Cooking Lesson #1072: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Signature Margarita

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? One of most fun and most exciting clients was Jimmy Buffett. Most important, he was generally a super nice person. You have never seen anything more exciting than standing backstage looking toward the audience of a packed concert and watching a group of Parrot Heads sing over the master himself.
 
While we were developing the menu for the new Margaritaville opening in Las Vegas, Jimmy was in on all the tastings including this signature cocktail. While he trusted and loved what Chef Spencer and I created for the menu, there was one admonishment, “Don’t change my mother’s meatloaf recipe.”
 
A margarita is only as good as the ingredients. This margarita recipe strikes that perfect balance between sweet and sour that’s both satisfying and refreshing. It must be made with good tequila (Margaritaville brand, of course) and fresh limes. This is what Jimmy was singing about! It is light, refreshing and the perfect drink for a warm Las Vegas evening by the pool. Jimmy’s Official Margaritaville Margarita is easy to make and even easier to enjoy—it’s the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
Lime juice, for rimming the glass
Koher salt, for rimming the glass
1 cup ice cubes
2 ounces Margaritaville white tequila
1-1/2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
1-1/2 ounces cold water
1 ounce) triple sec
1 tablespoon superfine sugar
1 lime wheel, garnish
 
Directions

1. Rim a chilled glass with lime juice and salt.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients (except the garnish) to a cocktail shaker, cover and shake it like you mean it to combine.
3. You can easily double or triple the ingredients to make more margaritas.
4. Strain the shaken mixture into the rimmed cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
5. Turn up Jimmy’s music, sit back, relax, slurp and enjoy.

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ChefSecret: This margarita is a little different from most recipes. Water is added to the ingredients in the shaker and the margarita is served "up," without ice. Slightly diluting the cocktail in the shaker vs. serving it over ice amplifies the flavors of the ingredients, while also preventing the drink from being too strong or too sweet. Serving it in a chilled glass helps it stay cool, negating the need for extra ice when serving. Make it frozen: Add the ice and use your food processor or blender to crush the ice.
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Quip of the Day:  Wife: I love you so much, I could never live without you.
Husband: Is that you or the margarita talking?
Wife: It’s me talking to the margarita.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
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