Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix

Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix is a non-alcoholic, lime-forward cocktail base from Jalisco, Mexico, the home region of tequila. It is made to stand in for the lime juice, sweetener and orange-style liqueur you would otherwise measure out one by one. Because it contains no alcohol (0.0% ABV), the spirit is entirely your choice. The mix is a sweet-and-sour base, so expect a bright citrus tang up front and a rounded sweetness behind it, as you would in other bottled margarita mixes. The brand describes the balance as sweet and tangy. The standard build is a blanco tequila, mix, and ice. A common starting ratio is one part tequila to two parts mix. Taste it first and then adjust. If your tequila is a 100% agave blanco with some peppery bite, the sweetness of the mix tends to soften it nicely. If you find a bottled base a touch sweet, a squeeze of fresh lime wedge or a splash of extra lime juice brings back some acidity. Add the ice to a shaker with the tequila and mix, shake hard for about ten seconds so the drink chills and dilutes slightly, then strain. A reposado works well when you want a little vanilla and oak under the lime. For serving, a rocks glass or a stemmed margarita glass both suit the drink. Use a rocks glass over fresh ice for a slower-diluting pour, or serve it straight up in a chilled coupe or margarita glass. Rim the glass with coarse salt, or a half-salt, half-chile-lime blend, and run a lime wedge around the edge first so it sticks. For a frozen version, blend the mix and tequila with a generous amount of ice until smooth. Use more ice than you think you need, because it melts quickly. The same base also works as a batch pitcher drink, since it keeps its flavor when it is chilled ahead of time and poured over ice at the table. The mix also works without tequila. Served over ice with a salted rim, it makes a lime-citrus drink for those not drinking alcohol. It can also go into a mezcal margarita, where the smoke stands out against the sweetness. On the food side, expect it to suit dishes where a sweet-sour drink helps: tacos al pastor, grilled shrimp, fish tacos, carnitas, guacamole with tortilla chips, and anything with chile heat. Keep the bottle refrigerated after opening, and shake it before pouring.