Platinum Grand Margarita

The Platinum Grand Margarita is the top-shelf margarita turned up past eleven. Instead of a single orange liqueur it uses three, triple sec, Cointreau and Grand Marnier, plus a quarter ounce of Irish Mist, the honeyed Irish whiskey liqueur, for good measure. Jose Cuervo 1800 tequila carries the base, and fresh lime and margarita mix round it out in a salt-rimmed glass.

On paper, stacking three orange liqueurs looks redundant, since Cointreau is itself a triple sec. In the glass, each brings something a little different. Triple sec adds plain sweetness, Cointreau a cleaner, sharper orange, and Grand Marnier a cognac richness that pushes the drink toward the luxe end, which is likely where the Grand in the name comes from. The Irish Mist is the wild card, slipping in a soft note of honey and herbs. 1800 is a smooth, approachable tequila, and its gentle agave flavor gives all that orange room to show. The older version of this recipe stopped after salting the glass and pouring in the lime, and listed a beer mug as the glass, so we have filled in the shake and served it in a margarita glass.

Glass: Margarita glass | Strength: Medium | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 5 minutes

Bartenders tip: Margarita mix is the weak link here. If you have a few extra minutes, swap it for an ounce and a half of fresh lime juice and three quarters of an ounce of agave syrup, and the liqueurs will taste a lot more like themselves. Salt only the outside of the rim so it does not fall into the drink. If you cannot find Irish Mist, a small splash of Drambuie or another honey liqueur gives a similar effect.