A classic margarita must have fresh squeezed lime juice and good quality tequila but you don’t have to stop there. Daydreaming of tropical vacations has meant that we have been playing with Passionfruit juice these past few months and we’ve definitely landed on a favourite recipe.
First - lets talk about tequila. Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant. Mexican law regulates that tequila can only come from the state of Jalisco and limited municipalities in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. Unlike a grapevine, agave are one-time use plants: the massive heart, or pina, is cut out and processed to make tequila, with much of the work being hands-on from start to finish. These are the different grades/types of tequila:
Silver/Blanco/Joven: generally unaged (or aged for under two months to affect smoothness); full of agave flavor, but also heat from the alcohol content. More vegetal in flavour.
Gold: Essentially a hybrid type, usually a mixto (tequila made with only 51% agave) with coloring added to make it seem aged when it’s not; better to buy a brand that actually states “100% agave” on the label.
Reposado: Meaning “rested,” aged in oak barrels of any size for 2 months to under a year. Aging imparts colour.
Anejo: Aged minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak barrels. The most widely available complexly aged tequila, with a more mellow alcohol feel and good wood character.
Extra Anejo: This category was established in March 2006. Aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels, there aren’t as many examples in our market but hunting for if you like woody characteristics similar to bourbon or scotch.
Passionfruit Margarita
2oz Tequila
(we prefer Reposado or Añejo)
1 tsp (splash) Cointreau
(or other orange liqueur)
2oz Fresh Lime Juice
1oz Passionfruit Juice
(unsweetened)
1oz Simple Syrup
Rub a lime or any citrus on the rim of your glass. Pour a flaked sea salt onto a small plate and dip the rim to cover it. Add ice to the glass (optional). Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add chosen alcohol and wet ingredients. Shake until a mist forms on the shaker and then strain into glass.
Our favorite version of this substitutes the simple syrup with Orgeat - a French almond syrup that features in many tiki classics.
We also like to add a splash of egg white before shaking to add additional body.
You can order Passionfruit Margarita Kits from our Provisions site. We bring in fresh squeezed, cold pressed, organic juices from Chasers - a raw juice company based in Vancouver.