Margaritas on the Rocks

Have you ever made your own margaritas?  Ever tried the mixes at a grocery store?  I tried it once and it was horrible.  So I started making my own "mix" and it takes forever.  I would squeeze about 60-80 limes for one pitcher of margaritas and make a few cups of simple syrup.

Then I got an idea, what about frozen limade mix from the grocery store? So I went out to find a good recipe for a great margarita.

You will need:

1 cup of tequila

2 cans of limade

a lime (for garnish)

water

carafe

A few notes on picking ingredients. Find a limade that has lime juice and lime pulp. You do not want "fruit flavoring" or the frozen "margarita mix."  The most important part of the margarita is the tequila.  Choose a 100% agave, amber colored tequila.  The one I chose was not expensive, the bottle pictured was $20 at Spec's Liquor.

As for the carafe, I am reusing and Minute Made Orange Juice bottle.  I like the look and it stores well in my refrigerator.

Now for the recipe:

1. Thaw out the limade.  You can either do this by setting it on the counter for an hour or two, in the refrigerator overnight, or in a warm water bath for 15-20 minutes.

2. Pour the 2 cans of concentrate into the carafe.

3. Pour 2 cans (the limade can) of water into the carafe.

4. Add 1 cup of tequila into the carafe.

5. Shake to mix and then pour over ice into a cup of your choice.

To mix things up, try a blueberry-mint margarita. Make the recipe above and add blue berries and mint leaves.  For one carafe, I mash up 1 cup of blueberries and 9-10 mint leaves. The longer you let it sit, the stronger the mint and berry flavor.

Enjoy!I add a fresh squeeze of lime and slide a segment onto the glass for garnish.  I hope you enjoy my easy, great tasting margarita.