In honor of National Margarita Day, February 22, I thought we should take a closer look at one of the key ingredients, orange liqueur.
Why is orange liqueur so important to making an amazing margarita? Orange liqueur pulls all the flavors together. Without it, you would be drinking nothing but tequila and lime. Its fruitiness mellows the spicy notes of the tequila, and its sweetness balances the acidity of the lime.
There are two categories for orange liqueurs, Curacao and Triple Sec. Curacao is pot distilled with brandy, cognac, or sugar cane spirits and has a sweet quality. Triple Sec is column distilled using neutral grain spirit and has a drier quality. This means that Grand Marnier is Curacao and Cointreau is Triple Sec. Confused yet?
I won’t ramble on about how each style is made and the subtle differences. All you need to know is which one to use in your margarita. So, let us get to the good stuff!
Cointreau is the most recommended choice for margarita making. Cointreau combines bitter and sweet orange peel, creating a bright orange flavor and a wickedly wonderful aroma. Cointreau is not too sweet; it is the perfect balance between fresh orange and warm herbal notes. If you want a smooth orange component for your margarita, Cointreau is the way to go.
Grand Marnier is a close second for making the perfect margarita. Since Grand Marnier is cognac-based, it provides a deep rich complexity you will not find with any other orange liqueur. If you are looking for bang for your buck, Grand Marnier is your best choice due to its versatility. It can be enjoyed on its own and used in a variety of cocktails and baking.
Triple Sec is the third choice for margaritas. This is because most triple secs lack complexity and are generally too sweet to create a balanced margarita.
As with most things in the cocktail world, there is no wrong or right choice, just personal preference. My personal preference is Agavero! Agavero orange liqueur is a blend of 100% blue agave tequila infused with the essence of orange and pure agave nectar. Adding tequila to more tequila is never a bad thing in my books. Agavero orange also makes a great spritz!
Now, go forth and mix up a marvelous margarita! Don’t forget the salt