Grapefruit + Mint Margaritas
Big plans for our quarantine weekend: have an at-home fiesta and get top 10 wasted. Yes - I came up with the term top 10 wasted, and I would love to say that it was a thing that just happened, but no - it was pre-planned. Because if you can’t make time to nurse a hangover during the Corona quarantine than when the hell can you? We even invited two of our best friends to join in virtually, and we all partied & ended up with the same level of hangover that would have resulted if we were all actually hanging out in person..
The culprit - these Grapefruit + Mint Margaritas. These damn margaritas. They’re so good it ’s easy to have several, and we did in fact have several. The combo of the citrus and just a dash of sweetness from the simple syrup pretty much masks any trace of tequila, so ya - they’re dangerous. Personally, I seriously hate a sickeningly sweet margarita. It’s just such a disappointment to get a cocktail that’s syrupy and sweet to the point that it’s no longer refreshing. So I often never order margaritas when we’re out, and I’m more of a take control of the margarita in the comfort of my own home kinda girl. Using fresh citrus and being in control of the simple syrup ratio (again - I only add the smallest dash) keeps things in the realm of really refreshing, pure, and flavorful. Which is what I personally aim for when margs are going down.
Fresh herbs in a cocktail - also always a good choice. In this case, the mint is so fragrant & It just adds this pop of freshness. Plus the green pop in the glass makes it looks so cute. But what puts it over the edge is the smell. Ugh - the sweet & distinct smell of mint in this cocktail that permeates your sense of smell with a mix of citrus is perfect. We loved the combo of
I’m not sure if it was just throwing back a couple margs themselves during our FaceTime date or the fact that they were our sippers in between tequila shots that got us into to trouble, but they did prove to be dangerous. & the memory of a 4 hour, margarita fueled FaceTime date will likely be one of the happiest memories that I take from the Corona quarantine of 2020. Between being unable to stand up straight while making quesadillas to a virtual dance party to the FaceTime the next morning with all for of us still in bed - it all brings a smile to my face. I mean, sometimes you just need to get a little tipsy and have a few laughs, & just be fun drunks with your spouse and best friends. Probably sounds immature, but f*ck. In small doses it’s a grand ol’ time.
For the margs (makes 2)
Juice of 1 grapefruit
Juice of 1 lime
Simple syrup
Silver tequila (something a slight step up from bottom shelf would be ideal)
Sparkling water, grapefruit or lime flavored
Fresh mint
***If you need to make simple syrup, it’s just 1 cup cater + 1 cup sugar, boiled until the sugar is dissolved, and then cooled.
Split the fresh fruit juices between two tumbler sized glasses. Give two sprigs of mint a slap and place one in each glass. Mix the mint pretty aggressively with the juices to bring out the flavor and aroma. Fill each glass about half way with ice. Pour a shot of tequila and a teaspoon of simple syrup into each glass. Fill the glass the rest of the way with sparkling water