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Californian Margarita
To quote a "long time Californian and frequent visitor to America's Southwest", this recipe is a classic Margarita but "with a few tweaks. Usually a silver/blanco...27th April at 14:09
I finally decided to buy a bottle of falernum today and this was the first cocktail I tried making with it. Very pleasing margarita, though maybe not for my first experience with falernum since the tequila flavour kind of covered it up. Still, would definitely make this again.
29th July 2024 at 00:50
Very good - the spice of the falernum and softness (relative to lime) of the lemon are nice, with the falernum and agave really boosting the sweetness quotient. I prefer a Tommy's style, but this is a great option for people who like a sweeter cocktail!
5th May 2024 at 23:38
Intrigued by the 5+ star rating, I chose the "Californian Margarita" to celebrate Cinquo de Mayo. It did not disappoint, and in my humble opinion, lives up to the lofty rating. And I used plain ol Blanco Tequila. I can't imagine how the Silver would be an improvement. I rim Margaritas with a mixture of sugar and both lime & lemon crystals (full disclosure, I lean toward the sweeter end of things.
10th May at 12:48
afaik Blanco/plata/silver/white is all the same thing.
22nd February 2024 at 16:41
Hello all, I'm AG, and I remain so honored to have one of my drinks mentioned on this amazing site! To be clear, in response to some of the helpful comments below, I use Cointreau, and I use a full 1/4 oz of the Velvet Falernum. I feel that's enough "sweet" for me so I do not add any Agave syrup, or saline. It's wonderful to see how others play with the recipe to make it work for themselves! Salud!
23rd February 2024 at 16:13
Many thanks, Andrew. Your delicious cocktail has been in our Top 100 most-visited cocktails for the past two years. Proof that one of the best out of 1,000s!
30th December 2023 at 08:02
This was a bit on the sour side for me. I added a barspoon of agave which I felt made it more balanced and enjoyable. Fun use of Falernum though.
21st January 2024 at 19:46
Agreed. I've added 5ml (1 barspoon) agave syrup as you suggest. Many thanks.
20th January 2024 at 05:08
concur with this. too sour without extra sweetener.
27th November 2023 at 01:54
Dave from California here. My recipe: anejo 1.0, Cointreau 0.5, agave syrup 0.25, lime juice fresh squeezed 1.0, Meyer lemon 1.0. Very juicy! Sub silver tequila if you want my fav is Milagro.
16th August 2023 at 09:31
I subbed Cointreau for Mandarine Napoleon and it was marvelous.
The question is is Mandarine Napoleon a triple sec or Curacao or is it a good sub for either. I have read your articles on both spirits but when it comes to subbs I'm still confused?
The question is is Mandarine Napoleon a triple sec or Curacao or is it a good sub for either. I have read your articles on both spirits but when it comes to subbs I'm still confused?
16th August 2023 at 12:13
Mandarin Napolean is closer to a curacao than a tripe sec but sits in it's own category as distinctively different from both. As you say, it can work brilliantly in place of both triple sec and curacao.
7th July 2023 at 15:42
First time I've used Falernum, (Difford's). I think this may become my favourite Margarita!
My wife loves it!
My wife loves it!
5th February 2023 at 01:01
Possibly the happiest I've been with a margarita that I've made myself. The perfect balance of sweet and sour. I triple checked the recipe and the comments to see if it was really supposed to be lime instead of the lemon, but the lemon does it right in spite of my expectations.
17th September 2022 at 23:20
For someone who considers that white tequila as vodka is only a way to produce % and who doesn't like margeritas... this version is very drinkable. :)
13th March 2022 at 22:19
One of my favourite cocktails which I thouught would be difficult to improve on. Taylor's Velvet is good but Difford's/Bob's is better. Tonight I subbed Raicilla for Tequila and damn i know have to start rating with six stars! All hyperbole aside, Tequila fans, get some Raicilla in your drinks cabinet, you won't regret it.
13th March 2022 at 08:14
Have tried this now with 1/6 and 1/4 Falernum. It's better with less. Gets a little muddled (for mine) with the extra Falernum - loses the Margarita citrus sour effect and becomes a pretty ordinary cocktail.
30th November 2021 at 15:48
Very good cocktail. As for some guest it was a bit too much on the sour side, I added for them a barspoon sugar syrup. This enhanced the falernum beautifully.
Anonymous
24th August 2021 at 16:19
Thank you.
I used lime juice and Diffords falernum with a pinch of Cornish sea salt. Delicious, quite sour, definitely falls under the heading of aperitif cocktails for me.
I used lime juice and Diffords falernum with a pinch of Cornish sea salt. Delicious, quite sour, definitely falls under the heading of aperitif cocktails for me.
11th July 2021 at 05:34
Native Californian here! Herded the comments and upoed the falernum and it was a Bit too funky for me. Wanted to love it, but didn’t. I will try it according to the spec before rating.
10th July 2021 at 22:31
this is the best margarita recipe. way better than the rosalia
13th June 2021 at 01:05
Excellent margarita. Since I’m in the US, I had to settle for John Taylor’s Velvet Falernum and not Difford’s unfortunately. After some “research”, I find that doubling (almost 2.5 bar spoons) the Taylor’s Falernum worked well and with a pinch of sea salt in lieu of saline solution. I’m interested to hear what others think about this. Next time I’m trying with Meyers just because hey I’m in California. For extra kick I sometimes add a splash of Squirt (grapefruit soda) for some effervescence.
16th June 2021 at 01:06
Hi Geoff! I made some tonight and also used limes. The recipe says lemons because I find them somewhat more consistent in citrus-ness, if there's such a word, year round. And I use a 1/4 oz of Taylor's Falernum (I also haven't tried Difford's yet.) I'm glad you like it! And I also enjoy the "research"!
13th May 2021 at 22:21
This is such a good cocktail. Beautifully balanced and flexible too. Works with mezcal beautifully, giving a different range of flavours and, if you run out of triple sec, just make a blue one with blue curacao ;)
5th May 2021 at 20:10
This is perfect. Instead of using the saline solution we put a small pinch of sea salt (very, very small) in the shaker first and added the other ingredients. One of us does not like the taste of salt and the other does. The small addition of salt livens up the tequila and citrus.
18th April 2021 at 15:35
As a native Californian, I give two thumbs up to this variation!
Anonymous
19th January 2021 at 13:18
I love margarita, but in this recipes Velvet Falernum was a no show
12th March 2021 at 07:49
I think the issue is with your choice of falernum. Please watch this space, we've a cracking full-flavored falernum coming to this humble website shortly.
11th March 2021 at 23:40
Perhaps increase its presence by increasing the amount? I know some have tried it with 1/4 oz + and liked it ...
3rd September 2020 at 19:59
THE best Margarita recipe I've tried! Thank you AG for this one. Love from Sweden!
4th September 2020 at 18:42
Christopher, Skål!
25th August 2020 at 19:16
hum, I don't know where I failed, maybe the type of salt ... I basically love tequila, but I don't know, something was not oK when I made it. I think I will try again
5th September 2020 at 08:13
Hi Andrew, I will give it a try without salt :)
4th September 2020 at 18:40
Vincent, I hope you tried again. I personally forego the salt, but would add it only for those who express a preference for a salted rim.
15th July 2020 at 19:35
Wow, I am honored! I must say the Valernum trick was taught by a cocktail guru friend, so I can't take all the credit. I hope you enjoy! Salud!
And this was an actually surprisingly good. This is going to go into my regular rotation - just to make sure my lemons don’t go to waste…….
A nice refreshing twist on a classic.