| HOLIDAY TIPS |

BY MELISSA DOWLING

Looking to spice up your Cinco de Mayo celebration ? Try infusing your tequila with a unique flavor to make some killer Margaritas .

Cibolo Moon , a Tex-Mex restaurant and tequila bar at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in Texas , makes a fan-favorite Jalapeño Strawberry Margarita with a house-made jalapeño- and strawberry-infused tequila . The bar ’ s mixologists share their secrets for the perfect infusion .

First , you ’ ll want to choose your tequila and flavors . Cibolo Moon recommends a 100 % blue agave silver or blanco tequila . Blanco tequilas work best because they are unaged , so they ’ re the freshest and can take on the most flavor .

What to infuse it with ? Herbs , spices and fruits are most commonly used for spirit infusions . For best results , use fresh ingredients only .

Now it ’ s time to prepare the ingredients . For strawberries and citrus fruit , wash and slice thinly . For peppers , score and leave whole or cut in half . Leave the seeds in for a spicy kick , or remove them for less heat .

Choose a clean , airtight jar ; quart-sized mason jars work well . Wash the ingredients , place them inside the jar and fill it with tequila . Shake a few times and cover tightly with a lid .

You ’ ll want to store your infusion in a cool , dark place and shake it a few times a day for the duration of the infusion . On average , the ingredients should stay in the tequila for three to five days .

Some of your more intense flavors will need just three days ; less intense flavors should stay in the jar for a full week or more . You should do a taste test every few days to see if the flavors are sufficient .

When the infused tequila is ready , fire up the Margaritas ! Here ’ s Cibolo Moon ’ s standard recipe to give your infusion a try .

1 ½ oz . Infused tequila 1 oz . Lime juice 1 oz . Agave ½ oz . Cointreau

Combine ingredients and shake . Pour with a strainer in a Margarita glass with fresh ice . If desired , first rim the glass with a wedge of lime and dip into chili salt .

Did you know that Dallas was the official home of the frozen Margarita ? According to VisitDallas , the city ’ s official destination marketing organization , Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez invented the frozen Margarita machine in 1971 . The original machine now sits in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History next to Julia Child ’ s kitchen . What inspired Mariano to invent one of the city ’ s most innovative contributions to American culture , and an easy way to render a frosty version of the popular cocktail ? He says that he “ just wanted to keep the doors of my restaurant open and my patrons and employees happy ,” VisitDallas reports .

Mariano ’ s invention in turn inspired VisitDallas to launch the Margarita Mile experience and app in 2018 . The Margarita Mile is a self-guided tour through Dallas ’ distinct neighborhoods to sample its best and brightest Margaritas . As participants visit restaurants and check in on the app along the way , they earn points towards prizes .

8 | SUMMER 2021 • CHEERS @ HOME WWW . CHEERSONLINEATHOME . COM