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May 5, 2014

Happy Cinco de Mayo!


This might feel like another "excuse to get drunk" type of holiday, but it's really a commemoration of the 1862 battle of Puebla (Thank you Wikipedia). Never heard of it? I'm sure it's a fascinating war saga but that hardly relates to our purpose here so lets just make some Margaritas!

We'll make two today. The first being the original, which was invented or came into vogue some time around 1938-1940. Like many older recipes it's hard to say just when and how they came to be. I like to think, much as today, these cocktails represent a trend and trying to figure out exactly who or what started the trend would be impossible.  What is clear is that when it came into fashion, the ingredients were just Tequila, Triple sec and lime. That's it.

I've clearly taken some liberties.
The 40 lbs of salt was just for the photo.



Margarita 1
1 1/2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz Triple sec
3/4 oz fresh lime juice



Method 
Pour all ingredients into a shaker, fill 3/4 with ice, shake vigorously for 30 seconds, strain into chilled coupette, (adding salt didn't come into fashion until much later)








A Great Margarita Needs Real Limes!
It might be a good moment to mention as well that the price of limes has not gone down, that basket of green-gold you see there will put you out a few bucks. Prices in Toronto right now range from $.33 to $1.00 each. Fresh lime juice is always best. Whether or not the lime crisis is a real thing the new prices most certainly are. This however, is about a celebration, so go ahead and splurge!


Our second version is something closer to what you might find in a cocktail bar today. In keeping with the original but rounding out the flavour, it's still a very firm drink.




Margarita 2
1 1/2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz dry Curacao
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz Agave nectar



Method
Pour all ingredients into a shaker, fill 3/4 with ice, shake vigorously for 30 seconds, strain into highball filled with cracked ice.
You already splurged on the limes so go ahead and use one for garnish.






Are you going to spend the big bucks for limes this summer?

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