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Entertaining
3 Garden Fresh Margaritas for Serious Springtime Drinking

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A refreshing Margarita, made simply with fresh lime juice and agave syrup, is close to perfectionโ€”especially if thereโ€™s a big bowl of guac within reachโ€”but that doesnโ€™t mean the classic tequila cocktail isnโ€™t ripe for a seasonal makeover. Embrace the blooming beauty of spring by incorporating its bounty of fresh vegetables and herbs into your Margarita. From carrots to sugar snap peas to rhubarb, these garden-inspired Margaritas highlight springโ€™s delicious glory while maintaining the integrity of a classic Marg. Raid your local farmers market and get ready to gulp down a glass of tequila-spiked spring.

Matthew Kelly/Supercall
This spicy, savory take on a classic Margarita from New York-based Australian restaurant Flinders Lane is made with carrot juice, cardamom syrup and blanco tequila, infused with both long red chilies (for color and flavor) and Thai birdโ€™s eye chilies (for a hellfire heat)โ€”plus a homemade carrot salt for an extra pop of color. โ€œCarrots and cardamom work well together, and carrots have a natural sweetness that balances the chile-infused tequila and citrus,โ€ says Chris McPherson, beverage director and part owner at Flinders Lane. โ€œMezcal adds that touch of smokiness on the finish. Itโ€™s been a customer favorite ever since we first opened.โ€ While the fresh, earthy flavors are perfect for spring, McPherson says swapping out the blanco tequila for a reposado allows the drink to transcend seasonalityโ€”good thing, because youโ€™ll want to drink it all year round.

The Essentials

chili-infused tequila
Mezcal
carrot juice
Matthew Kelly/Supercall
Light, vegetal and aromatic, this British twist on a Margarita from Londonโ€™s Oxo Tower is a breath of fresh, tequila-spiked air. โ€œI wanted to create a drink that was representative of not only myself, but of England,โ€ says bartender Sophie Bratt. โ€œBeing a Yorkshire girl living in London, I love to escape to the parks of London to read, so I gathered a lot of inspiration from the surroundings.โ€ Lightly muddled sugar snap peas and mint release their vibrant oils, which pair beautifully with orange flower water and a homemade Earl Grey tea syrup. โ€œI absolutely love Earl Grey tea and my nan always told me it was very British, making it perfect for the floral and botanical tone of the Margarita,โ€ says Bratt. If youโ€™re skeptical about a British take on a Mexican cocktail and need some convincing, consider this: It was a finalist in Patrรณnโ€™s prestigious 2017 Margarita of the Year competition. Howโ€™s that for credentials?

The Essentials

Tequila
Earl Grey Tea Syrup
sugar snap peas
Matthew Kelly/Supercall
Sweet and tart, floral and herbaceous, this Margarita tastes like liquid spring. Blanco tequila and St-Germain elderflower liqueur mix with a homemade rhubarb and rosemary syrup, which gives the cocktail its alluring, rosy hue. A pink hibiscus salt rim adds even more color to the drink, making it a perfect cocktail to serve at special occasions like a garden party or Easter brunch, but itโ€™s also great to drink on a Tuesday evening in front of the TV. Pro rhubarb tip: Look for tall, crisp stalks with shiny, ombrรฉ green-to-pink skins.

The Essentials

blanco tequila
St-Germain
rhubarb and rosemary syrup

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