The Margarita Chronicles: Tasting Margaritas Everywhere I Go is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

This summer, I’m on a mission to try as many different types, flavors, and brands (mixes and tequila) of margaritas as I can. I already have a nice list of margaritas to add to my resume of “cocktails I’ve tried,” but I figure this summer, why not concentrate on one cocktail that I really like and just go all out. Stay with me…

Your standard margarita recipe is:

• 3 parts Tequila
  

  The Margarita

• 2 part Cointreau/ Triple Sec
• 1 part Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

[source: Difford's Encyclopedia of Cocktails]

Other variations of the margarita include:

Margarita With Salt Foam Float

• 4 spoons sea salt
• 1 pint Chilled Mineral water
• 2 Fresh Egg Whites
• 2 oz Tequilla
• 1 oz Cointreau/ Triple Sec
• 1 oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

Frozen Margarita

• 1.5 oz Tequila
• 3/4 oz Cointreau/ Triple Sec
• 3/4 oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Sugar Syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water)

But then there’s margaritas made with different types of mixes, spicy margaritas, fruity margaritas, margarita martinis, skinny girl margaritas — there’s a heck of a lot of margaritas to try.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, and in the comments by sharing your favorite margarita recipe. We have lots of giveaways, so the more you participate, the better the chances of winning a margarita related prize.

Posts In The Summer of Margaritas Series:

• Margarita Martini
• Skinny Girl Margarita
• Blueberry Margarita
• Strawberry Margarita with Jalapeno Chile
• Desert Pear Margarita
• Champagne Margarita
• Blue Margarita
• Pomegranate Margarita
• Fresh Strawberry Margarita
• Pink Flamingo Margarita
• Prickly Margarita

Need more margarita goodness? Visit the Girly Drinks store to view margarita glasses.

• Tweet

Kara Newman Has a Virtual Cocktail Party: I Brought The Rhubarb Cooler is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Spice & Ice by Kara Newman

Kara Newman, author of Spice & Ice, invited me to a Virtual Cocktail Party. First off, credit to her for being innovative, but more so than that, I was excited to be a part of her online cocktail party. A few months after starting Girly Drinks, I hunted (for a lack of a better term) Kara down to seek her advice in how to enter into the cocktail blogging world. Not only is Kara a great writer and enthusiastic cocktailer, she was also extremely helpful in leading me to a number of cocktail resources.

I received a copy of Kara’s book last week and immediately found the recipe that I wanted to make: The Rhubarb Cooler. Turns out, rhubarb is ridicuously hard to find in the winter. Perhaps that’s why Kara placed this recipe in the “Spring” section of her book, but I was set on making a rhubarb cocktail.

Luckily, I found rhubarb yesterday and promptly set out to make the Rhubarb cooler this morning. I mean afternoon.

Rhubarb Cooler Recipe:

• 1.5 Oz Gin
  

  Rhubarb Cooler Cocktail

• 1 Oz Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur
• I Oz Rhubarb Puree
• 1 Mint Sprig (garnish)

Vigorously shake together the gin, ginger liqueur, and rhubarb puree over ice, until frothy. strain into a martini glass and garnish with mint.

Rhubarb Puree Recipe:

1.5 cups 1 inch pieces rhubarb (apx 1.5 stalks of rhubarb, based on size)

Rhubarb Cooler With Mint

Puree rhubarb in a blender and strain outthe sediment through cheesecloth.

I used New Amsterdam for the Gin, but I tested the recipe out with Hendrick’s on the second try. The New Amsterdam version was smooth as far as the gin taste and let the ginger and rhubarb stand out more, but the Hendrick’s blend had a nice kick. I may be partial to Hendrick’s gin in general, but the next time I make the Rhubarb cooler, that’s the gin I’ll use.

I love the taste of rhubarb, but if you don’t, or if you can’t find it when it’s out of season, you could try substituting strawberry for the puree. You’ll still get some of the kick from the ginger liqueur, and you can also add muddled ginger to the blend (during the shaking stage).

I also had to add a dash of simple syrup to the rhubarb – while I was pureeing it – to speed up the process. You could also add a bit of gin instead of simple syrup, but if the rhubarb had been fresh, I don’t think anything would have been required.

Preserving and Freezing Rhubarb:

Rhubarb

According to the farmers market around my house, you can freeze rhubarb for up to 9 months. If you find rhubarb and want to enjoy it later, clean the stalks and cut into desired length (.5 to 1 inch pieces are perfect for sauces and purees), then store in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Spice & Ice

The Rhubarb Cooler wasn’t the spiciest of cocktails from Kara’s book, so if heat is your thing, don’t be put off by my pick. I’m still set on making a Gin and Tonic with Spiced Ice from Spice & Ice (Saffron and habanero pepper ice), and cocktails like the Cajun Martini (jalapeno infused vodka) or Lemon Pepper Martini (jalapeno infused vodka, Blueberry vodka, lemonade) are high on my list as well.

For more recipes and information about Spice & Ice, visit Kara’s blog or follow her on twitter @karanewman.

