Sharing the Christmas Spirit

So, I thought I'd share one of the things I'm thankful for - as a bartender in my youth, I made millions of margaritas by hand, before the machines were all the rage. I'd free pour into the blender and let 'er rip. All I have to do is smell that stale behind the bar smell and all those memories come flooding back...

As an amateur bartender these past 25 years (I long since gave up making money at that - that was part of my mispent youth), I've had the occasion to experiment, and this is the best recipe I'll wager you will find for making a margarita, and it's true to the original recipe too! Just remember "3-2-2" and "fresh" and keep chanting those two terms, as you read on.

Making the "322" Margarita, to go

Ingredients

1. Tequila: Start with Milagro brand 100% pure agave silver tequila. Buy three bottles and start to experiment at home, which will give you some empty bottles (you'll need these later).

This tequila has my vote for the best value tequila on the market - you can get a fifth for about $25 in most liquor stores - if you take your tequila in the form of that delectable concoction known as the "Margarita," that is. No doubt you can drop a pretty penny for a finer sipping tequila, but mixing an expensive tequila with Triple Sec and lime just isn't a good use of your money. The bottle is pretty, and it is sealed with a cork, not a screw top - a touch of class.

2. Triple Sec: Others like to use Cointreau or Grand Marnier, but again, I think this is a waste of good money, as the stronger orange flavor actually thows out the balance of the finished product. It's a matter of taste, and I've done some tasting. As far as I'm concerned, simple cheap Triple Sec does fine for this cocktail.

3. Lime Juice: Here's where a simple change of pace can make a big difference. Don't settle for premade juices, or juices mixed with sugar. Take your time and squeeze your own. The freshness matters. Get a hand squeezer at Williams Sonoma, or better yet, one of those models that sits on the counter, to make the task easier. And we've found that key limes, those little tiny limes, are the best value and actually provide more juice, and the juice is a little bit sweeter.

Making the Drink

1. Start with the lime juice, because this is the most variable. If you buy plenty of limes, you'll have some flexibility in the recipe. So we usually get 40-80 key limes. Squeeze away, and measure out the juice in 8 oz containers. We often have a juicing party with the kids, they get fresh lime ade afterwards, and we freeze 2-3 containers pre-measured to 8 oz.

2. Pour the 8 oz of fresh squeezed lime juice into an empty Milagro bottle.

3. Measure out 8 oz. of Triple Sec and add to the Milagro bottle.

4. Measure out 12 oz. of Milagro Tequila and add to the Milagro bottle.

5. Pop in the cork top and shake it around.

6. Pour over plenty of ice and drink it slowly, savoring the different tastes.

Any odd amounts of lime juice can always be matched with Triple Sec and Tequila using the 3-2-2 ratio - you don't have to follow the 12/8/8 ratio above, that just works for us to make a bottle and keep it in the refrigerator or take it to a friend's house.

This drink actually comes across much stronger than the Margaritas you're used to, so treat it like a Martini, sipping in moderation. But once you get used to this smooth drink, you'll have a hard time going back to the sweet frozen varieties at the Mexican food restaurants that are more typical.

In the past, we've added this recipe onto a blank business card decorated with Christmas symbols and tied it to a full bottle of margaritas with a red ribbon for a unique gift. Share the spirit, and have a great Christmas Holiday and a Wonderful New Year!

Finally, I heard this song on the radio the other day ... helps me keep things in perspective to laugh a little at all the folly of the holly, this time of year.