Margarita Texas

A while back, we were were given the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker as a gift by family that knows our passion for the cocktail. After just a few uses, we were extremely pleased with the overall functionality and quality of drinks it produces. This is a lot more than your standard counter top blender as it includes technology and features that make it ideal for any frozen margarita enthusiast.

After adding your desired ingredients, the device basically does everything for you with a quick press of a button. The shave option in the ice compartment creates consistent restaurant style frozen margaritas every time.  A second blade at the bottom of the blender is perfect for blending fruit additions and finalizing the drinks consistency. A great feature of this extreme blender is the compartment on the back that captures excess water so it does not mix into your margarita creating a watery mess.

The only negative of this machine is its size. It is a little on the tall side and does not fit under our cabinets unless the lid is removed. We did find a spot on the counter where we have quick access to the machine while not getting in the way of other kitchen items.

Overall the Margaritaville margarita maker is a great addition to our home. We have yet to find a blender that can make margaritas of this consistency. When we invite friends and family over they line up next to it with their empty glasses.

Here is a tasty watermelon margarita recipe you can use with your Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker.

We haven’t touched on mezcal on this website yet but more and more you are seeing new brands pop-up and restaurants using the spirit in margaritas. If you are looking to add a twist to your drink, we recommend experimenting with mezcal. If you do not have any experience with it, then let’s start at the beginning.

What is Mezcal?

Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant (a form of agave — which is the plant that is used to make tequila) native to Mexico. The word mezcal comes from the words Nahuatl mexcalli which means “oven-cooked agave”.

Mezcal has what is generally described as a smoky flavor which is gets during the production process. The hearts of the agave plants, piñas, are cooked in pits in the ground slowly. Other popular descriptions of the taste includes spicy, ash, wood and fire.

It is unclear whether distilled drinks were produced in Mexico before the Spanish Conquest. The Spaniards were introduced to native fermented drinks such as pulque, also made from the maguey plant. Soon, the conquistadors began experimenting with the maguey plant to find a way to make a distillable fermented mash. The result was mezcal.

Today, mezcal is still made from the heart of the maguey plant, called the piña, much the same way it was 200 years ago, in most places. In Mexico, mezcal is generally consumed straight and has a strong smoky flavor. Though mezcal is not as popular as tequila (a mezcal made specifically from the blue agave in select regions of the country), Mexico does export the product, mostly to Japan and the United States, and exports are growing. In Mexico, mezcal is generally drunk straight, not mixed in a cocktail. Mezcal is generally not mixed with any other liquids, but is often accompanied with sliced oranges sprinkled with a mixture of ground fried larvae, ground chili peppers, and salt called sal de gusano, which literally translates as “worm salt”.

The Worm

Contrary to the popular belief, tequila does not contain a worm. Anyone making that assumption may be confused with mezcal which Chef Rick Bayless describes as the “rustic cousin of tequila.”  So, don’t be shocked if you pick up a bottle of mezcal and find one of these tiny creatures.

A mezcal worm is an insect larva found in a few types of mezcal produced in Oaxaca, Mexico. The larva is usually either a gusano rojo (“red worm”) or a chinicuil (“maguey worm”).  Although the custom is relatively recent, larvae are used frequently by several brands of mezcal to give flavor to the drink. A whole larva is deposited in the bottle, normally after having previously been cured in pure alcohol.

Popular Mezcal Brands

• Ilegal Mezcal
• Del Maguey Vida
• Wahaka Joven Espadin Mezcal
• Pierde Almas Espadín

Mezcal Margarita Recipe

• 1 1/2 oz Mezcal
• 3/4 oz orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz lime base (recommended Margarita Texas Mix)
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Strain into glass over ice and garnish with a lime. For a kick, add jalapeno slices to the drink.

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It should be no surprise that great margaritas come out of the Dallas area. The city is the birthplace of the margarita machine which was invented in Dallas on May 11, 1971 by restaurateur Mariano Martinez. In addition to the historical aspect, every year the Dallas Margarita Meltdown takes place in the city where restaurants and bars compete for title of best margarita.

Whether you want to have a drink after work or for dinner with friends, there are endless places to find a delicious cocktail throughout the sprawling metroplex.  Let’s take a look at some of the best margaritas in Dallas.

In alphabetical order:

Blue Mesa Grill – 7700 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225 – Their signature drink is the fitting Classic Blue Margarita.

Gloria’s Latin Cuisine – 3715 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206 – Creative margaritas like the spicy pineapple and spicy cucumber make this one of the top margarita spots in the area.

Joe T. Garcia’s – 2210 N Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX 76164 – Widely popular destination by locals and people visiting the area from out of town.

Matt’s El Rancho Martinez – 1904 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75206 – Fresh lime juice margaritas make this restaurant a crowd favorite.

Mattito’s – 3102 Oak Lawn Ave. Ste 144, Dallas, TX 75219 – Their blue Rumba Rita is the drink they are most known for that keeps people coming back.

Mi Cocina – 6332 La Vista Dr, Dallas, TX 75214 – Hop aboard the Mambo Taxi, a swirled blend of frozen margarita and sangria.

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What restaurant in the Dallas area do you find yourself visiting the most for margaritas? Let us know in the comments below which margarita in Dallas that you think serves the best. We are always looking for places to enjoy one when in the area.

Throughout the years, we have tasted margaritas throughout Dallas and other cities in Texas. To find out which destinations we have visited in the Lone Star State, check out our alphabetical listing of reviews or our interactive map.

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