As much as I hate to think about it, summer is coming to an end. With that in mind, a drink recipe reminiscent of beautiful pink summer sunsets seems appropriate. This one is a riff on a margarita. It uses the typical margarita ingredients of tequila and triple sec, but instead of lime juice, the recipe uses pink lemonade. Naturally, the pink lemonade gives the cocktail its sunset hue.
I never gave much thought to pink lemonade before making this recipe. We drink gallons of lemonade every summer, mixing together lemon juice, sugar and water. But what exactly is pink lemonade & how is it different from regular lemonade? While most pink lemonade mixes and drinks are colored, slightly sweeter versions of typical lemonade, there really are pink lemons!
The pink lemon was a spontaneous mutation on a Eureka lemon tree in California, circa 1930. Pink lemons have variegated yellow and green striped skin, with their name being derived from the pinky flesh within. They are less tart than regular lemons with more of a fruity, floral flavor. Alas, the juice from pink lemons is clear, not pink, hence the addition of food coloring in those drink and mixes. Peak season for pink lemons is fall through early spring, making it the perfect drink & cocktail for this time of year!
Señorita Sunset Cocktail
Sunset Margarita Cocktail (adapted from delish.com)
Makes 2 drinks
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pink lemonade
- 1/4 cup triple sec
- 1/4 cup tequila
- Lemon Slices, for garnish
- Lemon wedge, for rimming glasses
- Coarse salt, for rimming glasses
Directions:
Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of the glasses, then dip the rims in salt, if desired.
Half fill each glass with ice. In a two cup measuring glass, add the pink lemonade, triple sec, and tequila. Stir to combine. Pour the cocktail into the prepared glasses.
Mix the ingredients together.
Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and serve immediately.
Rim the glasses with salt before serving, if desired.
Raise a glass to the beautiful colors of summer sunsets! ~Linda
Sunset Margarita Cocktail (adapted from delish.com) Makes 2 drinks
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pink lemonade
- 1/4 cup triple sec
- 1/4 cup tequila
- Lemon Slices, for garnish
- Lemon wedge, for rimming glasses
- Coarse salt, for rimming glasses
Directions:
Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of the glasses, then dip the rims in salt, if desired.
Half fill each glass with ice. In a two cup measuring glass, add the pink lemonade, triple sec, and tequila. Stir to combine. Pour the cocktail into the prepared glasses.
Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and serve immediately.