Top Shelf Margarita Recipe

Name: Half Moon Bay Brewing Companys Top Shelf Margarita Recipe
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 7 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 oz Gran Centenario Reposado (or other reposado tequila); 0.75 oz Cointreau (or good quality triple sec); 1 oz Housemade sweet & sour; 0.5 oz Fresh lime juice; 0.25 oz Grand Marnier (for float); 0.25 oz Agave nectar or simple syrup (optional, adjust to taste); 6 to taste Ice (for shaking); 1 to taste Ice (for serving); 1 tsp Coarse salt or Tajín (for rim); 1 each Lime wedge (for rimming and garnish); 1 each Orange twist or wheel (optional garnish)

Inspired by Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

Time7m

Serves1

Gran Centenario Reposado, Housemade Sweet & Sour, Cointreau, and a Grand Mariner float

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Ingredients

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Cocktail

2 oz Gran Centenario Reposado (or other reposado tequila)

3/4 oz Cointreau (or good quality triple sec)

1 oz Housemade sweet & sour

1/2 oz Fresh lime juice

1/4 oz Grand Marnier (for float)

1/4 oz Agave nectar or simple syrup (optional, adjust to taste)

6 to taste Ice (for shaking)

1 to taste Ice (for serving)

Garnish & Glass Prep

1 tsp Coarse salt or Tajín (for rim)

1 each Lime wedge (for rimming and garnish)

1 each Orange twist or wheel (optional garnish)

Method

Garnish & Glass Prep

Rim the glass

Run a lime wedge around the outside rim of a rocks or coupe glass (depending on service style). Spread the coarse salt or Tajín on a small plate and dip the rim lightly to coat. Set the glass aside.

Prepare garnish

Cut an orange wheel or twist and reserve a lime wedge for garnish. Keep garnishes within easy reach.

Cocktail

Combine ingredients

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz Gran Centenario Reposado, 0.75 oz Cointreau, 1 oz housemade sweet & sour, and 0.5 oz fresh lime juice. If you prefer a slightly sweeter drink, add 0.25 oz agave nectar or simple syrup.

Add ice and shake

Fill the shaker with ice (enough to come about 3/4 full; roughly 6 large cubes). Seal and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until the shaker is cold to the touch and the exterior is frosty. This chills and dilutes the cocktail to proper balance.

Strain and serve

Place one large ice cube or fresh ice into the rimmed rocks glass. Double-strain (fine mesh strainer optional) the shaken cocktail into the prepared glass over the ice.

Float Grand Marnier

Using the back of a bar spoon, slowly pour 0.25 oz Grand Marnier over the spoon so it floats on top of the cocktail, creating an aromatic top layer.

Garnish and finish

Garnish with the lime wedge on the rim and an optional orange wheel or twist laid on the float. Serve immediately with a short straw or stirrer so the guest can incorporate the float if desired.