Summer is in full swing, and I don’t know what feels more appropriate than a fresh cold margarita enjoyed on the patio. Though summer entertaining can get hectic, I promise that you’ll appreciate making a margarita with fresh citrus versus a mix and it won’t take you more time or effort. With a few spirits in your bar and fresh limes and simple syrup in your fridge, you’ll be set. For this post, I’m partnering with the folks at Jim Beam and Drizly to share the making of the refreshing Sauza® Classic Margarita.

Tequila was a spirit I struggled to enjoy at first and am still a bit picky with. However, I was pleased to find that Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila was both affordable and mixed smoothly with palatable flavor. I added DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur for the orange component and appreciated that it didn’t include high fructose corn syrup or artificial color or flavor while not breaking the bank.

Instead of adding agave for more sweetness, I made a simple syrup from organic cane sugar. While white granulated sugar will do the trick, using a sugar that’s less refined will give you a richer flavor. You could play around with this recipe and try something like demerara sugar if you’d like a more molasses-forward sweetness.

As I mentioned in the beginning, perhaps the most important ingredient in a good margarita is fresh citrus. Get your limes in bulk - they’ll easily keep in the fridge for several weeks and supply you with bright and flavorful cocktails. You can squeeze them by hand, with a manual tool (easily found online, at any kitchen store or even your local grocery store) or an electric tool if you’re making up a pitcher.

I used pink Himalayan salt and edible marigold flowers for my garnish. the Himalayan salt has a milder flavor that doesn’t take away from the cocktail, and the marigolds added a beautiful pop of color. Get the perfect salted rim by cutting a small slit in a wedge of lime and wiping it around the rim of your glass. Then, dip the glass in salt which you’ve spread in a circle roughly the diameter of your glass rim. It’s ok to dip the glass several times if some sections didn’t stick the first time.

If you’re not growing marigolds in your garden, Whole Foods often has packages of edible flavors in the herb section.

Classic Margarita

1 ½ oz Sauza® Signature Blue Silver Tequila
½ oz DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur
1 oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup

Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain over ice into a margarita glass. Garnish with edible flowers or a lime wedge and serve. Salt is optional.

Thanks to Belen Aquino for the stunning cocktail photography. This post is sponsored by Jim Beam in collaboration with Drizly.