The mercury hit the mid 90's last week and that signals the begining of Margarita season. I really enjoy a well made Margie, and detest any mixes sold for assembling the proper blend. This is one of the easiest drinks to make, yet 9 out of 10 bars ruin it with their sickeningly sweet mixes. What bartenders call "sour mix" is actually high fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavor. It imparts the same horrible taste to margarits, collins, whiskey sours etc...
The correct Margarita is made as follows:
4 ounces Tequila (100% agave only)
1.5 ounces Cointreau, or Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
1.5 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
Splash of seltzer
I prefer my Margies on the rocks, so I first salt the rim of a stem glass or large rocks glass, then fill it with ice. I then fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the above ingredients, except the seltzer. Shake vigorously and pour through a strainer into the glass. Pour a splash of seltzer in and garnish with a slice of lime.
There is no reason to use the most expensive tequila, since it is being mixed with other ingredients, but make sure it is 100% Agave, otherwise it is tequila flavored grain spirit. Don't be afraid to shake the cocktail at least 20 times. You want to dilute the mixture with melting ice in the shaker to make it as cold as possible. One good short cut is to buy Real Lime, which is reconstituted lime juice with no added sugar.
Another delightful summer cocktail is the Tom Collins (or vodka collins). I don't need any added sugar so I avoid the bottled collins mixers and powdered mixes. I use the following recipe:
Fill a tall collins glass with ice, add a couple of shots of gin or vodka, add 1.5 ounces of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, 1/2 of a packet of Splenda, and top with seltzer. Stir and add a cherry and a slice of lime. Very refreshing and not bad calorically without the bottled mixer.
