Smoky Margarita Food

SMOKY ORANGE MARGARITA

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. (Makes about 1 cup.)
• To a large pitcher, add the lime juice, orange liqueur, mezcal, orange juice and 1/4 cup simple syrup. Stir to combine. Taste and add more simple syrup if desired.
• Moisten the rim of the 4 to 6 rocks glasses with a clementine wheel and then dip the rims in margarita salt. Add ice to the glasses (not the pitcher) and pour over the margarita mixture.
• Garnish each drink with a clementine wheel, and serve.

SMOKY PINEAPPLE MARGARITA

Steps:

• Combine the salt and 1 teaspoon of the ground chipotle in a small shallow dish. Dip the rims of four margarita glasses in water, then coat in the chipotle salt. Set aside.
• In a blender, combine the pineapple chunks, lime juice, tequila, triple sec and the remaining teaspoon ground chipotle. Add 1 tablespoon of the agave and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the sweetness with more agave, as needed. Pour into a pitcher.
• Add ice to the rimmed glasses and pour the margarita mixture over. Serve garnished with pineapple chunks and lemon wedges.

SMOKEY MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and shake until combined. Serve over ice in a rocks glass and pour mezcal on top; do not stir the mezcal into the drink, as it should "float" on top.

THE PERFECT MARGARITA

Steps:

• Moisten the rim of a glass with a lime wedge. Sprinkle salt onto a plate. Lightly dip the moistened rim into the salt. Place a large ice cube in the glass and freeze the prepared glass until ready to serve.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Add tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Cover and shake vigorously until outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with a slice of lime.

SMOKY LEMON MARGARITA

Steps:

• Syrup: In a saucepan, combine sugar, lemon zest, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Strain, discarding zest; stir in lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate in an airtight container until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 2 weeks. Makes 2 cups.
• Margarita: In a pitcher, stir together syrup, mezcal, and liqueur. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day, if desired. Run an orange round along the rim of each serving glass; dip each rim in salt. Add orange rounds and frozen lemon wedges to pitcher. Pour drinks into prepared glasses; serve with more orange rounds and frozen lemon wedges.

SMOKIN' MARGARITA

Steps:

• Put some agave in a small dish and the black lava salt in another dish. Dip half of the rim of a cocktail glass in the agave and wipe away the excess. Dip the same half into the black lava salt and fill the glass with ice.
• Put the tequila, lime juice, agave, mezcal and egg white if using into a mixing tin, add large ice and shake vigorously. Immediately single-strain over the ice in the prepared glass. Garnish with the lime wedge and serve.

SMOKEY MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and shake until combined.
• Serve over ice in a rocks glass and pour mezcal on top; do not stir the mezcal into the drink, as it should "float" on top.