I love a good cocktail. However, when you live near certain areas (like NYC), going out and drinking anything but beer is potentially quite expensive. On the island of Manhattan, there are a number of establishments where the average cocktail will set you back nearly $20.

In my cheap mind, I can invest in a decent home bar for that price. So with a couple of investments and knowing a few good tips about home bartending, you can save yourself a bundle. A basic margarita recipe only requires that you know how to shake a drink. Now, this isn't a basic margarita recipe. This is a "Cadillac Margarita" or a "Top Shelf Margarita." In other words, there are certain higher-end substitutions made, to make this an upgrade from the original recipe.

What makes this recipe different?

A margarita is a simple cocktail using lime, tequila, and triple sec. A Cadillac Margarita elevates the original recipe and uses aged tequila like a reposado in place of silver tequila and Grand Marnier in place of the triple sec.

Who invented this drink?

Food history is always a bit fuzzy as to who gets the credit. However, the name is a reference to the car company when Cadillacs were top of the line and highly desirable to customers. Those old school Cadillacs stood out and everyone knew what it was. This cocktail stands apart from a standard margarita as the richly hued tequila and Grand Marnier makes it very clear that premium ingredients are at work here.

Watch me make this (34 Seconds)

Types of tequila

In order for Tequila to be called Tequila it must be made in the Jalisco region of Mexico. It must also be made from the blue agave plant. If you are in the US, it also needs to be at least 80 proof (or 40% alcohol). Now, some of us have had some bad tequila memories. A lot of cheap tequila is only 51% blue agave. The good stuff should be made from 100% agave. That should be clearly listed on the bottle as well.

When you go to the store to buy Tequila you might notice several different varieties of tequila. Most visibly, you'll notice the different colors of tequila. Each one of these has a more subtle nuanced characteristic to them.

Silver (blanco) Tequila- This tequila is clear and unaged. The flavor here is a bit more true to the flavor of agave from which it is distilled. Tequila that is aged is usually done so in a barrel leading to other flavors and nuances being present. Since this is not aged, it retains its clear and pure flavor.

Reposado- This tequila is a golden color since it is rested in barrels between 2-12 months. Oak barrels are commonly used to age tequila. Some tequilas even use used Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Casks, or other types of oak barrels to add more complex flavors like vanilla, oak, chocolate, coffee, and whiskey. You'll have to try different ones to find the nuances to these.

Joven (gold)- A mix of Blanco and Reposado tequilas. This mix might contain less than 100% blue agave and is a mixto. My advice: stick with 100% blue agave tequila. It makes a difference.

Anejo- Aged 1-3 years in a barrel. Way less agave and tastes more like the barrel it is aged in.

Extra Anejo- Aged 3 years or more.

Which tequila brand is best? The one that pleases your palate the most. Some liquor stores do occasionally have tastings and samplings.

What's the difference between curacao, triple sec, Grand Marnier, and Cointreau?

So all of the above are orange liqueurs. However, there are some differences between the orange liqueurs you might see on shelves.

Curacao-Originally made in the island that bears this products name. This is made from brandy and orange peels. Unlike Tequila, Champagne, and Bourbon, this does not have to be made on the island of Curacao. This is a clear liquid. Also, the blue drink is not a traditional curacao regardless of how fun it is to add to a drink.

Triple Sec-started off as a French product, however, it is more dry than a Curacao, thus the word "sec" in French. The triple part is just marketing as it does not have to be distilled three times to bear the name. This is also clear in color.

Grand Marnier & Cointreau- Grand Marnier is made from a blend of cognac and triple sec. It is an amber orange color. Cointreau was initially called "Cointreau Triple Sec", however in order to differentiate itself in the marketplace it dropped the Triple Sec from its name. Cointreau is clear.

Tips for making this

• Use quality 100% blue agave tequila. For this recipe, silver or reposado tequila work best as they have a more agave flavor.
• Use good quality ice. If your water tastes weird, it will taint the cocktail. Use bottled water to make ice or buy ice. This is a vastly undervalued item when it comes to making a great cocktail.
• Be sure that when you salt the rim, you avoid getting salt inside the glass. Otherwise, your drink will taste like the ocean.
• Avoid sweet/sour mixes and pre-made margarita mixes. Nothing can be more simple than freshly squeezed limes. Simple syrup is also easy enough to make.
• Don't use bottled lime juice. It completely throws off the balance of a good drink.
• When shaken, the shaker should feel ice-cold throughout. If it isn't cold, keep going. I've never had a great room temperature cocktail.
• Grand Marnier can be served as a separate shot or poured on top right before serving.
• This margarita will be a deeper color than a regular margarita due to the color variation in the ingredients.

Directions

Step 1: (optional) Using a lime wedge, rub the lime around the edge of the margarita glass. Then run the outside of the glass with coarse salt. If you want only the taste of salt but don't want those big chunks in your mouth consider using agave instead of the lime wedge. Set aside.

Step 2: Fill a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Add premium tequila, 1 ounce of Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and shake vigorously until the shaker feels very cold.

Step 3: Fill the glass that you rimmed earlier with good quality ice. Attach strainer and pour margarita into glass.

Step 4: Have a shot of Grand Marnier to enjoy as a shot with this drink or....

Step 4b: Pour a shot of Grand Marnier on top of the margarita on the rocks. You can also "float it" using a spoon. Or enjoy as a shot and serve Enjoy responsibly! If you float the Grand Marnier, it will eventually settle toward the bottom as it is denser than the rest of the drink.

I hope you enjoy this Cadillac Margarita!

Other Delicious Margarita Recipes on this Blog

Blood Orange Margarita

If you try this, would you mind hitting the "Rate" button? I'd love to know what you thought of it. If you modified the original recipe here, please let me know how it turned out. I love comments!

If you've tried this Cadillac Margarita or any other recipe on the blog, I'd love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.