I keep trying to figure out fruit in a cocktail that would still taste delicious and not like too much fruit in a cocktail. This one I started wondering about around St. Patrick’s Day because I was pretty sure it would turn out green - I was right! Not only is it green, but it’s delicious.

The tartness of the kiwi lends itself perfectly with the lime and tequila. It’s not too sweet, not too sour. It’s practically the perfect cocktail.

Kiwi Margarita

makes 2 cocktails

1 kiwi, skinned and chopped

1 lime, juiced

4 ounces anjeo tequila

1 ounce cointreau

lime wedges and kiwi for garnish

STEP 1

In a cocktail shaker or a pitcher, muddle together kiwi and lime juice until blended.

STEP 2

Pour in booze and fill with ice. Shake or stir until combined.

STEP 3

Strain into two cocktail glasses filled with ice.

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There’s something about a spicy, smoky margarita that feels perfect for Halloween! These are something you can make in a pitcher too - so you can serve them at a party and not have to keep shaking. Just mix the ingredients and then let guests shake to order. Better yet, find a friend who likes to work the bar - it’s usually someone who wants to chat with everyone, but also needs to keep their hands busy. I know who I always choose - it’s a great friend to have!

Try a few mezcals before you settle on one. Everyone likes something a little different and mezcal is unique because it’s so smoky. Like when you pick a scotch, they all taste a little different. It’s handy to buy the tiny little bottles first to try out the varieties. Those big bottles seem even larger when you don’ like what’s inside!

Mezcal Margarita

serves 2

4 ounces mezcal

1/2 ounce jalapeno syrup

1 dash triple sec

juice of 1/2 a lime (2 ounces)

lime wedges

coarse sea salt

STEP 1

Rub the ridge of one glass with the lime and dip half of the rim in salt. If you dip the whole thing, you can end up with a mouth full of salt and no one needs bloated fingers tomorrow. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.

STEP 2

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour mezcal, jalapeño syrup,, triple sec and lime. Shake aggressively for a few seconds. Strain the cocktail into the salted glass. Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and serve.

ALTERNATIVLY

I often will not fill the glass with ice in the beginning, but pour the ice the cocktail was shaken with into my glass. There’s a little melt that happens when you shake and I like to capture all of the flavors. But it’s not traditional, so you do you.

to make the jalapeño syrup

Combine together in a saucepan, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 jalapeño, sliced but not seeded. Simmer until the sugar has melted and the liquid has reduced. Let cool before using.

Another drink that came from a marketing scheme? A Paloma is just such a drink - so it seems. When Squirt was invented in Texas in 1938 bartenders in Mexico created a classic that’s pretty great. Some bartenders call it Mexico’s answer to the G&T, it’s refreshingly delicious and simple as can be. Origianlly the drink is squirt, tequila and lime. But I find it classed up with grapefruit juice makes it more prime time. Equal parts and topped with soda. Make it in a pitcher and you’re ready to go-a!

Paloma

2 ounces repesado tequila

2 ounces grapefruit juice

grapefruit soda

lime wedge & grapefruit slice

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I can’t think of another drink that makes you think about a celebration like a margarita. We spend an unusual amount of time drinking or thinking about margaritas especially when we are in Palm Springs - which was quite often before COVID shut down our travel plans.

I used to think they were fairly complicated to make, but I think that’s because store bought margarita mix is so sweet and gross and when you get them at a restaurant, they are delish! I assumed I was doing something wrong until I figured out it was the store bought margarita mix that was all wrong. When we discovered Tommy’s Margarita Mix, our life changed. It made me realize we were over complicating things and I started a deep dive on the margarita.

As with all historied and popular beverages, the origins of the margarita are not definite. I’m so entertained by these stories. Every famous cocktails seems to have one and I can’t help but wonder if there was just a trend starting and the “original margarita” started in multiple places around the same time? If you’re curious what the stories are, they are pretty good.

One stays that the margarita was created in Galveston, Texas in 1948 for the singer Peggy Lee (Peggy being a nickname for Margaret and thus the “margarita”). The bartender created a riff on a current classic - The Daisy - using tequila instead of the gin or brandy it called for and named his “new cocktail” for her. I like this story but there’s no way it’s right. Mostly because there are rumors of the drink as early as 1937.

Here’s what I think. In the 1920’s and early 30’s prohibition was real and really reduced the amount of American booze on the market. Mexico did not have prohibition and continued making tequila through the era, which means it was readily available to bootleggers - especially those in California and Texas.

