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On the difference between the Mexican Martini and the Margarita

So I’ve been getting some good comments on the site redesign and a few are concerning the martini motif and my being in Texas. My response is that I drink Mexican Martinis and no, that’s not just a margarita in a martini glass. If it is, as I replied to Robbie, then you need to switch bars or educate the barkeep.

A Margarita is a great drink. I love them. They’re refreshing and light and tart. Tequila, triple-sec, lime juice. Blended with ice or poured over it, it’s a great hot weather drink. The Mexican Martini takes it a bit further. To the above, add orange juice and olive juice. Vary the olive juice to taste and substitute sweet & sour mix in place of lime juice and you’ve got my recipe. Want the proportions? Here ya go:

  • 3 shots Tequila
  • 2 shots sweet & sour mix
  • 1 shot Bouchant (Nice orange liquer. Less expensive than Cointreau and just as good. In a pinch, cheap triple-sec works.)
  • 1 shot orange juice (some pulp is nice)
  • 1 shot olive juice (You *must* use jalapeno stuffed olives. We’re talking Mexican, here.)

Add ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake to mix; strain into martini glass and top with jalapeno-stuffed olive on a plastic toothpick.

What you get is the more mature cousin of the margarita. Where the Margarita wants to flash her boobs and get on MTV’s Summer Beach House, the Mexican Martini knows the name of the best bartender in town, how to tip properly and the names of the best late-night dance clubs. True, the drink doesn’t have to be served in a shaker and a martini glass. It adds to the experience and visually distinguishes it further from a margarita. I think the wide mouth of the martini glass makes a big difference. The aroma of the drink comes out better in such a glass as the surface area of the drink is greater.

Now to have a minibar installed in the office…


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5 Responses to “On the difference between the Mexican Martini and the Margarita”

  1. Lush Says:
    December 5th, 2005 at 13:47 EST

    Mexican Martini? I like to keep things simple, a vodka martini made with Tito’s handmade vodka and some jalapeno stuffed olives. Ahhh yeah….

  2. MrsSwanky Says:
    December 5th, 2005 at 14:05 EST

    pulp is ickypoo!

  3. Lush Says:
    December 5th, 2005 at 14:10 EST

    “pulp is ickypoo” ????

  4. Robbie Says:
    December 5th, 2005 at 14:15 EST

    I still contend that the Mexican Martini is just a Margaritia in a Martini glass…albeit a very well made Margarita (not your run-of-the-mill bar rail tequila mixed haphazardly with some pre-made S&S mix).

    I bartended for about 5 years while I was in college, and ever place I bartended added orange juice to our margarita mix (most bars do, as orange juice is much cheaper than triple sec, and most customers don’t know the difference.

    In fact, the only difference in your Mexican Martini recipe and a well made Margarita is the dash of olive juice and the choice of garnish.

    I do perfer the slightly altered Mexican Martini to a standard margarita, though.

  5. Greg Says:
    December 6th, 2005 at 22:56 EST

    So, when does the bar open for business? Sounds like a good excuse for a Texas Blog Bash…

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