I tried infused tequilas for the very first time when Charlotte and I were down at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa a few weeks ago. I have to tell you boomers, I fell HARD for these wonderful concoctions.
After dinner at its Cibolo Moon restaurant, our server Lauren brought us a tequila "sampler" containing three infused tequilas - strawberry/jalapeno, lemon/basil and mojito.
They were all good, but the easy standout was the strawberry/jalapeno. This bad-boy drink was like a jalapeno punched me in the face, then felt bad about it and asked his strawberry girlfriend to kiss me on the mouth. It's hard to forget something like that. And I didn't.
That's why I asked the kind folks at the JW Marriott to pulleeese share their recipe, so I could share it with our reader millions of fans. They were happy to oblige.
The video 'splains it all to you (and comes complete with sound effects and my first taste ever of my own strawberry/jalapeno infused tequila - funny stuff). For those of you who aren't fans of my work in blogger cinema, feel free to jump past the video and print out the recipe below.
You're gonna thank me for this one. Trust me.
Simple Steps for Infusing Tequila at Home
1. Choose your Tequila and Flavors
Use 100% Blue Agave silver or blanco tequila. Blanco tequilas work best because they can take on the most flavor. Herbs, spices and fruits are most commonly used for infusions. For best results, use fresh ingredients only.
2. Prepare the Ingredients
Choose a clean, air-tight jar: quart-sized mason jars work well. Wash the ingredients, place them inside the jar and fill it with tequila. Shake a few times and cover tightly with a lid. Popular ingredient preparation tips: Berries - wash and leave whole, but score the skins on harder berries. Pineapple, Mango and similar fruit - wash and cut into chunks. Strawberries and Citrus fruit - wash and slice thinly or use zests of lemons and oranges. Vanilla Beans - wash and cut lengthwise. Herbs - wash and use whole, stems and all. Peppers - score and leave whole or cut in half. Leave the seeds in for a spicy kick, or remove them for less spice.
Store this bad-boy concoction in a cool, dark place for 3-5 days.
3. Infusion Time
You will want to store your infusion in a cool, dark place and shake it a few times a day for the duration of the infusion. On average, the ingredients should stay in the tequila for 3-5 days. Some of your more intense flavors will only need 3 days, less intense flavors should stay in the jar for a full week or more. You should do a taste test every few days to see if the flavors are sufficient.
4. Enjoy!
Once your infusion has reached its peak in flavor, you'll need to take the flavoring ingredients out of the jar. Use a fine strainer, cheesecloth or paper coffee filter to strain the tequila into another clean jar or bowl. Enjoy on the rocks, or come up with creative cocktail ideas.
The Boomer Brief Super Spicy Strawberry Margarita
Yield: Makes 4
Ingredients
* 1 cup frozen whole strawberries
* 6 tablespoons (3 oz) infused strawberry/jalapeno tequila
* 1/4 cup frozen limeade concentrate
* 2 tablespoons (1 oz) triple sec (Cointreau)
* 2 cups crushed ice
Directions
Place four, 8-ounce glasses in freezer. Place strawberries, tequila, limeade concentrate and triple sec in the jar of a blender. Blend until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add ice and blend until liquid is smooth. Serve immediately in chilled glasses.
Happy Cinco de Mayo everybody!
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
Follow us on Twitter: @BoomerBrief
and @CharlotteBoomer
Know someone battling cancer? Baylor Health Care System's Sammons Says... cancer blog is a great place to go for help. Here, you'll find information, resources, physicians, support groups and just about everything you need to help you navigate your way through this illness.
Senior Forums is a great place to get the news and share views on everything from hobbies and healthcare, to food, family & travel.
Matt Drudge gets the goods and his site ain't bad either.
You don't have to live in Dallas to enjoy D Magazine.
