Staying home for the past year has forced me to become a slightly more accomplished bartender. But while I don't mind spending hours in the kitchen perfecting a new-to-me dish, I'm not trying to spend more than a few minutes mixing up a stiff drink. That's why I so often turn to the margarita—my favorite easy cocktail to sip when I want a little more than wine.
For this version, I wanted to highlight the beautiful blood oranges that are in season right now. Their juice is sweet and bright with the perfect hint of bitterness, and the color just can't be beat. Because it's a little more complex than standard orange juice, it can stand up to a bit of spice from jalapeño syrup and the smokiness that mezcal brings to the party. A Tajin rim is the perfect finishing touch and a must in this Texan household.
Ingredients
2 oz mezcal
4 oz blood orange juice
1 oz jalapeño syrup
lime
Tajin
Directions
To make the jalapeño syrup, combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup water and one jalapeño, sliced into rounds. Heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved, then let cool. Will keep refrigerated for about a month.
Combine the mezcal, blood orange juice, jalapeño syrup, and the juice of one lime wedge in a cocktail shaker with lots of ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker is super cold to the touch.
Garnish the rim of your serving glass with lime juice and Tajin, then fill with ice. Pour the margarita into the glass, then garnish with a lime wheel and slice of jalapeño.
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