Cranberry and Rosemary Christmas Spritz
A festive cocktail combining homemade rosemary syrup, gin, cranberry juice and Prosecco with fresh lemon juice for a perfectly balanced Christmas drink.
A perfectly balanced margarita with tart lime juice, smooth tequila, and triple sec, finished with a salted rim for the ultimate refreshing cocktail.
A good margarita is all about getting the balance right between tart lime juice, smooth tequila, and just enough sweetness to tie everything together. The triple sec adds a bit of orange flavour that rounds out the citrus notes without making the drink too complicated.
Making them is straightforward enough. You shake everything with ice, which chills the drink properly and gives it that slightly frothy texture when you pour it out. The key is using fresh lime juice rather than the bottled stuff. It makes a real difference to how bright and clean the drink tastes.
The salted rim brings out the lime flavour and balances the sweetness perfectly.
The salted rim is not just for show. You run a lime wedge around the glass edge, then dip it in salt. Each sip gives you a wee hit of salt that brings out the lime flavour and balances the sweetness from the syrup. Some people skip it, but it is worth doing.
The proportions here work well. Two parts tequila gives the drink its backbone, while the lime juice matches that strength with plenty of tartness. The half part of sugar syrup is just enough to smooth out the sharp edges without making it taste like a sweet drink. The triple sec sits in the middle, adding body and that hint of orange.
These go down easily, so it is worth making a proper batch rather than one at a time. The recipe scales up well, and having them ready means you can actually sit with your guests instead of playing bartender all evening.
Pour them into wide, shallow glasses if you have them. The extra surface area lets you smell the lime as you drink, which makes the whole thing more refreshing. Use good quality tequila if you can. It does not need to be the most expensive bottle, but avoiding the cheapest options makes a noticeable difference in how smooth the drink tastes.
Run a lime wedge around the outside rim of your glass then roll it in salt.
Put ice in a cocktail shaker and measure in the tequila, triple sec liqueur, lime juice and syrup. Shake well.
Pour into cocktail saucers and garnish with lime wedges.
Serving Suggestions
Serve in wide, shallow margarita glasses to enhance the lime aroma. Garnish with fresh lime wedges and enjoy immediately while cold.
Variations
For a frozen margarita, blend all ingredients with crushed ice until smooth. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute tequila with sparkling water and add extra lime juice.
Did you make this? What did you think?
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