4 tasty cocktails that highlight tequila

National Tequila Day was July 24. Tequila is the second-bestselling spirit on the United States market — again — according to the Spirits Business publication. Vodka still dominates the market, but that’s because vodka has a wide range of cocktail applications. Tequila, on the other hand, has fewer. (Name five cocktails specific to tequila. I bet you can’t.) But the one drink most associated with tequila routinely dominates the cocktail market: the margarita.

Originally a simple combination of tequila, lime juice and triple sec — and sometimes sugar — this stalwart now includes everything from chiles to strawberries to coconut cream. Margarita means “daisy” in Spanish, and that original was pretty much the definition of a daisy drink: liquor, citrus juice and fruit syrup, in this case, triple sec, which is a sweet orange liqueur invented by one of three different confectioners — Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Combier.

These days, some variations are so variant that calling them margaritas — or daisies — is a bit of a stretch. Skinny margaritas have no triple sec and add soda water, which makes them more of a Rickey than a daisy. And the famous “Tommy’s margarita” eliminates the fruit syrup altogether but then adds succulent syrup (agave), which really makes it more of a gimlet than a margarita or a daisy.

Lately, the 3:2:1 margarita has gotten a lot of traction: three parts tequila, two parts triple sec and one part lime. It translates to a drink that has 2 ounces of tequila with 1 ounce of triple sec and three-quarters of an ounce of lime juice, which for the uninitiated is a lot of liquor to mix, and a “double” drink as well. You’ll understand what “liquor forward” means after just one sip.

Simpler is almost always better, especially when it comes to cocktails, and that means that the classic margarita might still be the best. But if you’re looking for something just a wee bit different, there’s an easy way to go. By substituting other fruit liqueurs for the triple sec, you can add a slight variation, one that still stays within the original daisy category. And since you probably already have most of the ingredients for a regular margarita — as do many Americans apparently — you won’t have to add a lot to your own personal liquor inventory.

Here are four easy variations, two I’m calling margaritas and two I’m calling daisies. All have been localized for your consumption.

Recipes

Maraschino Margarita

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces Severo Tequila Plata

¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino liqueur

1 ounce fresh lime juice

¼ ounce agave syrup

Coarse black sugar, often called sanding sugar

2 picked Luxardo cherries

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well combined and then strain into a chilled martini glass partially rimmed with black sugar. Garnish with cherries.

Note: Luxardo and Severo are imported by Hotaling & Co. — the company that used to be Anchor Distilling Co. — named after Marin’s Hotaling family. (Their mansion’s ruins are still visible in Sleepy Hollow.) Maraschino liqueur is not sweet and is not to be confused with cherry liqueur. But maraschino cherries themselves are sweet.

Spiced Tamarind Margarita

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces Santo Blanco Tequila

¾ ounce Gran Malo

1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime

¼ ounce agave syrup

Tajin salt (coarse kosher salt mixed 50/50 with Tajin seasoning)

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well combined and then strain over fresh new ice in a partially salt-rimmed serving glass.

Note: It has become more popular to only partially rim a margarita glass with salt or sugar. Half rims, thumb-sized tabs and even vertical stripes all add visual interest. Gran Malo liqueur is reminiscent of Jarritos’ Tamarindo soda, just not as sweet and with a bit of spice.

Damiana Daisy

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces Inspiro Luna Blanco Tequila

¾ ounce Damiana Liqueur

1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice

¼ ounce agave syrup

Mixed black and white coarse salt

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well combined and then strain into a chilled martini glass partially rimmed with black and white salt.

Note: King Floyd’s Bar Provisions in Novato makes a Black Lava Salt that works great for this. To make, combine 50/50 with kosher salt. Damiana is a shrub native to the southwestern United States, including Texas, and Central America. Liqueur made from its blossoms has long been reputed to have aphrodisiac properties.

Pickled Daisy

Ingredients

2 ounces Tapatio Blanco Tequila

1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice

¼ ounce agave syrup

¾ ounce fresh-packed pickle juice

1 pickle spear for garnish

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until combined and then strain over fresh new ice in a serving glass. Garnish with the pickle spear.

Note: Do not salt the rim on this drink; it will make it too salty. Fresh-packed pickles work best: Grillo’s, Boar’s Head, Jersey, etc. They are usually found in plastic tubs in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. And yes, cucumbers are technically fruit, if anyone’s asking.