Thirsty Thursday 2/17 — Getting ready for National Margarita Day!

Ilegal Passionfruit Margarita from Coastal Kitchen + Daiquiri Bar, Joe Mele. Photo provided by Ilegal
Ilegal Passionfruit Margarita from Coastal Kitchen + Daiquiri Bar, Joe Mele. Photo provided by Ilegal

Welcome back to this week’s edition of Thirsty Thursday! Each week we bring you new and exciting cocktail recipes for you to try at home. This week we’re getting ready for National Margarita Day on February 22. These recipes are easy to make and even easier to modify for yourself. So grab your shakers, and let’s get started!

Illegal Mezcal is a smooth, full-flavored mezcal that leaves just enough of a smokey aftertaste to bring you back for more. This sustainably made mezcal is new to me, but I absolutely love it. Their Illegal Passionfruit Margarita is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy thanks to the Tajin rim. We’ve been adding Tajin to almost everything in my house lately, and is a great addition to any margarita!

"Ilegal Passionfruit MargaritaCoastal Kitchen + Daiquiri BarJoe Mele, GM and Beverage Director1.5 oz Ilegal Joven.75 oz agave.75 oz lime.75 oz fresh passionfruit syrupDirections: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake. Dump the contents into a rocks glass with a tajin rim."

National Margarita Day is almost here! Get yourself ready with these delicious margaritas that are easy to make.

Margarita
Ilegal Passionfruit Margarita from Coastal Kitchen + Daiquiri Bar, Joe Mele. Photo provided by Ilegal

Did you know that TAZO Pure Leaf Tea can be used in mixed drinks? We’ve been using their assorted flavors for spiked drinks for some time, but nothing compares to using their Berry Hibiscus tea in a margarita! If you haven’t tried this Pure Leaf flavor, you’re missing out. Berry Hibiscus is flavorful, fruity, and has a subtle floral tone as well. This margarita is positively divine!

"Ingredients:5 oz TAZO Berry Hibiscus Margarita5 Basil Sprigs4 Strawberries Muddled3 Drops Balsamic Vinegar1 oz Lime½ oz Agave1 oz Mineral WaterDirections:Combine TAZO Berry Hibiscus Margarita, basil, strawberries, lime, balsamic, and agave and water into a shakerGently muddle basil and strawberry. Add ice and shake for 5 secondsDouble strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a strawberry and basil sprig"

Cazadores Tequila has been lifting spirits since 1922, be it in shot glasses or mixed drinks. Their wide variety of tequilas is impressive with five unique blends to pick from. For National Margarita Day, Cazadores is ready to throw some extra spice in with their take on the Jalapeno Margarita!

"Jalapeno MargaritaCrafted by Manny Hinojosa, Global Brand AmbassadorIngredients:1 ½ part Tequila Cazadores Blanco½ part Premium Triple Sec½ part Agave Nectar1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice1 Slice of JalapeñoMethod: In a cocktail shaker with ice combine all the ingredients, shake and serve over the rocks in glass.Garnish: with lime, jalapeño slice and salt optional"

PATRÓN and St. Germain have teamed up for this special margarita. The cleverly coined PATRÓN St-Rita takes PATRÓN Silver and St. Germain and blends them together into this beautifully refreshing margarita. This drink took me less than 5 minutes to make, and I was blown away by how smooth it was.

"PATRÓN St-Rita1 oz St~Germain1 ½ oz PATRÓN Silver¾ oz fresh lime juiceInstructions:Optional salt rimAdd all ingredients into a shaker and shakePour over ice in a rocks glass"

Looking for something a little more earthy? Maybe you have a lot of matcha lying around — which, if you didn’t know, makes for a great mixed drink! Matcha’s subtle taste might not sound like a good match for a mixed drink, but trust me. This works. Blended with the orange zest of Cointreau, you have one of the most unique drinks you’ll make at home! There’s no good way to describe this concoction other than delicious.

"Matcha MargaritaIngredients:1 oz of Cointreau2 oz of Blanco Tequila.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice.5 BSP Match Green Tea PowderDirections:Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime slice"

Don’t have the time to make a drink of your own? Truly can help with that! You may know Truly as one of the best alcoholic seltzers on the market, and they’re upping the game with their own take on the classic margarita! Truly Margarita Style Mix Pack takes all of Truly’s margarita drinks and brings them directly to you. This pack includes Mango Chili, Classic Lime, Strawberry Hibiscus, and Watermelon Cucumber. They all taste amazing but do not sleep on the Strawberry Hibiscus. These pre-made drinks are easy to serve, taste great, and require next to no clean-up when you’re done!

Are you ready for National Margarita Day? Let us know how you’ll be celebrating in the comments below!