Margarita Clasica

Salud!  That's what everyone is saying over at I Heart Cooking Clubs!  Hop on over there and try the fun libations everyone mixed up.  Selecting Rick Bayless' classic margarita was a no brainer for me.  I like 'em on the rocks or neat, like these.

And, in Rick's words, "Just remember:  They're strong."

Here's what you start with.  A good tequila, Cointreau (or other orange liqueur), fresh limes, a little sugar, and optional salt for rimming your glass.  Oh yes, and ice.

Allow me to say a little something about the tequila you select.  Make sure it is 100% Agave.  I can't tell you how many years it took for me to realize that the reason I had headaches after drinking tequila was because the cheapos I always used were half grain alcohol.  Select a nice quality tequila to keep in your liquor cabinet.

Prepare your glass if you like it rimmed with salt.  It's also nice to start out with a chilled glass.  Use a 6 ounce martini glass or if you have some of those cute cactus glasses those are fun too.  Run a slice of lime around the rim of the glass.

Dip the rim in salt.

Put ice, tequila-Cointreau-lime juice mixture and sugar i(if needed) in a cocktail shaker.  Put lid on and shake away.

Pour into your prepared glass and enjoy!  Sister Mary Margarita these are good!

Margarita Clasica

From Rick Bayless' Mexican Kitchen

Makes 4 generous drinks

Ingredients:
1 cup tequila
1/2 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lime juice, plus a wedge for moistening the rims of glasses
A little sugar if necessary
1/3 cup coarse (kosher) salt for crushing the rims of the glasses
About 3 cups medium ice cubes

Mise en place:

• measure out tequila and Cointreau
• squeeze juice from fresh limes
• spread salt onto a plate that is large enough to accommodate the rim of your glass
• have some sugar on hand in case you would like to sweeten your drink
• measure out ice cubes then set in freezer

Method:
In a small pitcher, combine the tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice.  Taste and add more lime or a touch of sugar if desired (keep in mind that it will taste a little tangier once it's been shaken).

Moisten the rims of four 6-ounce martini glasses with a little lime juice (if you have a cut lime, even an already-squeezed one, just moisten the rims by running it around them).  Dip the rim of each glass in the salt, creating a thin, even crust all around the rim.

Pour half of the margarita mixture into a cocktail shaker, add half of the ice cubes and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds (this is important to achieve the perfect strength -- some of the ice needs to melt into the margarita -- and the right degree of frostiness).  Strain into two of the prepared glasses, then repeat with the remaining margarita mixture.

I'm sharing this recipe at IHCC