Jimmy Buffett's Simple Trick for the Best Margarita

It's a perfect balance of sweet and sour.

I had a high school friend whose parents were self-proclaimed “Parrotheads.” Their basement was decked out in palm tree decor and the walls were covered with pictures of Jimmy Buffett concerts and album covers. They even had a tiki hut bar with a margarita machine!

He often had parties, Jimmy Buffett music playing at full volume, and his parents made us alcohol-free margaritas. Those are some of my best high school memories. 

A Margarita Is Only as Good as the Ingredients

While I enjoyed all those high school mocktails in my friend's basement, it wasn't until a trip to Florida in my mid-20s that I finally experienced a true margarita. Instead of the cloyingly sweet version, this one was made with good tequila and fresh limes. I remember thinking “this must be what Buffett was singing about!” It was light, refreshing, and the perfect drink for a warm Florida evening on the beach.

A simple, well-made margarita strikes that perfect balance between sweet and sour that’s both satisfying and refreshing. It’s so good that Jimmy Buffett wrote a song about it (kind of)—Margaritaville is less about margaritas and more about living your best beach life, but Buffett did love a good margarita. His Official Margaritaville Margarita is easy to make and even easier to enjoy.

What You Need To Make Jimmy Buffett’s Margarita

• 1 cup ice cubes

• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) blanco tequila

• 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) fresh lime juice

• 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) water

• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) triple sec

• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar

• Kosher salt

Simply add all the ingredients—minus the salt—to a cocktail shaker, then cover and shake to combine. Rim a chilled glass with salt, and pour in the chilled margarita.

You can easily double or triple the ingredients to make more margaritas. Or if you’re planning a party that would make Jimmy Buffett proud, make enough to quench the thirst of a large crowd by adjusting the ingredients accordingly and serving from the biggest pitcher you own. Offer a variety of rimming salts and sugars, and allow your guests to rim their own glasses before filling them with the best margarita. Then turn up the Buffett music, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Why Jimmy Buffett's Margarita Recipe Works

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. Usually, margaritas are shaken—with no water added to the shaker—and served over ice. Shaking the margarita not only cools it down but also dilutes it a little.

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.

The catch is that you have to drink this cocktail quickly, otherwise it warms up, but the flavor will never be compromised by too much melting ice.

Ways To Enjoy Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Margarita

The original recipe is delicious, but customization is always an option. I often swap the triple sec for some orange juice. Since I don’t like overly sweet cocktails, I use two teaspoons of sugar instead of a tablespoon. Here are some other ideas to try.

• Spicy: Add some sliced jalapeño when you shake the margarita. Rim the glass with a mix of salt and cayenne (or use Tajín) and garnish with additional jalapeño slices.

• Lemon-lime: For a little extra citrus punch, use equal parts fresh lemon and lime juice and add a bit of zest from each. When serving, throw in thin slices of lemons and limes for garnish.

• Tropical: Add a splash of coconut milk. Regular and reduced-fat versions will both work, but the full-fat version will provide a creamier experience. Start with one tablespoon and increase as desired.

• Frozen: Make as directed but skip the water and pour the drink over shaved ice. If you don’t have shaved ice, use your food processor or blender to crush it.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.