NOTHING SAYS 'FIESTA' LIKE A MARGARITA BAR | Blog Post |

June 3, 2012

"Margarone" (Margarita + Corona beer) from El Ranchito, Dallas, TX

Nothing says FIESTA-TIME to me more than a margarita, so I was pleased as punch when a friend asked me to make margs for her recent birthday party.

I've rented margarita machines so often for parties at my casa, someone told me recently she thought I owned one. (Wouldn't that be nice?!) That's a great way to serve frozen margaritas to a crowd of 20 people or more.

But if your crowd is slightly smaller (15 people or less), having a top-shelf hand-made on-the-rocks margarita bar is a great way to go. Stick to the recipe below, adopted from Rick Bayless, and then give folks a choice in other departments.

VGL PARTY MARGS

Ingredients

1 750-milliliter bottle silver tequila (use a high-quality, 100 percent agave tequila) - chilled

1 ½ cups Cointreau

2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice, plus several tablespoons extra for rimming the glasses

Several tablespoons margarita salt, for rimming the glasses

About 1 gallon ice cubes

Directions

Just before serving, in a half-gallon pitcher combine the tequila, Cointreau, and the lime juice. Pour several tablespoons of lime juice onto a small plate and several tablespoons coarse salt onto another. Have margarita glasses and tumblers on hand.

As your guests ask for their margaritas, invert a glass into the plate with the lime juice to moisten rim, then lightly dip into the plate with the salt. For each drink measure 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of the margarita mixture into a cocktail shaker. If you have a 2-ounce ladle that you can keep in the pitcher, measuring goes much faster. Add ice cubes (5 cubes for 1, 8 for 2, 10 for 3). Secure the lid and top and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into the salt crusted glasses over ice.

Serve on the rocks in a choice of glasses:

Either

ACRYLIC MARGARITA GLASS - $5.50 each from Crate & Barrel

or

GLASS TUMBLER - $1.49 for a 6-pack from Ikea

With a choice of two salted rims:

Either

CLASSIC MARGARITA SALT - $2.99 from BevMo

or

CHILI LIME MARGARITA SALT - $7.95 from Williams-Sonoma

And then let the fiesta begin!