Homemade Margarita: Alcoholic and Virgin Recipes

A few months ago when I was having a craving out of the blue for margaritas, Ryan went to the store to get some mix but couldn't find any that were free of high-fructose corn syrup or chemicals.  We began a quest to make the perfect margarita from scratch.

If I had known making a margarita was so simple, I would have been drinking lots of them in my lifetime!  I can't exactly drink while we're trying to start a family, but there were 2.5 months in there where we weren't allowed to try, and I might have imbibed a bit.

Here's the recipe:

• Fill a pint mason jar with ice (yes, the mason jar is important, it is super classy and fits the amount perfectly)
• 1 shot of tequila (first we used the last of the Jose Cuervo gold, then switched to Camarena Silver, both are good depending on your mood)
• 1 shot of Triple Sec
• 1 shot of lemon juice
• 1 half shot of key lime juice (a whole shot is better, but makes the drink more expensive)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 drizzle of agave nectar

Mix briskly with a spoon, and sip.  It blew my mind... I had no idea margaritas could be SO tasty.

So tasty, I couldn't get a picture before it was almost gone.

I've been having virgin margaritas lately though.  

• Leave out the booze, and replace both shots with sparkly lemon or lime water
• Add a few curls of orange zest and let the mixture steep for a few minutes, stirring occasionally

The carbonated water (Trader Joe's makes a nice one) gives it that familiar satisfying tang, and the orange zest mimics the Triple Sec, so it's easier to forget it's not the real thing.  The drink ends up just being a delicious dose of vitamin C.

Boy am I glad we got lemon juice in bulk from Costco!  Between margaritas and canning tomatoes, we've nearly used it all up.

And yes, Ryan calls it a Jargarita.

What's your favorite drink recipe?