The Toreador
The Toreador actually predates the more widely known Margarita- it first appeared in the Café Royale Cocktail Book in 1937, when tequila was relatively unheard of outside of Mexico.
Honestly, find it an easier introduction to tequila than the punchy Margarita as it is smoother and fruitier, but definitely packs enough agave punch to satisfy ardent Margarita drinkers looking to mix things up!
Ingredients
40ml (1 & 1/3oz) blanco tequila
20ml (2/3 oz) apricot brandy
20ml (2/3oz) fresh lime juice
1 dash Mr Bitters fig and cinnamon bitters (or Angostura works just as well!)
5ml (1/6oz) sugar syrup (to balance depending on your brand of apricot brandy)
Good quality ice
Equipment
A coupe
A jigger
Shaker tins
A hawthorn strainer
A fine strainer
Method
Add all of the ingredients to your shaker tin. Fill shaker tin full with ice. Combine tins and shake hard until the tins become frosted.
Open tins and double strain (use the hawthorn strainer to hold the ice back in the tin and pour through the fine strainer) into a chilled coupe.
No garnish necessary, just enjoy!
Suggested Spirits
As always, make sure you’re using 100% agave tequila, and preferably one which is ethically produced. We’ve used Arette here but also find it hard to go past Calle 23 for the price point.
Marionette Apricot Brandy is made with local apricots and has a really lush, spiced fruit flavour that we love. It does finish a little drier. Otherwise Massanez and Cartron both make good quality ones.
We’ve used local Mr Bitters Fig and Cinnamon bitters which complement the spice and fruit in this drink, but your classic Angostura works as well.
