Margaritas for me were crazy slushy blender drinks that you got a Earls on Monday nights because they were cheap. They weren't really a serious cocktail. But then a couple of years ago, a friend of mine ordered a margarita in a bar. I was getting ready to make fun of him for ordering what I thought was the equivalent of a slurpee with tequila when the waitress brought the drink in a short glass, with just a couple of ice cubes. It was a bit of a revelation to me and on hot summer days I've been drinking them ever since.

It has been a terrible summer in Ottawa. Lots of rain. Vancouver-like, only normally July and August in Vancouver there is less rain. But the last few weeks have been great and so I've been drinking summer drinks. I've started making my own margaritas at home. This summer is has been good tequila, triple sec and limes. You can substitute the triple sec with Cointreau or Grand Marnier, both make an even better margarita than the triple sec, but I was working with what I had. To make up for my use of triple sec though I've taken to adding just a tiny bit of orange juice. It mellows out the sourness of the limes just a little. And of course I'm using excellent tequila. I think it makes all the difference.

For one drink:

Two ounces good tequila

One ounce triple sec 

Juice of one lime

Half an ounce of orange juice

Take all the ingredients and put in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour all of it into a short glass.