Although summer in the Northwest is brief, the days are blessedly long. The sun rises well before the alarm rings and sets deep into the night leaving time for an after dinner fire in the backyard pit and a cocktail or two before slumbering.
Since National Tequila Day is Friday we are counting down the last couple of days with the best tequila cocktails we can find. Our first cocktail of choice is the Mexican Martini, which is the feature of the newly opened authentic Tex-Mex cantina, El Original in New York City.
The Mexican Martini was born in the late 70’s when a bartender at Cedar Door Restaurant in Austin, was served a margarita in a martini glass on a trip to Mexico. She returned to Texas raving about the drink, and Cedar Door created its own version, adding in olives.
This delicious cocktail has since become a Tex-Mex staple and the signature drink of Austin. It comes in many forms: some bartenders are certain it should be served in a shaker, while others serve the drink as a classic martini, but with tequila instead of gin or vodka and at times adding olive brine or muddling olives and peppers.
Mexican Martini Developed by Garrett Flanagan for El Original
- 1.5 ounce Lime Juice
- 1.5 ounce Simple Syrup
- 3 ounce Tequila
- 0.5 ounce Olive Juice
Shake with ice, pour into martini glass, garnish with olives and enjoy!
Thank you El Original for the recipe!