When it comes to having a margarita, if you are ever in doubt, just remember that it is always past five o’clock somewhere. Sure, that ordinary margarita, which is usually a combination of pure sugar and not enough alcohol, should be enough to make your evening a little bit better. But why settle for average, when you can have the best? Our Cadillac margarita recipe is simple but significant enough to make you the host of the month. Let’s take a look.
Cadillac margarita recipe: FAQs
1. What type of tequila would be the best?
Cadillac margarita, as its name suggests, is only made with top-shelf ingredients. The tequila you order at your local bar will probably be silver, which means it was not aged. Also known as Blanc or Plata, this one resembles vodka with its white color.
However, we recommend going with a reposado or añejo for your Cadillac margarita. Reposado is a type of tequila that has been aged between two to twelve months, while the latter is the ultimate quality stuff; with its age ranging between one to three years. As the quality increases, so does the price. Therefore, although we recommend going with añejo, reposado will do the job just as well. Keep in mind that there is also a third option, Joven, which is a mixture between reposado and añejo. Regardless, just make sure that you are using 100% agave tequila and nothing else.
2. What’s the difference between an ordinary margarita and a Cadillac margarita?
A Cadillac margarita is made with the highest quality ingredients. It is distinguished, but not too flashy. It is simple but significant. It replaces the ordinary and bland silver tequila with añejo, and with a little touch of Grand Marnier. Then, the magic happens.
3. What about the orange liquor?
Although swapping the silver tequila for reposado or añejo is the key point, our Cadillac margarita recipe owes its unique and rich flavor to the Grand Marnier as much as the tequila. Grand Marnier is a premium orange liqueur, adding just the right amount of bitterness to this delicious drink by combining cognac and orange. If or when you feel Grand Marnier is unnecessary, you can always substitute it with Cointreau, another high-quality French orange liqueur.
4. What about the sweetener?
Although we didn’t use any sweeteners in our Cadillac margarita recipe, that doesn’t mean you can’t. If you feel like you should be balancing the bitter taste of Grand Marnier, you can always opt for using a sweetener. Agave syrup will do the job nicely, by adding just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the bitterness of Grand Marnier.
Ingredients
- Tequila — 2 oz., ideally reposado or añejo.
- Grand Marnier — 1 oz.
- Cointreau — optional.
- Agave syrup — optional.
- Lime juice — 1 oz., ideally freshly squeezed.
- Ice — few cubes.
- Sea salt — for rimming the glass, optional.
- Slices of lime — for garnishing, optional.
Instructions
- Before we begin, you might want to rim your glasses with salt and garnish with lime slices. Then, set them aside for now.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, Grand Marnier, some ice, and lime juice together.
- Shake aggressively for 45 seconds. This part might be tiresome but we are sure that you can handle it.
- Fill the glasses with ice, and pour the margarita mixture evenly into the glasses.
Equipment
- Measuring cup.
- Cocktail shaker.
- Citrus juicer.
- The best-looking glasses you can find.
