It’s Feb 22, which means it’s National Margarita Day! Few cocktails have as strong a following as the popular margarita, and we’re not ashamed to say we’re two of the people whose go-to summer cocktail is a marg. Arguably the most delicious way to consume tequila, there are so many fun ways to customise a marg to suit your tastes. Whether you’re a fan of the salty classic, you like to throw some fruit in there, serve it over ice or spice things up, there’s no wrong way to enjoy your margarita.
To celebrate this holy day, Cointreau very kindly sent us a margarita kit to make a few drinks to enjoy. We want to share the love though, so here are three of our fave Cointreau-based margarita recipes, including the original recipe that started this cult drink.
The Original
There are many stories of how this famous drink came to be, but whichever story you choose to believe, the concept is still the same. Taking the classic elements of a tequila shot – namely, tequila, lime and salt – and turning them into a more palatable drink, this zesty concoction will always please at parties.
Ingredients
- 30 mL Cointreau
- 30mL Patron Silver Tequila
- 30mL fresh lime juice
- Salt
Method
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled margarita glass with a salt rim and garnish with a lime slice.
The Spicy
The first time we ever had a spicy marg was at Shoreditch House in London. They were called Picantes there and had developed a bit of a cult following, spanning endless memes and even merch. Call it a spicy marg or call it a Picante, this rendition of a margarita is one of our faves.
Ingredients
- 30mL Cointreau
- 30mL Patron Silver Tequila
- 30mL lime juice
- Tabasco sauce
- Chilli salt
Method
Follow the same instructions as the classic margarita above, but before you shake add a couple of shakes (or a lot, depending on how spicy you want your margarita) of Tabasco sauce. When rimming your glass, use chilli salt or tajim instead of regular salt for an extra kick. We’d recommend serving this one over ice to balance out the heat, in which case use a rocks glass to serve.
The Sweet
This one’s for those who think margaritas are a little too sour. We originally learned this recipe from a cocktail kit we played with during lockdown, and it’s become a staple in our cupboard for when we have people over with a sweet tooth.
Ingredients
- 30mL Cointreau
- 30mL Patron Silver Tequila
- 30mL Lime Juice
- 15mL agave syrup
- Wizz Fizz
Method
Follow the same instructions as the classic margarita above, but add your agave syrup in with the rest of the ingredients before you shake. Rim your glass with wizz fizz instead of salt for an extra sweet touch every time you sip. Like the spicy marg we’d recommend serving this one over ice in a rocks glass.
