News

This Saturday, we participated for the first time in the  Margarita Taste-Off at Hughes Hanger in Houston. The event, in it’s 4th year, was sponsored by Don Julio tequila and supports Candlelighter’s efforts to help children with cancer.

If you have read any of our recent margarita reviews, you know we enjoy spicy margaritas. A lot of restaurants are adding jalapenos, habaneros and whatever else they can throw in a cocktail to add some heat. We had a lot of success in the San Antonio Margarita Meltdown with our mango habanero margarita but we substituted pineapple juice for mango puree. It was a refreshing drink for a sunny upper 70’s day in Houston, Texas. Even though the drink contains habanero peppers, the heat is not overwhelming and compliments the pineapple juice.

All of the participants were restaurants, bars and hotels with Margarita Texas standing as the lone cocktail mix. We received a ton of votes by visitors at the event but now 3 time winner Emma’s Mex Grill from Pearland won again. We ended up meeting a lot of great people and the hosts were great. Hopefully they raised a lot of money for their cause.

We were asked many times if we would share the recipe and we provide it below. If you try it yourself, let us know what you think.

Pineapple Habanero Margarita

Ingredients

• 2 oz Margarita Texas Mix (Infused With Habaneros – How To:)
• 2 oz 100% Pineapple Juice (not from concentrate)
• 1 oz blanco tequila (we used Don Julio blanco)
• 1 oz orange liqueur (we used DeKuyper Triple Sec)
• 2 habanero peppers for infusion

Directions

Combine all ingredients into strainer, shake and serve on the rocks.

Review this margarita @ https://margaritatexas.com/margarita-recipes/pineapple-habanero-margarita/

Get Involved

Candlelighters Young Professionals Group was created to support the Candlelighters mission to provide emotional, educational and practical assistance to children with cancer and their families treated at the Texas Medical Center and/or who reside in the 13 counties of the greater Houston area. The YP group demonstrates their commitment through fundraising and volunteer activities while offering members social and professional networking opportunities. Members of the Young Professionals Committee are asked to attend meetings where they are given the opportunity to take part in the inception, planning and ultimately the success of several social functions throughout the year aimed at raising both funds and awareness for Candlelighters. Additionally, the committee hosts occasional networking and social gatherings at area restaurants or bars to foster an environment of year-round involvement.”  – https://www.candle.org/events/margarita-taste-off

National Margarita Day is coming up and much like Cinco De Mayo, tequila will be flowing rapidly this weekend. We can not trace the origins on why February 22nd was chosen as the day to celebrate the most searched cocktail on Google for all of 2014 but any additional reason to drink a margarita is welcomed here.  Although, Americans apparently do not require a specific day to drink the world’s number one cocktail as they consume more than 185,000 per hour according to Brown-Forman.

Last year it seemed like spicy margaritas became even more popular at restaurants and we had no problem with that. We hope this year brings many more fiery creations so for this National Margarita Day, we want you to spice it up with these easy recipes.

Mango Habanero Margarita

Ingredients

• 2 oz Margarita Texas Mix (Infused With Habaneros – How To:)
• 2 oz mango pulp
• 1 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz orange liqueur
• 2 habanero peppers for infusion

Directions

Combine all ingredients into strainer, shake and serve on the rocks.

Jalapeno Margarita

Ingredients

• 1/2 fresh jalapeno
• 1.5 oz lime juice or margarita mix (suggested: Margarita Texas Mix)
• 4 oz blanco tequila
• 4 oz orange liqueur
• ice

Directions

Muddle jalapeno and then combine lime juice (or margarita mix), tequila and orange liqueur. Shake and strain over ice.

Jalapeno-Cilantro Margarita

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz blanco tequila
• 3/4 oz lime juice
• 1/4 oz agave nectar (or substitute lime juice and agave nectar for 1 oz Margarita Texas Mix)
• 3 small pieces of fresh jalapeno pepper
• 1/4 oz orange liqueur
• 8 cilantro leaves

Directions

Muddle cilantro and jalapeno pieces, add tequila and orange liqueur. Shake and strain over ice into glass. Garnish with cilantro and pepper.

TIP: When first making this margarita, start with a small amount of jalapeno pepper to gauge your taste. Increase for a spicier drink

What is your favorite version of a spicy margarita? Leave a comment below and let us know.

If you liked these recipes, we encourage you to: 

Do you want to a make a perfect margarita that will impress friends and family at a party or do you have the desire to create delicious margaritas to enjoy after a long day of work? Understanding the ingredients that make a perfect margarita and the ability to adjust recipes to meet your personal flavor preferences are keys to making a delicious cocktail.

Ingredients

Selecting the right tequila is the most important part to the creating the perfect margarita recipe. There are many varieties covering a wide range of costs.

Types of Tequila

• Blanco (Silver) – Blanco is not aged and its appearance is clear and transparent.
• Reposado (Rested) – Reposado is blanco that is aged in white oak casks from 2 to 11 months.
• Oro (Gold) – Gold Tequila is generally not aged and is generally 51% agave and 49% sugars. Caramel, fructose, glycerin and wood flavoring are usually added to simulate aging.
• Añejo (Aged) – Añejo is blanco Tequila that has been aged in white oak casks for more than a year but less than 3 years giving it an amber color and woody flavor.

We recommend blanco and reposado for margaritas as they are generally cheaper than añejo, which is typically for sipping. While gold tequila may be priced the lowest, it is not 100% blue agave (often 51% blue agave and 49% sugars) and not suggested as the quality is also on the lower side. Blanco tequila is commonly found in restaurant margaritas and works well to compliment all of the ingredients. Reposado tequilas lend a slight sweetness and oak flavor from aging and is one of our favorites in a margarita.

Lime Base

Another key component of the margarita is the lime base. Those sticking to historical versions will suggest only using freshly squeezed limes. Remember, not all limes are the same, some are more sour which can be balanced with simple syrup (an equal part sugar and water mixture) or agave nectar for hints of sweetness. Margarita or sweet and sour mix are also common in recipes used for replacing the lime juice. Most mixes contain some percentage of juice and are complimented with some form of sugar (read the ingredients as a lot of them use High Fructose Corn Syrup).

Orange Liqueur

Most margarita recipes call for a small amount of orange liqueur. Cointreau, Gran Gala and Grand Marnier are common examples and most are made using the peels of bitter and sweet oranges. Orange liqueur will add color and a subtle fruitiness to a margarita.

Common Margarita Recipe Ratios

• 2:1:1 = 6:3:3 (50% tequila, 25% orange liqueur, 25% lime base).
• 3:2:1 = 6:4:2 (50% tequila, 33% orange liqueur, 17% lime base).
• 3:1:1 = 6:2:2 (60% tequila, 20% orange liqueur, 20% lime base).
• 1:1:1 = 6:6:6 (33% tequila, 33% orange liqueur, 33% lime base)
• IBA standard: 7:4:3 = (50% tequila, 29% orange liqueur, 21% lime)

Your Tastes and Experimentation

Creating the perfect margarita ultimately comes down to your specific tastes. Some prefer a sweeter margarita while others like the sourness from the lime. These flavors can be easily achieved by knowing what you are putting in the drink. Using these guidelines and ratios give you a great base to creating a margarita that you enjoy and can feel proud to share with others. It also gives you an excuse to invite a group of friends over to experiment making and sampling margaritas.

Leave a comment and let us know your favorite ratio and ingredients you use. We would enjoy seeing your go-to recipe.  If you enjoyed this article and want more great content like this, we encourage you to sign-up for our mailing list which includes a