• Tweet

Ice Wine Martini is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

A few weeks ago, I met some friends up at Vinotecca, a wine bar in Royal Oak, Michigan. After a bottle of Fizz Champagne (I highly recommend trying this), the bartender suggested the Ice Wine Martini. I ended up liking it so much that I bought a bottle of Ice Wine so that I could make this recipe at home. See the picture for proof

What is Ice Wine?

Ice Wine, also referred to as Eiswein, is a dessert wine that is made up of grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. By itself, Ice Wine is extremely sweet, but by pairing it up with different liquors, you can make one heck of a cocktail.

Ice Wine Martini

After drinking the Ice Wine Martini at Vinotecca, I’ve made more than a few at home. I made the Ice Wine Martini with Selaks Ice Wine and X Rated Vodka, but you can use any Ice Wine or Premium Vodka. Just chill them both before making your martini. You can use as much Ice Wine and Vodka as needed, just use equal parts of each. Here’s the recipe that the bartenders from Vinotecca gave me:

• 2 Ounces Ice Wine
• 2 Ounces Premium Vodka
• Frozen Grape, for Garnsih
• Chilled Martini Glass

Place frozen  grape(s) into bottom of chilled martini glass. Pour Ice Wine into glass, top with vodka, and stir gently.

Ice Wine Recipes From Around the Web:

• Ice Wine Royale from Peller Ice Wine
• Ice Wine Poor Boy Cocktail from Fine Living

• Tweet

20+ Bachelorette Party Drinks is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Bachelorette Party Store

Luckily wedding season is coming to an end, but there’s still at least a month or so of weddings and Bachelorette parties to be had. With quite a few friends getting married at the end of the month of August, I’ve compiled a list of girly shots that should be tried at each party. These names are most likely not safe for work, so be warned…

To see the full list of 22 Bachelorette Party Drinks that you should try, read more:

1. Fuzzy Navel: Peach Schnapps and Orange Juice
2. Between the Sheets: Brand, White Rum, Triple Sec
3. Birth Control: Gin and Whiskey
4. Slow, Comfortable Screw: Gin, Vodka, Bourbon
5. Orgasms: Kahlua, Irish Cream, Amaretto, Vodka
6. Sex on the Beach: Peach Schapps, Vodka, Juices
7. Red Headed Slut: Jagermeister, Peach Schnapps, Cranberry Juice
8. Flying Fuck: Jack Daniels, Sambuca
9. Creamy Bush: Bailey’s Irish Cream, Irish Whiskey
10. Get Laid: Raspberry liqueur, Vodka, Juices
11. Hairy Virgin: Rum, Triple Sec, Pineapple Juice
12. Hot Irish Nut: Bailey’s Irish Cream, Frangelico, Amaretto
13. Pop My Cherry: Cherry Vodka, Triple Sec, Orange Juice
14. Sit on my Face: Irish Cream, Frangelico, Crown Royal
15. Tight Snatch: Light Rum, Peach Schnapps, Pineapple Juice
16. Virgin: Gin, White Creme de Menthe, Forbidden Fruit
17. Sex Machine: Kahlua, Baileys, Milk
18. Liquid Sex: Vodka, Marshmallows, Food Coloring
19. Fuzzy Dick: Grand Marnier, Kahlua
20. Fuzzy Screw: Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice
21. Body Shot: Vodka or Tequilla, Sugar or Salt, Lemon or Lime
22. Hawaiian Screw: Vodka, Dark Rum, Orange Juice and Pineapple Juice

• Tweet

Skinny Girl Margarita from Real Housewives of NYC is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

While the show is now over, the Real Housewives of NYC was definitely funny. It’s a guilty pleasure, but I love watching all the shows on Bravo – Top Chef, Real Housewives, Flipping Out, Work Out…It’s a wonder that I ever get anything done (I don’t)!

Anyways, Bethenny from the Real Housewives of NYC is a chef who specializes in natural and healthy foods. On the show, she was famous for what she called “The Skinny Girl Margarita.” Bethany ordered it at bars and restaurants and told the bartenders how to make it. Gotta give this girl credit – she was on a popular reality show with an audience that consisted of mostly women, and she promoted the heck out of her specialty drink. Seriously, the Skinny Girl Margarita made an appearance in at least 3 different shows. Smart cookie, that Bethenny…

So, the Skinny Girl Margarita has lower calories and less salt. Bethenny advises to always drink clear liquors in order to avoid hangovers and to ensure that you’re not consuming a butt-load of calories.

Update: The Skinny Girl Cocktails line came out with the Skinny Girl Margarita in the summer of 2009. Visit Bethenny’s website, http://www.skinnygirlcocktails.com/, for more information. She also has a Facebook Fan page that is updated regularly.

Want to try a version of this margarita recipe? Bethenny has also posted the recipe for her Skinny Girl Margarita:

• 2 oz of clear Tequila (Sauza or clear premium tequila)
  
• (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
• A splash of fresh lime juice
  
• A splash of Grand Marnier or BOLS Triple Sec

Combine all ingredients over a glass of ice

Garnish with a lime wedge and salt (or sugar) if you’d like.

Makes one serving

Here’s Bethany’s video of her making her specialty drink, The Skinny Girl Margarita:

• Tweet