By: Taylor Kent
There’s no summer cocktail quite as classic as the margarita. A staple since its creation in 1938, the ever-refreshing blend of flavors is a favorite of many. With the weather on the island heating up, we’ve got margs on our minds. Urged by my fellow staff members, I made the sacrifice to embark on a noble quest around the south end. After several grueling hours of taste testing, note taking, and examination, I found the top 5 key tips of making the perfect margarita.
- Get salty.
A salted rim to a margarita is basically the whipped cream and cherry to a chocolate milkshake. If you order one without it, you’re probably a fun-sucker. If you’re going to salt the rim, though, you gotta go all out. When it comes to margaritas, there’s nothing more annoying than having your drink come out with, like, 5 grains of salt around the glass. If you’re looking for an extra salty rim around the island, Java Burrito always hooks it up.
2. No sour mix!
Confession: I might be a bit of a snob when it comes to margarita mixes. The best margs, to me, are always the ones without sour mix. Without it, the overall taste of the drink is just so much fresher. The skinny margarita at Aunt Chilada’s is one way to go if you’re looking to ditch the mix.
3. Rocks are good, but not TOO many.
Have you ever been to a restaurant on a hot summer afternoon, totally parched and draining your glass of water/soda over and over in about two seconds flat because it’s filled to the brim with ice? It should take more than a couple of sips to consume an entire drink, including a margarita. You want enough ice to keep your marg cold, but not so much that you feel gypped from your drink.
4. Balance is key.
Everybody has their own preference when it comes to alcohol ratios. Hey, no need to be shy with that tequila! But, it shouldn’t be so strong that the taste is unenjoyable. Holy Tequila does a great job of serving margs with excellent flavor and a little bit of a kick.
5. Have your best crew on hand.
No matter where you’re drinking your margaritas, it never hurts to have your buds around. I hate to agree with Jimmy Buffet, but the man might’ve been onto something. Good friends and a icy margarita is the recipe for success.