Cheers to National Margarita Day

Sometimes you want an excuse to drink an ice cold margarita with salt sprinkled along the rim.

On Feb. 22, you’ll have an easy reason to sip on the sweet, iced beverage as it’s National Margarita Day. The cocktail, which includes triple sec, tequila and lime or lemon juice, was invented in 1937 in Mexico. Thanks to Mexico’s Velas Resorts, here are some recipes for unique twists on the margarita. The resort makes cocktails with some ingredients not available in Virginia stores such as Xtabentun, which is an anise liquor made from anise seeds and fermented honey.

Cheers!

Cilantro Margarita at Casa Velas
1.5 ounces of Tequila
1 ounce of Triple Sec or Cointreau
3 ounces of lime or lemon zest
1 teaspoon of cilantro, minced

Margarita Maya – Grand Velas Riviera Maya
1.5 ounce of Tequila
½ ounce of Triple Sec or Cointreau
½ ounce of Xtabentun
½ ounce of lemon juice
1/3 ounce of simple syrup

Smoky Guajillo Rita – Grand Velas Los Cabos
1.5 ounces of smoked white Tequila
½ ounce of Triple Sec or Cointreau
3 grapefruit slices
½ ounce of sprig of rosemary
½ ounce of yellow lemon juice
½ ounce of simple syrup infused w/ Guajillo chili
1 teaspoon of chappuline salt (grasshoppers roasted with chili, salt and lime and ground)

Cucumber & Habanero Chili Margarita – Velas Vallarta

2 ounce of Tequila
1 ounce of Cointreau
½ ounce of simple syrup
½ cucumber
½ habanero chili
2 teaspoons of lime juice

Traditional Margarita at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
1.5 oz Tequila
1 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
1 oz lemon juice
Dash salt