DENVER — Could National Tequila Day come on a better day of the week? Mondays usually are a drag, but closing out the day with a chilly margarita could provide a boost.
Colorado mixologists took time to put together three unique margarita recipes using classic tequila.
Raspberry lemonade champagne margarita:
Fill a shaker with an ounce of silver tequila, half an ounce of orange liqueur, three ounces of raspberry lemonade and ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a glass with a salted rim.
Top off the glass with bubbly champagne and serve with a lemon wedge.
Coconut margarita:
Pour one and a half ounces of reposado tequila, half an ounce of orange liqueur, an ounce of coconut cream, an ounce of coconut milk, half an ounce of lime juice, half an ounce of half and half into a a shaker.
Strain the mixture and serve over ice in a glass with a lime wedge.
Watermelon and basil margarita:
Fill a shaker with one and a half ounces of tequila, an ounce of lime juice, two ounces of watermelon juice, and a half ounce of basil simple syrup and ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a glass with a salted rim and serve with a sprig of basil.
How to create the simple syrup: Combine a cup of sugar, a cup of water and a half a cup of packed fresh basil leaves in a saucepan. Heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves and stir. Let the mixture cool, then strain it into a jar. Cover it and refrigerate the mixture — this will keep in a fridge for two weeks.
