Mandarin Salt Margarita in a rocks glass with mandarin peel and a light half-rim of salt

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Comisario Limited Edition: Mandarin Salt Margarita.

Mandarin softens the usual lime-led margarita into something rounder, fragrant and suited to a generous table.

Ingredients

Serves

2 ozComisario Blanco Tequila Limited Editionthe bottle we pour
1 ozFresh mandarin juice30 ml
¾ ozFresh lime juice23 ml
¼ ozOrange liqueur8 ml
¼ ozAgave syrup8 ml
Mandarin peel and a light half-rim of saltfor garnish
Fresh iceas needed

Method

For the agave syrup used here, stir equal volumes of agave nectar and warm water until combined. Cool before measuring. This lighter syrup is easier to mix evenly than undiluted nectar.
before you mix
Prepare the garnish: mandarin peel and a light half-rim of salt. Chill a rocks glass while you measure the ingredients.
the garnish and the glass
Add the measured base and all still liquid ingredients to a shaker. Keep any soda, tonic or ginger beer separate for the finish.
the build
Fill the shaker with fresh ice, seal and shake firmly for 10–15 seconds until the outside feels cold.
the shake
Strain into the serving glass over fresh ice. Use a fine sieve as well if you want a smoother fruit texture.
the strain
Add the prepared garnish and serve promptly. Express any citrus twist gently over the glass before adding it.
the serve

"Mandarin softens the usual lime-led margarita into something rounder, fragrant and suited to a generous table."Flight notes · Creenagh Flynn

From the bar

The pleasure of a considered pour

A thoughtfully made cocktail can change the pace of an ordinary evening. The effect comes from small choices: a fresh ingredient cut neatly, a glass chilled in advance and a pour measured instead of guessed. This recipe brings those choices together in a form that is easy to make your own. It has enough detail to hold attention, while leaving the conversation and the food room to be the centre of the occasion.

Mandarin softens the usual lime-led margarita into something rounder, fragrant and suited to a generous table. For this version, Comisario Blanco Tequila Limited Edition provides the base. The recipe below keeps the preparation clear so you can concentrate on the aroma, the texture and the way the ingredients meet. Serve it in a rocks glass and let mandarin peel and a light half-rim of salt introduce its character before the first sip.

The bottle behind the recipe

The Comisario Limited Edition bottle gives the table a visual focal point before the first glass is poured. Use its blanco tequila as the foundation of this recipe and let the drink supply a complementary colour and aroma. The bottle and the glass have different jobs: one introduces the occasion, while the other makes it enjoyable to repeat. Keep the ingredients fresh and the preparation precise so that the presentation is supported by an equally considered cocktail.

Finding the balance

Fresh juice, fruit puree and bottled mixers vary in sweetness and acidity. Prepare the first drink using the quantities below, then taste the completed mixture. If it needs more brightness, add a teaspoon of the listed citrus. If it feels too sharp and the recipe includes a sweetener, add that in teaspoon increments. Keep the base measure fixed. This gives you a repeatable starting point while allowing for the real ingredients on your counter.

The technique that makes the difference

Shaking creates both chill and dilution, so the ice is part of the recipe even though it is not counted as an ingredient measure. Use firm, fresh cubes and leave enough room in the shaker for the liquid to move. A fine strainer is particularly useful when working with fruit puree, because it removes small pieces that can make the drink feel uneven. Once strained, serve promptly. A cocktail served up has no fresh ice to maintain its temperature, so the chilled glass matters as much as the shake.

Bring it to the table

Serve this cocktail with pork carnitas with fresh citrus salsa. Mandarin softens the usual lime-led margarita into something rounder, fragrant and suited to a generous table. Keep the food in small, easy-to-share portions so that the glass and the plate can be enjoyed together. Put a little of the garnish ingredient on the table where it also belongs in the food, but avoid making every element taste identical. The most useful pairing is one that gives the drink a new detail after a bite, with the food and the cocktail retaining their own character.

Make it your house recipe

To make the recipe again, begin with the same Comisario Blanco Tequila Limited Edition and the same ingredient measures, then change one small detail at a time. That makes the result easier to learn from and repeat. Keep a note of the fruit or syrup you used if it made a particular difference. Once the balance feels right, the drink becomes a useful addition to your own table, whether you are preparing one glass or setting out ingredients for a few guests.

Make it tonight

Made it?

Fifty Casa Stellar points, and the bar remembers it.