There are certain things everybody should have in their recipe repertoire, and should know how to make properly as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Anyone who knows me, knows how particular I am about my margaritas. First of all for those of you outside the state of Texas, this may come as a shock, but you need fresh lime juice – NOT SWEET AND SOUR! If it’s not lime juice, it’s not a margarita! If you don’t feel like juicing limes, use limeade (frozen or bottled, but not that bottle of ‘lime juice’ that comes in the shape of a lime). The recipe is not hard and doesn’t contain a multitude of ingredients, which is why I’m often surprised at life’s little quirks and how people have trouble making this satisfactorily.
Ingredients:
1 C high quality tequila (Patron is preferable; Jose Cuervo is never acceptable)
3/4-1 C triple sec (DeKuyper’s is my personal preference)
2 C lime juice or limeade
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker. Shake to mix. Pour into margarita glasses and enjoy!
*You can salt the rims of your glasses; I prefer not to salt my glasses – I don’t want anything tainting my enjoyment of such a lovely refreshing beverage.
Variation: This can be turned into frozen margaritas by blending with ice. They decrease in potency when you blend them with ice – so if that’s what you’re after, fine, but if not you’ll need to increase the liquor.
This recipe will serve 3-4 girls (one round) while getting dressed for the evening. If you want to make a pitcher, scale up the recipe. The key is to keep the lime juice to tequila ratio at 2:1 (and I usually add equal amounts of tequila and triple sec – but I’ve been told my margarita’s can knock the socks off AND blow up the skirts). If you like a more limey tart ‘rita, go with 3/4 C triple sec; if you like a more blended sweet-yet-tart appeal go with equal parts liquors. If using fresh squeezed lime juice, and it’s to tart for your delicate palate, add a smidgen of sugar or nectar.
Mix responsibly!
Ok I totally just noticed this post. Since I haven’t had a margarita I enjoyed (shocker)….I may not be aware of the ways to make an excellent margarita. So…why not Jose Cuervo? Not that I care that Jose is dissed lol….I don’t drink tequila…is it not vegan or is it the taste factor? Glad to hear no salt on the glass….oye, I find that SO disgusting!!
Cuervo isn’t acceptable simply because, IMO, it’s a sub-par tequila (though vegan friendly) – and I find with sub-par booze I tend to become hungover much more easily, and it doesn’t go down as smooth. Patron is much better, as is another kind..to which I can’t remember the name but someone gave Jo a bottle at her dissertation party. I drank my fare share of Cuervo in high school – don’t get me wrong…but I find my taste for better booze, and a taste for not being hungover, has increased as I’ve aged 😉
I thought none of DeKuyper’s items were vegan?
Hey Axela! Thanks for bringing this to our attention, and sorry it’s taken so long to get back to you (we’ve been out of town at a funeral). I’ve contacted the DeKuyper company, and anticipate a response in the next day or two. I couldn’t seem to find any specific distillation information online, so hopefully the company itself can be more helpful in addressing this issue. I will be certain to let you (and everyone) know once I find out something. Thanks again for the head’s up!
Ok, so here’s what I’ve read and thus put together my own theory – whether it holds true remains to be determined. Triple Sec (in a general meaning, not brand-specific) is triple distilled from ethanol which has been steeped with orange peel. The condensate from the distillation process is collected and recombined in variations to adjust the taste. No source indicates anything else is added which would include no animal byproducts being added. And since distillation is a physical separation process based on boiling point and not filtration, there should be little fear of animal byproducts being used in a filtration capacity. I have not yet heard back from DeKuyper’s, and if I do (though Axela never seemed to, so hope is dim – perhaps if all the vegans bombard them with comments somebody might get a response) I shall certainly update this to include their response. So for now, I can find no evidence to the indication that it is not vegan. Of course, if ANYONE out there happens to know, or can direct me to the evidence..please do so, I would certainly love to know!
Ok…a month later, I finally hear back from DeKuyper’s. Here’s their emailed response:
“Our products are not made with any animal or fish products; however, it is filtered with diatomaceous earth which may contain microscopic animal skeletons, and carbon from coal which may also have been exposed to prehistoric animal parts. By strict standards, our products should be avoided by Vegans, unless the above filtration materials are acceptable.”
So for all intents and purposes, I consider this to be relatively vegan. Diatomaceous earth consists of diatoms, which is a form of algae. Microscopic skeletons and coal exposed to prehistoric animal parts isn’t enough for me to eschew it, though if a company comes out with a totally vegan triple sec..I’m all over it! I know that Earthbound Farms from which I sometimes buy my spinach (if there’s no other option) uses fertilizer which contains animal byproducts..but I need spinach. Everything we plant in the ground becomes exposed to all the things that have died and decomposed to nurture the soil (both plant AND animal). There’s no possible way to eradicate all that has gone on in the past, but only to eliminate what continues to be detrimental (i.e. a meat-based diet) and fills our soils today.
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