Pouring Bordeaux under the table while the rest of the family drinks Manischewitz at Passover. My dad serving an excessive amount of Champagne on New Years Day when everyone is clearly hungover. Bringing a bottle of Rioja to almost every party for the last 35 years. Sure, my family has some pretty great drinking traditions, but none as remarkable as the Margarita. Today is Cinco de Mayo and I'm sure it is one of the biggest margarita days of the year. I'll bet my parents are even mixing up a batch in Chicago as we speak. However, what about Easter, Thanksgiving, Three Kings day, Father's day, Earth day, Fourth of July, or Martin Luther King's birthday? Yep, my parents just arrived with a bottle of Marques de Riscal Rioja, and a gallon of margaritas.
If you have ever been to one of my Chicago backyard BBQ's then you've had the pleasure of trying a Narea family margarita. And as I mentioned above, yes, they're made by the gallon. We all love the art of the bartender and watching them craft a beautiful cocktail in a shaker, but these are margaritas! It's time to party, catch up with friends and get right into the drinks. No fancy pitcher or punch bowl for these libations. They arrive in the same gallon water jug where they were made just a few hours ago. You're telling me that you're not getting excited right now picturing someone showing up to your BBQ with a few gallon jugs of margaritas? That guy over there in the tank top with a case of Bud Light on his shoulder just cringed a little.
A gallon of martinis, nope. A gallon of old fashioned, I don't think so. But a gallon of margaritas, now we're talking! If everyone wasn't already hanging around the cooler before... better make some room! It's hard to claim that one cocktail is more social than another, but I say that a jug of margs might be the winner. People rushing over from all corners of the yard to see what the fuss is about, and lets just hope there are enough cups. Couldn't decide between the Corona or the Goose Island? Don't worry, decision has been made for you and now everyone at the party is raising a plastic red cup of this Mexican favourite. Not too strong to knock you off your feet, but just enough of a refreshing kick to make you feel good and remind you that summer has finally arrived. You might want to even have a second jug on hand, few people just have one.
I can still remember the first time my younger brother was allowed to mix the ingredients. Let's just say that he was a little heavy handed with the triple sec and that was a Memorial Day that nobody will ever forget. Family and friends flew in from all over for my 30th and my grandfather's 90th birthdays and sure enough, the water jugs made an appearance. Our wedding weekend was even kicked off with margaritas on the shores of Lake Michigan in Door County. These drinks have been at every major milestone and family get-together so of course they would be there at one of the biggest events in my life. These margaritas are as much about meeting new people as they are about family traditions and the excitement of getting everyone together.
I used to keep the recipe a secret. I thought that if only I knew the proportions then maybe I would be able to unlock the magic of summer any time that I wanted. But that's not really what this cocktail is all about. We're talking about a gallon of tasty tequila that's meant to be shared with as many people as possible. Are they the world's greatest margarita? I don't know. I've tasted quite a few from all over the globe and I'd still say that these are pretty delicious. If they were made one at a time would they still get the same reaction? I don't know, and to be honest, I've never tried. Summer is too short and there is already a lineup of cups eagerly anticipating our signature cocktail. So try it at your next party. I'll even let you call it your own. Just be ready to make a few new friends and always save a cup for yourself.
The Narea Family Margarita
1 gallon jug of water, emptied and water reserved
1 bottle (750 mL) Tequila - Try Milagro Silver
1/2 bottle (375 mL) Triple Sec or Cointreau
2 frozen cylinders or Limeade concentrate
1 egg white
Pour all ingredients in emptied gallon jug. Fill the rest of the way to the top with water. Leave in freezer for a few hours before party. Serve over ice with a lime wedge (if they aren't astronomically expensive). Enjoy!
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