When I think of Cinco de Mayo, books aren’t exactly the first thing to come to mind, but, with a little creativity, I believe we can make any holiday a literary one!
For this year’s Cinco de Mayo, I decided to find all the bookish margarita recipes I could (a total of three), taste test them all, and choose a favorite. I hope you enjoy my very hard “work” and make a pitcher of my winning margarita. Or try all the recipes and name your own champion!
Each recipe is mixed the same. Pour all ingredients into a shaker with a handful of ice. Shake well and then strain into a glass that rimmed with salt and filled with fresh ice.
Third Place
The “Midnight Margarita” inspired by the book Practical Magic, by Anne Hoffman, with the recipe from the blog, InLiterature.
1 1/4 oz. tequila
2/3 oz. Cointreau
1/2 oz. lime juice
My thoughts: A little more bitter that I want a margarita to be, and a bit too simple for a book with themes centering around magic. It just needed some extra sparkle.
Second Place
The “Are You There God? It’s Me Margarita,” a play on Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, by Judy Blume (loved this book as a teen!). The recipe is from Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist, by Tim Federle.
1 1/2 oz. tequila
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. triple sec
My thoughts: A good solid margarita, but I would have liked it to a be a little tangier. Even though I used the same tequila for all the recipes, this drink had the most prominent tequila flavor.
First Place
The “Margarita Atwood,” named after the venerable author Margaret Atwood. This recipe is from the blog, Poetics Project, and is to be consumed “before the religious conservatives take over the nation and ban the consumption of alcohol.”
1.5 oz. tequila
.75 oz. lime juice
.25 oz. triple sec
1/2 tbsp. sugar
My thoughts: Yum! I think I’ve been so conditioned to the super sweet pre-made mixes that the sugar in this recipe really made the drink preferable to the other two. The Margarita Atwood has the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
What fun plans do you have for Cinco de Mayo? Share in the comments below!