Never stop experimenting! If there is anything that you take away from this blog, it is that idea while having fun with cooking and making drinks.
Classic drinks deserve the best ingredients from freshly squeezed juices, homemade simple syrups, or utilizing different liqueurs or spirits for certain drinks or making your own. The Mandarin is that kind of drink, a classic margarita with some substitutions that makes it distinct from its other margaritas cousins (like the classic or Tommy's Margarita). The Mandarin embraces two differences from the margarita, lemon juice for lime juice and an incredible Mandarin liqueur from Don Ciccio & Figli.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Tequila
- 1.25 ounces Don Ciccio e Figli's Mandarinetto Liqueur
- .75 ounce lemon juice (it is great with lime juice too, but lemon juice keeps that beautiful bright orange color)
- .5 ounce simple syrup
Optional: Salt rim and lemon/lime wedge (depending on the juice you use)
I will say this is my favorite take on a classic cocktail. I highly recommend spending some time thinking about your favorite drinks and coming up with new ways of making your own take on the drink. Let me know what you think and what would you like to see next!