Mmmmm

Anne's margarita recipe might just be the best one I've tasted. It's classy. It's a margarita that belongs in a sophisticated bar, not some almost-gooey mess in a pitcher that you swill with Mexican food that's just a notch above Taco Bell. Case closed.

Moving on to the martini — I've never been a gin fan, so usually I opt for a vodka martini, which some people say is not even actually a martini. In the spirit of experimentation, though, I mixed up one of each, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the gin. (I used Tanqueray - would that make a difference?)

So I'm sticking with that for now. Tanqueray, vermouth, an olive, and a splash of olive juice — because martinis, like life, are best when a little dirty.

Margarita
Manly or girly? Girly enough that a guy needs to be with a gal, and they order them together.
Appearance: Light green
Consistency: A little syrupy
Taste: Lemon lime tequila yes!
Good drink for: Afternoons on the patio
Stomach acceptance: Bueno
Hangover factor: High
Would I actually order this in public? Under the proper circumstances

Martini
Manly or girly? Studly
Appearance: Clear, or slightly muddied by olive juice
Consistency: Liquid
Taste: Straight vodka or gin, with the edge slightly taken off
Good drink for: Bribing Mayor Oscar Goodman
Stomach acceptance: Ja
Hangover factor: Hangover? A few of these and I'm still drunk the next morning
Would I actually order this in public? Absolutely

Margaritas

I've been around them long before they were popular. My mother was a fan of the Margarita. She would often scoff at other people's Margaritas, "Hmm, tastes like zomeone zimply vaved zee teKEEla bottle in front ov zee blendar," while serving up concoctions that would ooze tequila out of your pores a day after consumption. There has to be a happy medium, and I think this recipe is it. I found it good enough to serve to others.

Certainly, you can taste the tequila, but it's a nice taste (so long as you have good tequila). The alcohol cuts the sweet and sour so that the mixture does not in any way resemble a thickened lemonade as so many Margaritas have become.

Prostole!

Here's What You Need to Make a Margarita:

• 1 oz tequila
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 3 oz sweet and sour
• 1/2 lime
• ice
• shaker
• glass with salt on the rim

Here's How Anne Made the Margarita:
Mix in the shaker, pour in the glass. I skipped the salted rim. I mean, I get it, and it's not bad, but I'd be wasting a lot of salt, really.

Manly or Girly? Girly. Girly name. Consumed by the pitcher by girly types. Guys can drink them, too, but never when on the prowl to meet new women
Appearance: Pale yellow
Consistency: Liquid
Taste: Slightly sour, tequila, sweet, tequila, sour
Stomach acceptance: Slight acidity, but mostly good.
Good drink for: Gaggles of women folk giggling about menfolk before the taco and enchilada platters arrive. Ever notice anyone order a margarita at a bar not attached to a restaurant? I didn't think so
Hangover factor: Si
Would I actually order this in public? With dinner, sure

Next Assignment: Martini

Homework:

• ice
• shaker
• 2 oz gin
• 1/2 to 1 oz dry vermouth
• olive garnish