Ay Carumba!

Has it really been four months since my last post?  I guess there was just way to much gin, bourbon and scotch during the last 120 days.  However, the good news is that I’m tanned, rested and ready!  A week in Puerto Vallarta will do that for a guy!

Of course, there was more to the vacation than family, sun and beach.  There was tequila!  One advantage to renting a house for the week was the opportunity to mix up cocktails for everyone using great, fresh local ingredients.  One of those cocktails was the above pictured Avocado Margarita.  It’s more like a cross between a smoothie and a margarita.  But with fresh limes and avocados at my disposal, I couldn’t pass this one up.

      Avocado Margarita

• 1-1/2 oz silver tequila
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1/4 cup diced avocado
• 1 oz half and half
• 1 tsp sugar

Combine all the ingredients in a blender with one half cup ice and puree until smooth.  Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with lime wedge or lemon peel.

I used Patron silver since that’s what we had, and used Grand Marnier instead of Cointreau (again, that’s what we had – and, oh, by the way, makes excellent margaritas!).  This was served with a dinner of grilled shrimp, mahi mahi and rice with poblano pepper and chorizo.  It was delicious – smooth, not to sweet, not to avocado flavored and just a hint of tequila.

Unfortunately, I only had enough avocado for one round the night we did these, but I’m sure this will find its way into my glass again!

Adios amigos!

Trocadero

Day 137, Cocktails 135 & 136

Gwen and I ended up at Trocadero Saturday night for cocktails and dinner.  It’s one of those eclectic and hip restaurants located in an older building with loads of character.  Check them out – you won’t be disappointed.  The food is terrific, the service very good and the bar is complete with a full selection of wines, craft beers and (of course) well made cocktails.

Before our dinner (mac ‘n cheese on steriods for me, fish tacos for Gwen) we had a couple of couple of cocktails.  I ordered the Pink Ribbon drink of the week.  (Each week Trocadero has been doing a different drink for their Pink Ribbon special, and $1 is donated to breast cancer research.)  This week’s edition was essentially a cherry mojito.  The base spirit was Bacardi Cherry rum and the mint was muddled with maraschino cherries.  It was delicious!  The cherry flavor was subtle, yet present, and played very nicely with the mint.  It was a slightly sweet cocktail that was reminiscent of that Wisconsin favorite, the Old Fashioned.

Gwen’s drink, the Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita, was a smash!  This cocktail featured muddled cucumber, lemon and lime with a cilantro jalapeno puree, Parton Cintronage and a raw sugared rim.  Simply put, an amazing cocktail!  The first impression is sweet, with the jalapeno flavor coming through, but not the heat of the pepper.  The cilantro, cucumber and tequila fill in behind the jalapeno to create a fabulous fusion of flavors.  I could drink this one all night! 

Two original cocktails very well executed.  If you are looking for something new to try, give Trocadero a try.  You won’t be disappointed!

Cheers!

Tequila!

Day 11, Cocktail 11

Of course I’m going to lay my margarita recipe on you…what else would I post on Cinco de Mayo?

Traditional Margaritas (hey, that's my sombrero!)

I learned how to make this tasty, original and authentic recipe at the 1812 bar located in the Radisson Hotel in Monterrey.  I was amazed when I watched the bartender make it – no syrup, no crushed ice, no salted rim.  Just a clean, crisp cocktail that enhances the flavor of the tequila and is a joy to enjoy!

  The Margarita

• 1 oz Cazadores tequila
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 1 oz lime juice

 

Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice.  Shake till you can’t shake anymore and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.  Enjoy it with some grilled shrimp and mango salso like we did for dinner tonight.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cheers!