Homemade Sour Mix

Here's my recipe for homemade Sour Mix.  It works great in my Perfect Margarita Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Simple Syrup
• 1 cup fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed Lime Juice

Instructions:

1. Juice the lemons and limes using a juicer.
2. Strain the lemon and lime juice.
3. Combine with simple syrup.
4. Bottle and store in the fridge.

Notes:
This is a great use for any lemons and limes that were used for juicing.  This Sour Mix must be kept refridgerated.  It should keep for 1 to 2 weeks.

Lime Tequila

(Work in Progress)

So, the other day I had an idea for a Margarita Martini.  I want the margarita flavor, but in a more traditional martini format.  My idea is to make this drink entirely from homemade liqueurs.  I plan on using limoncello, an orange liqueur, and a tequila-based lime liqueur.

This Lime Tequila recipe is based on the concept of limoncello:

Ingredients:

• 7 limes
• 1 cup Silver Tequila (1800)
• 1 cup White Sugar

Instructions:

Step 1:  (Completed 7/31/12)

1. Zest the limes.
2. Juice the limes.
3. Strain any pulp out of the lime juice.
4. Dissolve the sugar into the lime juice.
5. Combine zest, tequila, and lime juice/sugar mixture in glass container.
6. Place in fridge for a minimum of 45 days.

Step 2:  (Anticipated)

Filter the liquer.

I hope that this will produce a nice, sweet, lime-flavored tequila liqueur.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Check back later for information on the orange liqueurs that I am working on.

My Cosmo Recipe

Here's my take on the Cosmopolitan:

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Vodka (Ketel One)
• 1/2 oz Chambord
• 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
• 1 1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
• 1/4 oz Lime Juice (Rose's Lime Juice)

Instructions:

1. Shake with ice.
2. Serve in a martini glass.

The Perfect Margarita

Here is the recipe that I developed for great margarita on the rocks:

Ingredients:

• 2oz       High-quality Silver Tequila (1800)
• 1/2oz   Grand Marnier
• 1/2oz   Triple Sec
• 1oz       Lime Juice (Rose’s sweetened lime juice)
• 1oz       Orange Juice
• 4oz       Sour Mix

Instructions:

• Shake ingredients together and pour over ice. 
• Serve in a salted margarita glass or highball glass.

Notes:

I use the ½ Grand Marnier and ½ Triple Sec mostly because Grand Marnier is so expensive and the small bottle runs out too quickly.  You can just use 1oz Grand Marnier and it tastes about the same. 

To make this for a group, I have a large Rubbermaid jugthat I pour the ingredients into and then just shake up before serving.  I just change the ounces to cups.  Also, if I make a large amount, I’ll add a few pinches of salt directly into the margarita.