tequila
  • 1/2 oz Galliano
  • 1 oz pineapple juice
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
  • garnish with a lime wedge

 Special thanks to our sponsor Galliano L’Autentico.

Cactus Juice

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espelon tequila and cactus juice cocktail

It’s going to be a little hard to hold this one in, because I discovered one of the best tequila cocktails I’ve ever tried. Stay tuned for the recipe – first, let’s talk about Espolón Tequila.

Espolón is a 20-year-old tequila brand and produces the typical blanco/reposado/añejo portfolio of tequilas, but we’ll focus on Espolón Añejo for two reasons. First, it’s only recently available in the United States (you won’t yet find it on the company’s website, in fact). Second, the añejo’s aging is finished in Wild Turkey bourbon barrels. While bourbon barrels are not uncommon for tequila aging, I suppose the specificity of the fact that these are in Wild Turkey barrels makes it all the more interesting to me.

Espolón Añejo, at $35 a bottle, is a really nice experience. Many a tequila maker is trying to sway the reputation of their product from the “shooter” market, and highlighting the quality you’ll find in a fine tequila, and this is one of those. This is not a muggy, sour tequila experience, and while you will certainly taste tequila in your glass of Espolón Añejo, this is much more of an oaky, crisp, smooth-drinking experience. I replaced my nightly glass of whiskey with it for a few days, and found it to be an equivalent experience, though somehow wetter and more refreshing than the brashness (not an insult) of whiskey.

So here’s the deal: a quality aged tequila is different than even a quality unaged tequila, and your cocktail recipes should reflect that. I found the following recipe, which contains a small amount of the Scotch-based liqueur Drambuie, and between Drambuie’s smokiness and the grittiness of the granulated sugar, this is a very tasty cocktail to drink with an añejo tequila, particularly one with whiskey elements like Espolón Añejo. Try it out:

Cactus Juice

  • in a shaker, combine:
  • 1 1/2 oz Espolón Añejo
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Drambuie
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • shake with ice and strain into an old fashioned glass on the rocks
  • garnish with a lemon slice

We make Cactus Juice on the Simple Cocktails Podcast. Listen here.

 

Sauza Sparkling Margaritas

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sauza sparkling margarita

Sparkling Margaritas are a line of pre-made cocktails from tequila brand Sauza, available in original, wild berry, mango-peach, and the newest flavor: watermelon. A bottle will run you about $12 for a 750ml, with alcohol is right at 10% for all of the flavors.

I expected these to be something like a wine cooler or Bacardi Silver, based on malt liquor or maybe wine, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the ingredient list: silver tequila, triple sec, carbonation, and flavor – those are the actual ingredients to a Margarita!

When I make margaritas at home, I usually include a splash of club soda, so this is a familiar experience for me, though I’d admit that the Sparkling Margaritas are sweeter than I’m used to. These are great party drink solutions because they’re so easy to serve, and if you drink them on the rocks, it cuts the sweetness down a bit.

sauza sparkling margarita

As far as the individual flavors, we had a tasting party and Original and the Watermelon were the favorites of the bunch (which the photo above helps to illustrate). The interesting thing is that Original and Watermelon are flavored “naturally”, while Wild Berry and Mango-Peach eliminate the word natural from their label.

It’s rare that you find decent bottled cocktails in stores, but this one fits the bill as good as any I have seen yet. Sauza Sparkling Margaritas get the ingredients right and outside of the usual cocktails, beer and wine, they’re a nice option to include at a party, too.

We tasted Sauza Sparkling Margaritas on the first episode of the Simple Cocktails Podcast.