The Daisy was a popular cocktail - a shaken drink made with brandy or gin mixed with lemon juice and orange cordial. They would shake it over ice and serve it in a martini glass with sugar on the rim. If you were going to replace the gin or brandy with tequila you’d have to make a few adjustments. Tequila was commonly consumed with salt and lime, so switching the lemon for lime and the sugar for salt is a natural swap and suddenly you have a margarita.

The first published record of the margarita was in 1953 in Esquire Magazine. In that, they mix 1 ounce of tequila, a dash of triple sec, and the juice of 1/2 a lime. Then the drink is strained into a coupe glass where the edge has been rubbed with lime and dipped in salt.

In the name of research, I have spent the last few months thinking about margaritas, making margaritas and drinking margaritas. It was all so I could report to you on the best, most authentic way to consume this classic beverage. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.

The most authentic margarita is ridiculously simple. Here’s how I make it:

Margarita

makes one drink

1 ounce blanco tequila

1 dash triple sec

juice of 1/2 a lime

lime wedges

coarse sea salt

STEP 1

Rub the ridge of one glass with the lime and dip half of the rim in salt. If you dip the whole thing, you can end up with a mouth full of salt and no one needs bloated fingers tomorrow. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.

STEP 2

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour tequila, triple sec and lime. Shake aggressively for a few seconds. Strain the cocktail into the salted glass. Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and serve.

ALTERNATIVLY

I often will not fill the glass with ice in the beginning, but pour the ice the cocktail was shaken with into my glass. There’s a little melt that happens when you shake and I like to capture all of the flavors. But it’s not traditional, so you do you.

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For Cinco de Mayo, Lars and I made these phenomenal watermelon cocktails that I know you will love too. Lars made one sans tequila since he’s a child - and mine was filled with a delightful splash of tequila. Lars said his was amazing and mine smelled bad. So it’s working. I’m still a good parent.

Watermelon Margarita

3-4 cups chopped watermelon

1/4 cup lime juice

zest of 1 lime

Blanco tequila

STEP 1

In a blender, turn the watermelon into juice. Add in the lime zest and blend another second.

STEP 2

Pour 2 ounces Blanco Tequila into a glass full of ice. Top with 3-4 ounces of watermelon. Drizzle a teaspoon (or so) of lime juice onto the top of the drink. Garnish with wedges of lime and watermelon.

Going to Palm Springs, laying by the pool, and hydrating with tequila is one of my favorite things. It's even better when the tequila you're hydrating with is in the form of a handmade margarita.  In the desert there are so many citrus trees, there is almost never a time you can't buy handfuls of lemons and limes to make these yourself.  

Pour a glass and let's grab the sunscreen.

Usually I would say "This time of year I'm trying to eat healthier" but the reality is, I should probably cut out extra calories on the regular.  Alcohol is a pretty good place to start.  Do you know how many calories are in a margarita?!? It's like a zillion.  I wondered if I could combine tequila + a little juice + coconut water to make a cocktail that's not too heavy in the calories but is actually delicious.  

Nailed it.  

It turns out this is fantastic.  Because it isn't filled with the margarita syrup stuff, it actually needs less salt on the rim than usual.  But it's so much more fun with  a salted rim.

Tropical Skinny Margarita

makes 2 drinks

STEP 1

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all of the ingredients.  Shake vigorously.  

STEP 2

Run the edge of a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and tip into margarita salt.  Fill the glass with ice

STEP 3

Strain the cocktail into the prepared glasses and garnish with a lime.  Cheers.

80mL coconut water

80mL tequila

40mL pineapple juice

Anyone who says it takes a lot to make a party fun has never had tequila shots.  Line up a tray and watch the fun begin.  The only catch is that you MUST MUST MUST have good tequila.  Bad tequila = a headache which  is not a good time.

Muertos Double Old Fashioned Glasses from Cost Plus

Anthropologie Color Pop Juice Glasses

I am seriously loving this drink right now.  Fun side note, leaving the watermelon out when people aren't expecting it to be soaked in tequila produces some surprised expressions.  Just make sure they are adults...

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Here's what I'll be catching up on

::

Station Parties

are up and selling fast!  Sign up for your spot so you aren't left out!  There are three parties - all are expected to be AMAZING with loads of awesome treats and drinks.

::  How phenomenal are these

giant animal wall stickers from This Little Street

?

::  New York City is one of my favorite places.  And I

love this book

on the quirks of the city.

::  Lauren showed off some of her

recent calligraphy work

and it's amazing.  You might recognize her handwriting in my 

Faking Fabulous

 series!

::  

Music to drink to

.  Sharon is a genius.

Follow Alexandra Hedin's board Inspired by Cinco de Mayo on Pinterest.