According to Wikipedia Tequila is distilled from the agave, a pretty looking cactus-like desert plant that thrives off the volcanic soil in the highlands (Los Altos) of the western Mexican state of Jalisco. A particularly good Tequila is made from the blue agave, which is more native to the area near the town of Tequila, hence the spirit's name.
Whenever I make a Margarita, either frozen or not, I never, ever use that sickening pre-made crap that you add the Tequila to. You know, the one that your lovable brother-in-law stocks in his basement bar? It tastes nothing like a more authentic version. I believe a good Margarita is simpler than that, so I just squeeze out the juices of a couple of limes (around 1-1/2 oz.), add 2oz. of tequila, and a splash of Cointreau, all shaken in my cocktail shaker with ice for several seconds, and finally strained into a pre-chilled martini glass rimmed with salt and garnished with a slice of lime.
If I'm not mistaken the authentic Margarita is sour by default, not sweet, which partly explains the salt on the rim of the glass. The salt tempers the sourness of the lime and the sourness tempers the sting of the Tequila. Of course, many Americans or otherwise non-hardcore Tequila appreciators can't stand sour so that may explain why many pedestrian bars and clubs give you Margaritas that taste more like spiked limeade (i.e. made with pre-made crap). Yech. I prefer my Margarita to taste like it means it - powerful and unapologetic.
Whenever I make a Margarita, either frozen or not, I never, ever use that sickening pre-made crap that you add the Tequila to. You know, the one that your lovable brother-in-law stocks in his basement bar? It tastes nothing like a more authentic version. I believe a good Margarita is simpler than that, so I just squeeze out the juices of a couple of limes (around 1-1/2 oz.), add 2oz. of tequila, and a splash of Cointreau, all shaken in my cocktail shaker with ice for several seconds, and finally strained into a pre-chilled martini glass rimmed with salt and garnished with a slice of lime.
If I'm not mistaken the authentic Margarita is sour by default, not sweet, which partly explains the salt on the rim of the glass. The salt tempers the sourness of the lime and the sourness tempers the sting of the Tequila. Of course, many Americans or otherwise non-hardcore Tequila appreciators can't stand sour so that may explain why many pedestrian bars and clubs give you Margaritas that taste more like spiked limeade (i.e. made with pre-made crap). Yech. I prefer my Margarita to taste like it means it - powerful and unapologetic.
^ Una planta muy bonita sí.But it seems if the Tequila is of a much better quality no salt is needed as it's believed by bartenders specializing in Margaritas that the salt is there to mask the inferior flavour of lesser Tequilas. Fine Tequilas like Herradura or Sauza are the kind that when you spot the bottle on the shelf you do a double take on your wallet before deciding. The finest Tequilas are so nice they must be taken neat. You savour it, sip it lovingly. Whatever, I'm poor so the $10 gold one from Trader Joe's will do.
If you know more about Tequila than I ever will, please comment, I want to learn more. Give me some good recipes, too, if you have any.
Tonight I'm too lazy to make me a Margarita so I instead did a Tequila Cruda (as the title of this blog post implies). In other words, a Tequila Shot. Pour a little salt on the area of skin between the base of your thumb and forefinger, lick the salt off, gulp down the shot of Tequila, and immediately bite into and suck a lime wedge, all within 3 seconds.
Believe me, it's very sexy doing a Tequila Cruda, especially with someone you just met at your favourite watering hole. Hey, if Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford doing it in Working Girl (skip to 2:38) didn't convince me, I dunno what would have.
If you know more about Tequila than I ever will, please comment, I want to learn more. Give me some good recipes, too, if you have any.
Tonight I'm too lazy to make me a Margarita so I instead did a Tequila Cruda (as the title of this blog post implies). In other words, a Tequila Shot. Pour a little salt on the area of skin between the base of your thumb and forefinger, lick the salt off, gulp down the shot of Tequila, and immediately bite into and suck a lime wedge, all within 3 seconds.
Believe me, it's very sexy doing a Tequila Cruda, especially with someone you just met at your favourite watering hole. Hey, if Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford doing it in Working Girl (skip to 2:38) didn't convince me, I dunno what would have.
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