Grand Margarita: next level margarita with Grand Marnier

Margarita is one of the most popular tequila cocktails. Lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, a salted rim glass … it doesn’t take more to imagine yourself on a terrace in the sun!

For Cinco de Mayo or to imagine you’re on vacation, try the Grand Margarita, a version of this iconic cocktail with Epsolon tequila and Grand Marnier cognac.

The Espolon Grand Margarita cocktail

Originally from Mexico, sources differ as to the creation of this cocktail.

Some believe it would be inspired by the Daisy cocktail, made with brandy, curaçao and lemon juice.

As a matter of fact, margarita is the Spanish word for Daisy.

But instead, the margarita contains lime juice, tequila instead of brandy and an orange liqueur, such as Triple sec or Cointreau.

This cocktail recipe brings the classic margarita on the next level by switching for Grand Marnier and using the excellent Espolon tequila.

A margarita can be served mixed with crushed ice, to obtain a frozen margarita, without ice or with ice, as we do for this recipe.

It’s served here in lowball glasses, but if you have margarita glasses, even better!

The essential step: the salted rim

To make this cocktail perfect, don’t forget to salt the rim of your glass!

To do this, pour the salt into a plate or shallow bowl. Moisten the rim of the glass with a lime wedge, then set the glass upside down in the salt to form a beautiful wreath.

Don’t hesitate to be creative with your salt by adding spices, a little Espelette pepper or by choosing pink salt.

Tequila Espolon and Grand Marnier

As in any recipe, the choice of ingredients and products makes all the difference.

Using a good tequila, like the Epsolon, which is really sweet and pleasant to drink (as a shooter, it would be perfect too!) makes all the difference

Part of the high quality of this tequila is that each bottle contains 100% hand-harvested Weber Blue Agave. This agave variety is said to be one of the sweetest, which gives it that very good taste.

The bottle, with its artistic label, will also be a nice addition to any home bar.

The illustrations are inspired by those of Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada, who through his innovative and political art denounced social injustices and brought about new ways of thinking.

The other alcohol used is Grand Marnier cognac.

A timeless digestif that is always perfect with its flavors of orange combined with the warmth of cognac.

It’s simply delicious on ice, but also in cocktails.