It's Noon Somewhere…Blood Orange Margarita

Every year right about April, I start to long for the weather to turn around.  In Seattle, winter isn't oppressive and snowy like so many parts of the country, instead it is endlessly grey and dreary.  I want the sky to be bright and the days to be long, so I always find myself shifting from winter and fall foods into spring and summer ones even before the weather has changed.  It is no different with my cocktails.  Winter and even early spring yield amazing citrus and Blood Orange Margaritas are the perfect drink for the transitional season.  They are a gorgeous deep red color, not too sweet with the acidic oranges and have a great kick.

I use fresh squeezed blood orange juice, but if you can't find blood oranges, you could use blood orange soda instead.  If you use the soda, I would omit the simple syrup though.  And don't forget to salt the rim; I never understand why restaurants offer sugar on the rims of margaritas instead of salt!  The contrast is important, that bite of salt pushes through the sweetness of a margarita and brings out the tartness of the citrus and pairs wonderfully with the bite of the tequila.

Blood Orange Margarita:

2 oz Tequila
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz lime juice
2 oz Blood Orange Juice
1 oz simple syrup

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice.  Serve in a salt rimmed glass and garnish with a blood orange slice.

Cheers!

Julie