A Rose Tinted Margarita for 2021 from Lanique
This year has not been without problems and while I suspect things might not have completely improved by the turn of the year, I’m optimistic that 2021 will bring better things. The Margarita is one of my favourite cocktails and having tasted a few cocktails with Lanique as a spritz and in a martini, I’ve now been experimenting with a Rose Margarita made with Lanique. I’m not a great fan of sweet cocktails and for me, the sweet intensity of Lanique works best when offset with lime or another citrus hit.
Lanique is a natural spirit which is made from Attar of Rose, a pure essence of rose that is made by distilling thousands of handpicked rose petals. It’s an ancient drink that has been made since 1785 and which has a truly intense rose scent. It was created in Prussia and was enjoyed across Prussia, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdome of the Two Sicilies. Intensely popular, it only disappeared during the Second World War, when the trade routes which supplied the fresh rose petals were blocked. It was rediscovered in the early 1990s and reborn, distilled in the UK in 2015.
As a cocktail ingredient, it adds natural, intense notes of rose and raspberry. You can enjoy it with tonic or lime juice, or make a fragrant Lanique rose spritz with champagne or sparkling wine. And, as I discovered, as part of a margarita it adds softness and depth without in any way diluting the intense perfection of a classic lime and tequila margarita.
I adapted the classic recipe provided by Lanique to my own taste. I discovered that a little more Lanique worked particularly well for me and, since I didn’t have agave syrup, I used my own simple syrup 1:1 adjusting the amount of syrup and lime juice accordingly. If you have a sweet tooth, just add a little more sugar syrup or agave – up to 20ml.
Here’s how to make MY perfect Lanique Rose Margarita
A classic margarita with Lanique spirit of rose
- 30 ml Fresh Lime Juice about 2 whole limes
- 20 ml Lanique
- 10 ml 1;1 simple syrup made with equal quantities of sugar and water, heated gently to dissolve the sugar then chilled
- 35 ml Tequila
- Ice
- 1 Lime wheel to garnish
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
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Add all the ingredients except the lime wheel
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Shake well
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Strain into a martini glass or coupe
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Garnish with the lime wheel
Lanique, Spirit of Rose (RRP £29.95) is available to purchase at select online retailers including Amazon, The Whisky
Exchange and Harvey Nichols, and is stocked at many bars and restaurants throughout the UK, Channel Islands,
Australia and South Africa.
For an alternative margarita, take a look at this recipe for a pomegranate margarita
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