Jose Cuervo Mango Margarita

Jose Cuervo's Mango Margarita is a ready-to-drink bottled cocktail built on the classic margarita template of tequila, citrus and sweetener, with mango as the dominant fruit. The bottle gives no ABV, tequila type or tasting notes here, so what follows is what products in this style usually deliver. Expect ripe, sweet mango on the nose and palate, a tart lime or lemon edge that keeps it from turning syrupy, and a faint agave or tequila backbone underneath. Pre-mixed margaritas tend to run sweeter and softer than a hand-shaken one, and the mango usually leads while the spirit stays in the background. Serve it cold. Chill the bottle for a few hours before opening, then shake or turn it gently to recombine anything that has settled. Pour it over a full glass of ice, since a lot of cold ice melts slowly and holds the sweetness in check. Blending it with ice makes a frozen mango margarita, and the fruit flavor stands up well to the dilution. Serving it neat or warm isn't recommended, because the sugar becomes heavy and the citrus goes flat. For glassware, a rocks glass or stemmed margarita glass works well. A tall glass suits a longer drink. A rim of coarse salt or a chili-lime seasoning such as Tajín is the easiest improvement. It adds the salty or spicy contrast that a sweet mango base lacks. Wedges of lime on the rim or a few slices of fresh mango work as garnish. You can also adjust the drink. A squeeze of fresh lime brightens a bottle that tastes too sweet. A splash of blanco tequila gives it more bite, and a little sparkling water or lime soda lightens it into a spritz. For food, it suits the dishes margaritas normally go with: tacos al pastor, fish tacos, grilled shrimp, guacamole and chips, ceviche, and spicy chicken wings. The fruit and acidity offset heat and fried or salty food better than they do rich, creamy dishes.