CT Bartenders Share their Margarita Recipes for National Margarita Day!

Oh yes it is! My favorite day of the year, National Margarita Day, has arrived. Those who know me, know that when I sidle up to the bar, those working on the other side need not even ask for my order. It's always the same...and it's always a Margarita. Truly, it's the perfect cocktail, and just right for every season. Plus, tequila has been proven to actually have health benefits. Lime, tequila's most trusty companion, is bursting with Vitamin C which we all know helps us recover from illness. Anejo tequila, made from 100% agave, is known to help reduce bacteria and relieve sore throats, and agave helps to fight diabetes. There are so many reasons to embrace and celebrate the Margarita. Do it right with these recipes from local bartenders including: El Segundo, Mézon, Geronimo Restaurant & Tequila Bar, Barcelona, Bartaco, Marcia Selden Catering and Festivities. 

Bartaco's Classic Margarita

1 1⁄2 oz. Well Tequila

1 oz. Well triple sec

Juice of 1 – 1.5 limes (about 1.5 ounce)

1⁄4 oz. Agave Syrup

Salt for rim (upon request)

El Segundo's Classic Margarita

2 oz corralejo silver tequila
3/4 oz dry curaçao
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/8 oz 2:1 simple syrup
Chili salt Rim

Salt rim with chili salt and add fresh ice to glass. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake like a monkey and strain into prepped glass. Garnish with large lime wedge.

Barcelona's Blood Orange Margarita

Serves 1

Ingredients

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed blood orange juice
1 ounce Cointreau
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 ounce Patron Silver tequila
1 tablespoon liquid sour mix
Margarita salt or other coarse salt, for salting the glass
Lime wedge

Directions

1. Pour the orange juice, Cointreau, lime juice, tequila, and sour mix into a shaker filled with ice cubes and shake 5 to 7 times.

2. Spread the salt on a plate. Rub the rim of a chilled highball glass with the lime wedge. Dip the rim of the glass in the salt to coat it.

3. Pour the margarita into the glass and serve

Mézon's Margarita Verde

1.5 oz blanco tequila (we prefer Espolon)

.5 oz triple sec

.5 oz lime juice

.75 oz pineapple juice

.75 oz cilantro/basil syrup

*cilantro/basil syrup - combine 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water in a blender with 16 basil leaves and 1/4 cup of cilantro. Fine strain and keep refrigerated. 

Festivities' Frozen Cadillac Margarita

Recipe: (makes 2)

4 oz Patron Silver Tequila

2 oz Cointreau

4 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz simple syrup

2 oz Gran Marnier

Add all ingredients to a blender filled 1/2 way with ice.  Blend and pour into a salt-rimmed glass.  Garnish with lime wheel.

Geronimo's Classic Geronimo Margarita

1 oz fresh squeezed lime

1/2 oz water

1/2 oz agave nectar

2 oz Corralejo silver Tequila

1 oz Combier orange liquer

To mix drink:  Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and strain over fresh ice.

Geronimo's Cool Pepper Margarita

1oz fresh squeezed lime

1/2 oz water

1/2 oz agave nectar

1 oz cucumber infused Tequila

1oz jalapeno infused Tequila

1 oz Combier orange liquer

For Jalapeno Infused Tequila: Place one jalapeno, cut into slices, in a 750ml bottle of your favorite Silver Tequila.  Let rest for 5 days to fully infuse the flavor.

For Cucumber Infused Tequila: Place half of a medium sliced cucumber in a 750ml bottle of your favorite Silver Tequila.  Let rest for 5 days to fully infuse the flavor.

To mix drink:  Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and strain over fresh ice.

Geronimo's LoLo Margarita

1 oz fresh squeezed lime

1/2 oz water

1/2 oz agave nectar

2 oz herradura silver Tequila

1 oz St. Germain

muddled cilantro, fine strained

Glass rimmed with Tajin citrus chile salt

To mix drink:  Place the cilantro in the cocktail shaker and muddle.  Add the remaining ingredients and shake vigorously for 15 seconds and strain.  Serve straight up in a couple glass.

Blackstone's "Irish margarita"

1oz Jameson

.5 oz Triple Sec

splash of lime juice. 

12oz glass, rimmed with fresh lime & green sugar. Ingredients Shaken & strained over ice, topped with Goslings ginger beer. Garnish with fresh lime.

Marcia Selden's Pomegranate Margarita

1¾ C. chilled pomegranate juice

Kosher salt

1½ C. silver tequila

1 C. triple sec

 ¾ C. fresh lime juice

 Ice cubes

 8 lime wheels, for garnish

Fresh pomegranate seeds for garnish

Pour 1/4 cup of the pomegranate juice into a saucer; spread kosher salt in another saucer. Moisten the rim of 8 margarita glasses with the pomegranate juice, then dip 

the glass rim into the salt until coated.

In a pitcher, stir the remaining 1 ½ cups of pomegranate juice, the tequila, triple sec and lime juice. Working in batches, shake the mixture in a large ice-filled shaker, then strain into the glasses. Garnish each margarita with a lime wheel, a few pomegranate seeds and serve.