Big batch margaritas

I'm pretty transparent and steadfast about the things I love. If you've been hanging around here for any length of time, you know that. I often spout about my love of the color green. And limes. And margaritas. And peonies. And champagne. And fabric. (OK - no fabric links...too many to chose from!) I could go on, but I won't.

For my 40th, I wanted food with Mexican flavors and margaritas. That's all. And because I'm picky (that may be an understatement) about my margaritas, I said I would make them. What I didn't know was how to translate my favorite recipe that yields one or two cocktails into the large volume a party requires without making them too booze-y or too sweet.

So, I hit Google. I typed in "big batch margaritas". I clicked on this recipe, looked at it and then adapted it to my tastes. I was planning on doing the same thing Jeffrey does: buy cheap bottled water by the gallon, use it to water the plants or cook pasta or whatever, and reuse the plastic gallon jug. There was some higher math involved as we extrapolated one recipe into five. But once they were made, with one taste, I knew it was close to my favorite recipe. Here's what I did:

Big Batch Margaritas, adapted from A Gallon of Margaritas by the Gallon by Jeffrey Morgenthaler

6 c silver tequila

2 1/2 c Cointreau

5 c freshly squeezed lime juice (10 - 12 limes generally yields about 2 c)

2 c simple syrup ( I used a 1 to 1 ratio of sugar to water)

Mix everything in a gallon container and then refrigerate. Serve on the rocks with salt and a lime garnish. (If you put it into an empty gallon water jug, you will need a funnel to avoid spillage.)

If you have leftovers (pshaw!), pour them into a freezable container and pop them into the freezer. Once frozen, you can have leftover margarita slushies as wanted. I know because we have 6 frozen quarts at the ready. Thank you to Alicia for that brilliant idea! I've got cocktails covered for most of the summer.

Happy weekending folks!

Comments

[tara thayer]

i may have fainted at the words margarita slushie. can i have one with my bagel right now?

thanks for this: we've been talking with friends about doing a mexican party and this is exactly what i needed.

xo.

[Sarah Jane]

pshaw! made me smile.
lucky you.
have a great weekend.

[Beth]

Yum!

[Alicia A.]

Thank you, Erin! I was going to email you today for that recipe.

[rachel]

I love the idea of just grabbing a slush any old time you please. We may just do this as soon as we move. I have a feeling I'll need a lot of slushes. :)

[carolyn]

margarita slushies = heaven.

[PatyZ from Mexico]

Hi Erin, Happy Birthday!! I only have to add that instead of Cointreau you could use Triple Sec and you can dip the glass cup in lime juice and then in salt. Delicious!!!

[Erin]

Thanks! The original recipe does call for triple sec - I just prefer Cointreau. :)

[Erin]

Thank you for the freezing suggestion!

[Erin]

You are welcome!

[mary e peterson]

well this could just be the info i need to buy a freezer. and a funnel. :>) thanks erin.

[Marcy]

I am a lover of all things marg! I have also found that you can make the lime juice/simple sugar mixture, and freeze it into ice cube trays. each ice cube is approx 1 shot (nice of them to make it work that way, right?). once frozen I put them into a large ziploc bag for storage. Then, when I want a fresh marg, I thaw an ice cube, and add a shot of each tequilla and triplesec. PERFECT!

[lisa s]

how i wish i could share a margarita with you
i'm sorry i'm late to the big 4-0 birthday but YAY for you and glad it was GREAT.
hugs

[Bridget]

Brilliant... and oh so tempting on a Friday night!

[Jill E.]

Erin, all you need to do is go to the wonderful mexican dive across from our local grocery store on B'dstown Rd. It's not especially pretty, or even all that authentic, but the margaritas are especially good!! Just call the next time you would like to go...and I share your adoration for peonies, pink lilac and fabric! Have a wonderful summer!

[Erin]

Thanks, Jill. I've been there - it's great! Hope you have a good summer, too.

[Vintage Chica]

You are so smart! Brilliant. I wonder if it would work for sangria...hmmm?

[Erin]

hmmm...i don't know about freezing wine. you could certainly freeze the booze/juice part and add wine to the slushie, right?

[Caroline]

Perfect timing. I had some leftover margaritas sitting in the fridge in a mason jar from last night and I was worried how long it would last. Now it's in the freezer getting slushified.

[susan]

Oh my gosh, AWESOME, I'm doing this sometime this summer for sure! Happy birthday, Erin!!!

[sewkatiedid]

I'll bring the salt, what time should I be over?

[CocktailMom]

BRILLIANT!!!! I am all over this idea for a BBQ backyard wedding. Thanks!

[cakesonaplane]

Congrats on turning 40, Erin! I love that the things you love all "go together" so well, color-wise. ;). I'm definitely using this recipe for a party soon - and margarita slushie. I think I just found my new favorite thing. Thanks for the post!

[CakesOnAPlane]

Congrats on turning 40, Erin! I love that the things you love all "go together" so well, color-wise. ;). I'm definitely using this recipe for a party soon - and margarita slushie. I think I just found my new favorite thing. Thanks for the post!

[Valerie]

Thanks for this recipe, Erin. I remembered that you had written about Margaritas some time ago when planning my 30th birthday we celebrated yesterday.

They were quite a hit, very strong and I am sure that I never had a hangover that bad ever. But that's what big partys are for, right. ;-)

Thanks a lot and Greetings from Germany,
Valerie

[Erin]

They are strong! Best to drink them with LOTS of ice. Happy belated birthday!

[Trudy]

Perfect!! Deck party next weekend!!

[Clair]

Amazing! I love it, Erin.