The Ultimate Margarita

My best friend Tim and I spent 10 years while I was living in New Hampshire trying to copy a Shorty’s Mexican Roadhouse Ultimate Margarita.  I don’t know if we ever mastered it but we certainly can make a good marg because of it.  I don’t drink them that much since moving to the west coast but I’m often asked for the recipe so here it is.

Take a 12oz tumbler and fill it with cubed ice.

If the person whom you are making the marg wants a weak one then only fill with 1/3 booze else fill 50% booze (booze being the tequila and triple sec).  Ok so lets say the person likes a strong one.  Here is what you do.

35% Silver Tequila (please use a 100% Agave tequila),
15% Cointreau (only ever use Cointreau – nothing else really compares to this)
40% Lime juice (don’t ever use Roses, some of the others are ok but Roses is too sweet)
5%  Orange juice

Note: Sipping tequilas (ex: Anjeo) will give it a smoky taste, silver is cleaner
Note: you should squeeze or add some fresh lime juice

Shake well either in a covered tumbler or by covering the tumbler you have the drink in – this will allow the Lime Juice’s bartender mix to effervesce and the drink to be bubbly.

Pour the drink back into the tumbler and float Grand Mariner on top.  To float Grand Mariner you can either pour over the ice cubes or use the back of a spoon to force the Grand Mariner to float.  Then put a wide mouth straw in the glass.

The Grand Mariner will precipitate into the drink over time provided the person doesn’t stir it in.  This helps to counteract the ice as it melts keeping the drink at a more consistent alcohol level through the drinking experience.  Also the smell of the Grand Mariner will affect the taste of the drink, improving it without making it too strong.

enjoy, and … stop at 2.  If you have 3 you are not legal to drive anymore.

Talking to Paul Higginbotham, he suggested also pouring a little (drops) of the Cointreau or grand mariner down the straw to make the first sip better.