Summertime - and time for the Taverner Top Shelf (Margarita)

[Taverner]

3 oz Plata Tequila
1/2 oz Grand Mariner
1/2 oz Triple Sec
3/4 freshly squeezed lime
1/4 wedge lime
4 oz Odwalla Summertime Limeade (or some other natural limeade, without HFCS. That stuff ruins the flavor of ANY cocktail)

Mix everything except the lime wedge, place lime wedge as garnish and serve

Feel free to add salt (SALT?!?!?!? SALT!?!?!?!)

[sakabatou]

1. I don't know why there's supposed to be salt

Maybe to make you thirsty? I never got it.

[Taverner]

2. Gives you something to lick in between sips

I like salt myself, but if you don't like salt don't use it :)

[petronius]

8. Why would you need salt for that? Whenever I drink margaritas I end up licking

... - but it's not that kind of thread, it it?

[eShirl]

3. salt is one of the 4 basic food groups

salt, sugar, fat, and... I think, meat?

[Taverner]

4. No - the fourth one is pork rinds

:evilgrin:

[eShirl]

5. yum

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

6. I will drink that Margarita, and raise you an

Old Fashioned.

2 oz Makers Mark
2 dashes bitters
1 splash water
1 tsp sugar
1 maraschino cherry
1 orange wedge

Mix sugar, water and bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Drop in a cherry and an orange wedge. Muddle into a paste using a muddler or the back end of a spoon. Pour in bourbon, fill with ice cubes, and stir.

My favorite summertime drink.

And wintertime, for that matter.

[Taverner]

7. Sigh...I wish I could enjoy Maker's Mark

The stuff tastes great - best whiskey I've ever had.

But for some reason that stuff gives me nasty headaches within minutes of drinking, even if I mix it.

Sad, becuase that stuff tastes so good.

Chalk it up with Shrimp, Crab and other things I CAN'T EAT OR DRINK....

[7wo7rees]

9. Try Evan Williams

Kentucky's first distiller
$20 for a half-gallon
Schmoov and no hangover

Just ice thanks...

[Taverner]

10. Do the tannins produce headaches tho?

That's what it comes down to

Many tannins taste great, and have no effect

But the tannins that seep into Maker's Mark for some reason give me a huge headache in about 15 min

[7wo7rees]

11. Maybe yer allergic to alcohol

Hey, tannins aren't for everyone. It takes a certain kind of man to enjoy a good tannin.
Don't stop at Maker's. Keep looking. Look up!
Blanton's.
Pappy Van Winkle.
Booker's (unhhh).

Or..
slide across the aisle to the scotches.

Or...
skip it.

Rum gives me hangovers. So I skip it.

[Taverner]

12. I like tannins in tequila

Loves me some good tequila - Don Julio Anejo for starters

But sometimes you just need a cheap plata to make the right margarita, no?

[givemebackmycountry]

14. LOVE Tequila...especially the good stuff.

I once bought a bottle of 30 year old Chinaco, I think it was called "Chinaco Emperorsado" or something like that.
Three bills for that one.
Then, I tried something called Don Real something, something.
Came in a wooden box.
Three and a half bills a bottle but...
MAN that stuff.
Nectar of the Gods.
All 100% Blue Agave and all Anejo's.

Give me a big fat one to smoke, and a shot of serious tequila to sip, and I am a happy man.

[Taverner]

18. Yum

I have to say, you and Bartcop are both right about Chinaco Anejo

I can't seem to find that stuff these days tho :(

[7wo7rees]

15. Alton Brown did a show on the margarita

What I learned:
1. Skip the gold. Silver is purer.
2. Look for 100% agave. Nothing else is tequila.
3. Sipping tequila is different than what you want for margaritas. Don't blow "three bills" on a bottle if you're throwing in other things.

Bartcop likes Chinaco. Tried it, OK? Tried Patron. Just don't see the point in that much money.
Shamefully, I like Jose Cuervo (or, as I call it, Joe Curvy). I just don't care.

Now I'll go for a Top Shelf when I'm out. Oh yeah, I want to order El Shiznito. Get me the goods.
I appreciate your recipe. I'm just not a mixologist at home.

[Taverner]

17. Not just 100% Agave but 100% BLUE Agave

And despite the price, Mezcal is the cheaper shit, and uses less Blue Agave then Tequila

[ohiosmith]

13. I don't drink tequila, it makes me ski.

One of the funniest lines ever.

[BarenakedLady]

16. I'll be right over