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The two flavors that people tend to enjoy the most are salty and sweet, and if you can find a beverage that combines both of those experiences, you’re guaranteed to have a hit. That likely is why people who are old enough to enjoy adult beverages are universally fans of margaritas with their salty rims, sweet flavors and bright colors.
For the experienced bartender or the newbie looking to celebrate National Margarita Day, a margarita is a fun drink to create for the variety it offers in terms of ingredients and preparations. Traditionally, the primary alcohol is Tequila and there are dozens of brands to consider. Other ingredients tend to be Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice and ice. For preparation, you can either shake the ingredients with ice and pour it into a glass or blend the ice to make a kind of slushy drink.
Flavors range from fruity – think strawberry, pineapple, raspberry or peach – to more refined, such as straight-up lime, apple or blue curacao. Some bartenders get innovative and have come up with seasonal margaritas as well, such as the Christmas Margarita or a spiced cranberry.
Locally, Mootz Pizzeria + Bar, Detroit’s only authentic New York pizzeria, has made themselves a community staple with their pies and extensive beer, wine and cocktail offerings. Owners and bartenders at this new Detroit favorite eatery try to come up with special menus for every season, which includes unique cocktail mixes. For margaritas, it recently offered the Harvest Apple Cider Margarita.
At Mootz, the Harvest Apple Cider Margarita includes a wide array of ingredients for a fresh, fruit-forward experience. Altogether, you mix Espolon tequila reposado, Cointreau, fresh apple cider, maple syrup and lime juice in a shaker and get it good and cold. You then can serve it in a cinnamon-sugar and lightly salted rimmed glass.
The key reason why margaritas work is because they balance that sweet flavor with salty goodness. The ideal way to experience a margarita is to put salt on the rim of the glass. That way, when you take a sip of the drink, you experience a burst of salt alongside the fruity nature of the flavoring and the bitterness of the tequila. When it’s made correctly, all parts of the taste buds are engaged and standing at attention.
According to drinking lore, the margarita’s originator is a man named Carlos “Danny” Herrera. As the tale goes, the margarita dates back to the late 1930s. That is when Herrera, who owned a restaurant known as Rancho La Gloria in Baja, California, created the drink for a friend who supposedly couldn’t have many kinds of alcohol except tequila. The rest of us have been enjoying his creativity and flavors since then.
Here are some other Metro Detroit restaurants known for their margaritas for carry out or enjoying while dining socially distant.
Barrio
Locals call it Barrio but this Plymouth restaurant is fully known as Barrio Cocina y Tequileria – and having that little bit of the word tequila in its name should tell you why so many people love the drinks here. The upscale space has well-made craft cocktails and its known for its fresh fruit juices in those drinks as well as its margaritas.
Gran Castor
Troy residents love this restaurant, which advertises its love of tequila – so it is a mutual admiration society situation. Gran Castor has great margaritas to go along with its pizza and tacos, so you’ll always eat and drink happily with family and friends when you come here. It is offering flights of margaritas for National Margarita Day as well.
Camelia’s
Royal Oak’s favorite Mexican grill is best known for its Cameliarita that some say are twice the size of any other margaritas in Metro Detroit. They also serve homemade burritos, enchiladas, hard or soft tacos as well as Mexican pastries, so every sweet or savory desire will be fulfilled.
Sierra Station
Grosse Pointe Park may not be the first place a person thinks about when it comes to Mexican food, but everyone on the East side knows to head to Sierra Station for a feast of epic proportions. The margaritas are large and flavorful, so make sure you order extra chips and salsa to enjoy them fully.
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Remember to drink responsibly and plan ahead with a designated driver or take advantage of one of these local designated driving services.
