Mexican Martini Cocktail Recipe

I love a proper margarita but living in the Pacific Northwest initially soured the drink for me. Firstly, being so far from the Mexican border, it’s dreadfully difficult to get a premium tequila without paying top shelf prices. Secondly, the rainbow spectrum of bastardized margaritas is still prominent in many restaurants – primarily the faux-chic chains that cannot escape the Appletini era.

Before my first proper Margarita, I’ve only known it as the “slurpee of cocktails” with rotating daily flavours. Fortunately, my travel experiences has awakened me from my rancor towards the syrup-laden concoctions.

Fast forward a few more years when I was introduced to my first Mexican Martini in Austin, Texas. This cocktail was brought to my attention as a challenge. I was told that a popular Tex Mex joint called Trudy‘s serves up this signature drink in a full cocktail shaker. Guests are limited to two per visit because of its potency. Without a clue of what this elusive potion was, I naturally ordered one. Sure enough, the server brought a shaker to the table and poured me my first glass. I fell in love.

It is, by no means, a craft drink. I was drawn to it because it’s a hybrid of the Margarita and another drink I’m shy to order at times: the Dirty Martini. The Mexican Martini is essentially a tart and briny “Dirty Margarita” that’s tied together with a skewer of olives.

My only critique is after having two shakers at Trudy‘s, I was still very much sober and proceeded to finish my friends’ – true story.

In celebration of National Margarita Day, let’s switch it up and give the Mexican Martini a shake. Here’s a recipe that I adapted from Joe Bartender.

Mexican Martini Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 oz. of Tequila
• 1 1/2 oz. of Triple Sec
• 1 1/2 oz. of lime juice
• 1 oz. of orange juice
• splash of club soda (or tonic if you prefer it sweeter)
• good olives plus a splash of its brine
• coarse salt to rim the glass
• sprinkle of chili powder
• wedges of lime

Directions

• Swipe a wedge of lime along the edge of a large martini glass. Press the rim into a mixture of salt and chili powder.
• Shake up the rest of the ingredients in a shaker full of ice. Strain and serve in the rimmed glass.
• Garnish with a wedge of lime and a skewer of olives.

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