Margarita

Steps

1. 1

   Pour a layer of coarse salt into a shallow dish or saucer. Take a lime wedge and run it around the outer rim of your chilled glass to wet it, then dip the rim into the salt, rotating until coated. Set the glass aside.

   

   !Getting salt inside the glass, which makes the drink too salty as you sip.

2. 2

   Measure out 50ml of blanco tequila, 25ml of orange liqueur, and 25ml of fresh lime juice using your jigger. Pour all three into your cocktail shaker.

   

   !Using bottled lime juice, which tastes flat and metallic compared to fresh.

3. 3

   Fill the shaker about three-quarters full with ice cubes, making sure the ice comes up above the liquid. Seal the shaker tightly with its lid.

   

   !Underfilling with ice, which leads to a watery drink instead of a quick, hard chill.

4. 4

   Shake the shaker vigorously for about 10 to 12 seconds until the outside of the metal tin is frosty and almost too cold to hold. This chills the drink and creates a nice frothy top.

   ~12s

   

   !Shaking too gently, which leaves the drink warm and doesn't aerate the citrus.

5. 5

   Pop the lid off the shaker and fit a Hawthorne strainer securely over the tin. Pour the drink through the strainer into your prepared, salt-rimmed glass. If you want it on the rocks, fill the glass with fresh ice first.

   

   !Pouring too fast and spilling over the salt rim.

6. 6

   Take a lime wheel and slice a small cut into the center so it can sit on the rim of the glass. Drop it onto the rim and serve immediately while it's ice cold.