Mexican · Don Julio
Don Julio Margarita
Don Julio Blanco is one of the cleanest tequilas made in the highlands of Jalisco, and highland agave is sweeter and more floral than valley agave. In a margarita that shows up as citrus and pepper rather than the earthy, vegetal note you get from a valley tequila.
Photo: Roy Muriithi / Pexels
Ingredients
- Don Julio Blanco 750ml
- 1 oz orange liqueur (triple sec or Cointreau)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice, about one lime
- Kosher salt for the rim
- Ice
Method
- Run a lime wedge around the outside of the glass rim, then roll it in salt on a plate. Salt the outside only, so none falls into the drink.
- Fill a shaker with ice. Add the tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice.
- Shake hard for about twelve seconds, until the shaker frosts over.
- Strain into the glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
The one thing that matters
This is a bottle you could drink neat, so do not drown it. Use a good orange liqueur and fresh lime, and let the tequila be the loudest thing in the glass.
Questions
Is Don Julio good for margaritas?
Yes, and it is worth the money if you make them with fresh lime. Don Julio Blanco is clean and citrus-forward, so it stays present instead of disappearing under the liqueur. If you use a sour mix, buy something cheaper.
Blanco or reposado for a margarita?
Blanco. Reposado picks up vanilla and oak from the barrel, which fights the lime. Save the reposado for sipping or for a paloma.