Tangerine Cadillac Margarita (Recipe)

In an effort to source tasty ingredients while still remaining frugal and thrifty, I was able to acquire some tangerines from a neighbor's tree. In this "win-win" situation, my neighbor has given me open permission to pick as many of their organically-grown tangerines as I like, while also helping to keep their backyard a little cleaner from fallen fruit. Almost in the same instant, my partner picked up an unrecognized bottle of tequila from our local beverage supply store. The word, "kismet" comes to mind at times like these.

I've never been much of a tequila drinker, but I'm always looking for new experiences and and new ways to open my mind to unknown gastronomical delights. This was what I came up with which was very much enjoyed.


Here's what you'll need:
3 ounces Reposado Tequila (my current personal preference pictured below)
1 ounce Cointreau (or other type of orange liquor)
4 ounces tangerine juice
0.5 ounces lime juice
1.5 ounces cinnamon-infused simple syrup (recipe below)
ice
tangerine zest, optional garnish
grated cinnamon, optional garnish

Ingredients for simple syrup:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cinnamon stick

Here's what you'll do:
- Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cinnamon stick to a small sauce pan set over high heat.
- Let this come to a hard simmer, give it a stir with a spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved, then set aside to cool, leaving the cinnamon in the hot syrup to infuse. This can be kept in the fridge for 2 weeks or in the freezer, indefinitely.
- In your cocktail shaker, add 2 cubes of ice and all the liquid ingredients: tequila, Cointreau, tangerine juice, lime juice, simple syrup.
- Cover and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. This is just to bring everything together without over diluting it.
- Fill a 12-16 ounce capacity glass 3/4 full of ice.
- Pour cocktail over ice, including the 2 ice cubes already in the mix into your ice-filled glass.
- Add your garnishes if desired and enjoy!