Margarita’s aren’t just for 22nd February, but all year round!
To celebrate National Margarita Day on Saturday, 22nd February, I embarked on a delightful journey to Londonderry Derry in Northern Ireland to uncover the city’s Top 3 Margaritas.
Despite not being much of a day drinker, I found myself easily indulging in margaritas at noon. The experience was made even more enjoyable by pairing a margarita with a mini afternoon tea, complete with scones and tea! Who would have thought!!
For me, margarita cocktails are all about the tequila. I believe that the quality of the tequila, combined with the skills and knowledge of the bartender, is what makes a truly exceptional margarita.
The margarita is one of the world’s most beloved cocktails, known for its refreshing taste and versatility. You’ll often find many bars showcasing variations of the Classic Margarita with Fruit-Flavoured Margaritas, Spicy Margaritas and even Frozen Margaritas.
In my quest, I didn’t discovered any Spicy or Frozen Margaritas but I did discover three outstanding margaritas that stood out from the rest:
1. Nacional de Cuba, Strand Road: Try their Raspberry Margarita! This bar and nightclub offers an extensive list of fruit-flavoured margaritas, from passion fruit to strawberry and you can choose between a salted or sugared glass rim. The talented bartender is skilled in her craft and can create a margarita tailored to your taste. With its great vibes, Nacional de Cuba is perfect for enjoying a relaxed, easy-drinking margarita with friends.
2. Stitch and Weave, Ebrington Square: This elegant bar is just as sophisticated as their Classic Margarita. Expertly crafted, their cocktail strikes a perfect balance between sweet and sour, with plenty of lime and a tequila kick that lingers pleasantly. It’s a beautiful spot for a classy margarita experience.
3. The Corner House Pub and Lounge, Westland Avenue: Their Classic Margarita stands out as the only one served in a traditional margarita glass, ice-cold with a generous amount of salt on the rim. Featuring Cointreau, this margarita offers an instantly recognisable bitter orange flavour that blends harmoniously with the lime and mellows with the tequila.
A margarita is undoubtedly one of the simplest cocktails to make, and it packs a flavourful punch. The ingredient list is delightfully short, featuring spirits and condiments that are staples in most home bars: tequila, an orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a bit of salt.
To create this classic cocktail add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and ice to a shaker. Shake, shake and shake some more. Salt the rim of your glass, strain and pour.
For those who fancy a fruity twist on this classic, it’s incredibly simple to customise. Just blend fresh or frozen fruit into a puree and add it to your shaker along with the other ingredients. Depending on the sweetness of the fruit, you might want to add a teaspoon of simple syrup to balance the flavours.
Whether you stick with the classic recipe or venture into fruity variations, the margarita remains a versatile and beloved cocktail and I can understand why it features on most bars cocktail lists and is an extremely popular drink.
Here’s to raising my glass this weekend to Margaritas which have been featuring on cocktail menus since the 1930’s!
Slainte!
Adele Conn “TartanSpoon”