Why host an ordinary garden party when you can hold one based on a theme? A Margarita Cocktail tasting!

Margaritas are one of the world’s most popular cocktails. Invented in Mexico in the 1930’s, they use just 3 ingredients: tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. Simple to make and universally loved, Margaritas have since taken on new flavour dimensions with the addition of summer fruits. Perfect for summer tastings! Dust off the outdoor furniture!

To hold a Margarita garden party, you’ll need:

• Margarita glasses
• Flaked sea salt – not table salt, it’s too bitter and fine
• Granulated white sugar
• Tequila – a decent brand but not top of the range
• Cointreau
• Fresh limes, raspberries and oranges – fresh, fresh fresh!
• Ice in large cubes, and maybe some crushed ice too.

Prep the glasses

Guests can prepare their own glasses and here’s how. Run a wedge of lime or lemon around the rim, and dip in a bowl of flaked salt. Keeping the glass upside down, shake off loose salt. Any salt that falls into the glass should be wiped away. Salt is a garnish, not an ingredient. Lastly, fit a lime wedge to the rim and add a large, square ice cube. Large cubes melt slower than crushed ice and don’t dilute the mix.

Basic Lime Margaritas

The basic recipe for a Margarita is a 3-2-1 ratio – three parts tequila, two parts Cointreau, and one part lime juice. This simple combination gives the drink three parts punch, two parts sweetness, and one part tang. Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher and start your tasting with this classic version of the drink.

Raspberry Margaritas

For this pretty, red Margarita you’ll need a blender, and granulated sugar for coating the rim of the glasses. Have guests prepare their own glasses again, this time by dipping the rims into sugar rather than salt.

In the blender combine:

• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• ½ cup tequila
• ½ cup Grand Marnier
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar.

With Raspberry Margaritas you can pour the mix over a large ice cube as before. Alternately, you can add crushed ice to the blender after the mix has been pureed, and blend for a second or two more. This creates a snow cone style cocktail. Garnish with a wedge of lime and a raspberry.

Orange Margaritas

Freshly squeezed orange and lime juice are a must for this drink. They create the refreshing tang an Orange Margarita deserves. Guests can rim their own glasses again, either with sugar or salt, depending on how sweet a tooth they have.

In a jug combine:

• 1½ cups fresh sweet orange juice
• 1 cup tequila
• ½ cup Cointreau
• ½ cup lime juice
• Orange and lime wedges to garnish.

Beware and be warned!

Margaritas pack quite a punch. You and your guests need to pace yourselves. Space out the tastings across the three or four hours you’ll spend in the garden. Leave cars at home or bring non-drinkers to do the driving. Have your outdoor table laden with plenty of snacks to nibble on, and enjoy. Happy mixing and happy tasting!

Image credit: Photo 11807885 / Cocktail © Eugene Bochkarev | Dreamstime.com