National Margarita Day is Saturday! Top 6 in Laguna are here!
(Hydrate today.)
Just when winter seems to be overstaying her welcome, we have the beaming, sunny National Margarita Day shine its light on us tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 22nd.
It’s a perfect time to present my updated “Top 6 Margaritas of Laguna Beach” list WITH a bonus this time around, too: a great margarita that comes to YOU!
Here’s how my search for the best margaritas in Laguna Beach began … For 16 years now, I’ve been polling my readers and faithfully donating my gall bladder to science in an effort to taste test their votes. One caveat: If I’ve missed your favorite margarita, please don’t hurl names at me when you see me in the Laguna Beach hood. I’ve discovered that margaritas are quite susceptible to individual taste.
#6 La Sirena Grill South: The Cadillac Margarita
La Sirena swears by its orange liqueur pick for the velvety, warm smoothness of this classic Caddy. They choose Gran Gala, a VSOP Italian brandy infused with three types of Sicilian oranges. Mixed with gold tequila, fresh lime juice and agave, it’s definitely a warm burn going down but in altogether pleasant kind of way.
#5 El Ranchito: Spicy Watermelon Margarita
Even longtime Avila bartender Josh has a hard time telling me which of their 15 or so margaritas are the best sellers. While his favorite is the Coconut Margarita, the “house” margarita - Corralejo Skinny - and the Spicy Watermelon Margarita are at the top of the list. I’ve tried both, and my vote lands in the spice aisle - the Spicy Watermelon with Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila, chunky and plentiful jalapeño slices, fresh squeezed watermelon juice and their inhouse skinny mix of agave, fresh lime juice and water. Rimmed in Tajin spice (dried chili peppers, lime and sea salt), it’s a smooth refresher with a bit of a mule kick on the back end.
Above is pictured in the schooner size with 2.5 ounces of the tequila. Their “regular” tall glass features 1.5 ounces.
#4 Carmelita’s: Spicy Jalapeno Margarita
At Carmelita’s, I stick with my Skinny Caddy (pictured right) because it’s never proven me wrong. In my radio show this past Monday, Chef Evan Lewis (Evan’s Gourmet) noted that her fave margarita in town was also Carmelita’s Skinny Caddy, so there you go.
When I’m out with my foodie friends, Terri and Greg, as I was earlier this week, they tend to opt for Carmelita’s spicy margarita, pictured on the left, with plenty of chunks and shakes of jalepeno.
BONUS ROUND: The Rasta Rita Margarita Truck That Actually Comes Around to You
Do you know that our very own Rasta Taco’s Mario (Maji) Melendez CREATED the first Margarita Truck in North America? He dreamed this thing up so that you can hire the entire truck – friendly bartender, tequilas, other cocktail liquors and fresh juices and mixers – for any party or event in your world … or just to park at your front door and wow the neighbors.
I know! I’m thinking what you’re thinking: This guy should be the Patriot’s Day Parade Grand Marshall every single year!
Melendez randomly came up with the idea one day while sitting at a coffee shop and overhearing a guy telling his buddy about his uncle’s broken down coffee truck. It was for sale on Ebay for $1,000. He turned around in his seat, offered to purchase it (sight unseen) and then flew to Sacramento to meet his treasure.
Mere months later – after significant more dollars invested in a complete interior, exterior and engine overhaul, the Rasta Rita Mobile Margarita Bar was born.
Melendez says the spur-of-the-moment decision to bring Rasta Rita into his world saved his entire company. Now, this girl, Rasta Rita, has an entire family of trucks. These rolling bars of tequila love (along with other cocktails like gin and vodka) are in BIG demand all over the state of California (and even Nevada).
In fact, now Rasta Taco food/catering trucks often follow right beside the Rasta Rita Mobile Margarita Bars because most people can’t imagine one without the other.
How smart is this guy? I’m all for supporting extra genius, so here’s a link to book your own event - and nope, not getting paid to ballyhoo this super-creative solution. But do tell “Maji” I sent you:
OK. Back to our margarita list!
#3 Coyote Grill: A Tie Between the House Skinny and the Cadillac Skinny
Pound for pound, I drink down more Coyote Grill margaritas than anywhere else in town simply because these friendly folks are a block from my home. That being said, when it comes to “house” margaritas, I don’t think anyone does a better royal treatment than Coyote Margarita (and it’s featured on their happy hour seven days a week, which makes you feel like royalty). Typically made with Milagro silver, triple sec, fresh lime juice and agave, it goes down easy.
My favorite, though, is the Coyote Skinny Cadillac, which brings the usual rich calorie count down by replacing the housemade sweet & sour with agave. They kindly go with your choice of tequila and still load on the Grand Marnier floater. It’s not too sweet and never gummy as so many Cadillacs can become.
#2 Starfish Laguna: The Lagniappe
For several years, the Starfish Lagniappe has reigned victorious at the top of the heap in my Top 5 list. The only reason it’s slid to the #2 pole position is the same reason why it’s been #1 all these years: The maker behind the margarita, Neil Skewes.
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool fan of bartender/mixologist Neil Skewes; his Starfish Lagniappe Margarita is just one of his unique craft cocktails that has helped define Starfish since its opening day, June 11, 2011. And the only reason our beloved Lagniappe has slipped just a tad bit is because … although every bartender at Starfish is well above par … I just can’t find anyone who makes the Lagniappe like Neil makes the Lagniappe. And Neil really only works a couple shifts a week these days. Don’t get me wrong - every bartender there makes it at about a “9.” Neil makes it at a “10.”
“Lagniappe” is defined as a bonus or extra gift and, though few can properly pronounce it, Neil knows what you mean when you say, “That Lanny-yappy drink, please.” This margarita drinks more like a mojito with Silver Tequila poured over a fresh muddle of mandarin orange, fresh mint, lime and a splash of soda, then shaken for that love connection. It is sheer awesomeness.
#1 Winner!
South of Nick’s: A Tie for the Skinniest and the Richest
For two years now, South of Nick’s Punta Nizuc has proven a solid contender in this Top 5 List. Priced at $35, it’s worth every gold galleon with the rare inclusion of clase azul reposado tequila shaken with fresh lime and organic agave nectar and topped with a hefty Grand Marnier float. Adorned with a candied orange slice and a chirpy mint sprig, it’s perfectly balanced and super velvety smooth.
But I’ve got to tell you … South of Nick’s has ALSO cornered the market on “skinny margaritas,” too, with its simple, no excuses, no fluff but somehow-really-stand-alone South of Nick’s Skinny. It’s created with Milagro blanco tequila, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. That’s it … pretty much what everyone else does out there, too. How … how … how does it taste a cut above? I have absolutely no idea. I shrug. The bartenders shrug.
Congratulations to South of Nick’s for doing the same thing right … that they really don’t know they’re doing. We’re not complaining. Everyone keeps ordering it. And everyone goes home happy.
Thanks for tuning in for yet another “Top 5 Margaritas List in Laguna Beach.” If you’re out and about on a Margarita Tour tomorrow - or any other day of the week - please take a designated driver, use our free Laguna Beach trolleys, or keep your Uber drivers employed.