Although tequila cocktails are a recent invention, fermented agave was an ancient and revered drink in pre-Columbian Mexico. Modern tequila comes from a new distillation technique refined by the Spanish that produced agave wine. In the early twentieth century, it was officially renamed tequila. Tequila now combines with cucumber to create this refreshing Cucumber Tequila Cocktail.

The Skinny Margarita is a sour, a family of cocktails that contain liquor, an acidic element (typically a citrus juice like lemon or lime juice), and a sweetener. The first-known published recipe for a tequila sour—the predecessor of the margarita—appeared in barman Charlie Connolly’s book, The World-Famous Cotton Club: 1939 Book of Mixed Drinks.

Picking the Best Tequila 

Both these tequila cocktails call for a “white tequila.” Better known by its Spanish name, Tequila Blanco, this is the purest form of tequila. Tasting Table ranked Mijenta as their number one tequila brand based on taste, so that’s one recommendation to take into consideration when deciding which tequila to use. However, you don’t always need top-shelf tequila as a cocktail ingredient. The other mixing elements will completely overwhelm the fine character of a rare tequila. Consider using Don Julio Blanco or 1800, two bartender favorites, as cocktail mixers.

Two Refreshing Tequila Cocktails

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• Author: Maribel Lieberman
• Yield: Serves 1 each 1x

Print Recipe

Description

A “skinny margarita” and a cucumber cocktail prove that booze doesn’t have to be too sugar-heavy.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Cucumber Cocktail: 

• 3 oz freshly squeezed cucumber juice
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 oz white tequila
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup ice, plus more for serving
• 3 oz sparkling water, such as San Pellegrino, or club soda
• 1 sprig mint

For the Skinny Margarita:

• 2 lime wedges
• Salt for glass rim
• 1 cup ice, plus more for serving
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 oz white tequila
• 2 oz club soda

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Instructions

For the Cucumber Cocktail:

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the cucumber and lime juices, tequila, sugar, and ice, and shake well.
2. Strain the mixture into a chilled tumbler filled with ice and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with the mint.

For the Skinny Margarita:

1. Rub the rim of a rocks glass with 1 lime wedge and dip it in salt. Fill with ice.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, tequila, and ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into the salt-rimmed glass. Top with the club soda. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Recipe by Maribel Lieberman
Reprinted with permission from Mariebelle Entertains: Savory and Sweet Recipes for Every Occasion from the Master Chocolatier published by Rizzoli, 2024 
Photography by Mark Roskams

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