When the calendar flips to winter, it’s time to welcome in citrus season and all those bright colors. From pink and ruby red grapefruits to, well, orange oranges, these fruits taste like heaven when they’re at their peak. I almost welcome a tangelo for dessert over a piece of chocolate. That’s right, I said it!
One of my favorite citrus fruits are HoneyBells, which are great for using in a margarita. The fresh sweet juice complements the smooth tequila and tart lime. While HoneyBells work great in this cocktail, they’re only around for a short time each year, so when they’re not available, you can substitute Cara Cara or Navel oranges. No harm done, no laws broken.
To make this orange margarita even more irresistible, I like to add a touch of orange liqueur and simple syrup, and salt the rim for contrast. Make it on the rocks or add it to a blender with a bit of ice for a frosty margarita slush.
HoneyBell Orange Margarita
Ingredients:
- Coarse salt ( for the rim)
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ½ ounces simple syrup
- Orange wedges (for garnish)
- Lime wedges (for garnish)
For simple syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
Instructions:
- Rim the edge of your glass with a lime wedge and dip in coarse salt.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine orange juice, tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and 3/4 ounce simple syrup with ice, and shake for about 30 seconds. Pour over ice, and squeeze in lime and add HoneyBell slices.
For simple syrup
- Combine equal parts sugar and water, bring to a boil, and let sugar dissolve. Then, turn off heat and let cool completely.
Notes:
