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Ask a Local Bartender: Best Margarita Recipes

SOL Cocina - Colin Pflugradt (2)
(Credit: SOL Cocina)

Whether it's National Margarita Day or not, there's no doubt that SOL Cocina and other bars in OC will be offering delicious margaritas of all kinds. If you plan to stay in and want to make your own, here are a few recipes you can make at home. Just follow all of mixologist Colin Pflugradt's steps, and you're a few shakes away from good times.

Colin Pflugradt currently serves as SOL Cocina's Bar Manager, developing the cocktails that classify it as one of the best places in town for margaritas. Colin got his start at just 19 years old at a New Mexican restaurant in Arizona with a strong tequila-focused bar program. That was where he honed his craft, stoking the fire of his interest in tequila and tequila cocktails. He joined the SOL Cocina family in 2009 when the Newport Beach location opened. Now, he's responsible for creating and finessing the cocktail menu at all restaurants in the SOL Cocina family, which prides itself on the use of premium quality liquors and fresh, seasonal ingredients.

SOL Cocina - Newport Beach
251 East Coast Highway
Newport Beach , CA 92660-6131
(949) 675-9800
www.solcocina.com

SOL Cocina - Blackberry & Ginger Margarita 5
(Credit: acuna-hansen)

Blackberry Ginger Margarita
Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 4-5 blackberries
  • ½" nub of ginger, peeled and sliced
  • 2 roasted and peeled purple beets, cut into pieces
  • Ice cubes
  • 2 ¾ ounces Partida Blanco Tequila
  • 1 ounce agave nectar
  • 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
  • Soda water

Directions

  1. Muddle blackberries and ginger in a shaker.
  2. Add ice, tequila, agave, lime juice, and a splash of soda water. Shake, and strain into a pint glass filled with ice.
SOL Cocina - Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita 5
(Credit: acuna-hansen)

Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita
Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 5 cucumber slices
  • 3 jalapeño slices, seeds removed
  • 2 ¾ ounces Corralejo Blanco Tequila
  • 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
  • 1 ounce agave nectar

Directions

  1. Muddle cucumber and jalapeño slices in shaker.
  2. Add tequila, lime juice and agave. Shake, and pour all contents of shaker into a glass filled with ice. Do not strain.
SOL Cocina - Bubbles & Berries Margarita
(Credit: SOL Cocina)

Bubbles & Berries Margarita
Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 1 strawberry
  • 2 raspberries
  • 2 blackberries
  • Ice cubes
  • 2 ounces Don Julio Blanco (or any blanco tequila)
  • ½ ounce Cointreau
  • 1 ¼ ounces agave nectar
  • 2 ounces fresh lime juice
  • 1 ounce champagne
  • 1 lime wheel, for garnish

Directions

  1. Muddle strawberries, raspberries and blackberries in shaker.
  2. Add ice, tequila, Cointreau, agave and lime juice. Shake, and strain into a pint glass filled with ice. Top with champagne and lime wheel.

Chrystal Baker is a private cook, recipe developer and freelance food and events contributor for CBS
Los Angeles
. She maintains The Duo Dishes, a food blog that features dishes influenced by family tradition, regional fare and worldly flavors. She also shares travel stories and links to published work via a personal blog, Any and Everywhere. You can follow her trail on Instagram and Twitter for more.

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