Simon Haslam
Sure, Christmas is coming, but before that is a generous round of pre-Christmas drinks and the chilled-out vibe of time spent on the deck at home with friends just enjoying life. The summer season isn’t endless, though, and I’ve found that one of the keys to making the most of spontaneous opportunities is to be prepared – stock up now with some essentials that will make it easy when you just feel like having fun.
Cocktails create vacation vibes whenever ordered, and margaritas are arguably the go-to cocktail regardless of the occasion. There are a lot of different recipes for the margarita, mostly comprising of tequila, triple sec and lime, or tequila, Cointreau and lemon combos. Many people add agave syrup if they can get it, or sugar syrup if they can’t.
And, of course, there’s more than one type of tequila to use. Normally a blanco or silver tequila is recommended for margarita – its young, strong flavour mixes well, according to some, although personally I think it’s good to pick a quality brand to avoid a harsh taste. A reposado, normally more golden in colour, can be a bit heavier with flavour, whilst a mezcal can appeal to a bolder palate. Once you’ve chosen your tequila, syrups, triple sec and/or Cointreau you need to ensure you get your quantities right. One thing that’s not easy to keep a good supply up for is fresh limes, and one thing that is easy to make is a limy juice mess, making you wish that you had a supply of cocktail mixer handy.
Beck and Steve started LISTO to fill a hole in the market for authentic, preservative free, cocktail mixers. Their Tommy’s Margarita Mix is the first in a series of ‘easy as’ cocktail mixes for venues, picnic dates, events and Sunday afternoon revellers.
Crafted by long time margarita shakers and drinkers, LISTO provides a consistent bar-quality Tommy’s Margarita at home… just add tequila in an easy-as ratio of 1:1. This authentic mix uses nothing but Australian lime juice, organic Mexican agave nectar and purified water, shaken on ice for maximum enjoyment.
Dan, based in Mullumbimby, is managing and supplying all venues throughout the Northern Rivers. Get lucky and catch him on the weekends, looking good, LISTO in hand, or get in contact during the week for wholesale supply.
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