The Hennessy Margarita has been around since 1936 when it was made by Harry Craddock at the Savoy Hotel in London.
It’s now one of the most famous cocktails in the world and has become synonymous with Mexico.
What Is A Hennessy Margarita?
The name ‘Hennessy’ comes from an Irish distillery founded in 1715.
The brand began life as a single malt whisky but quickly expanded into other spirits including gin and even liqueurs like Fernet Branca.
In recent years, the company has also released its own brand of tequila – which they call Reposado.
In fact, Hennessy owns three different brands of tequila: Tequila Herradura (a silver aged 100% agave), Reposado (aged 12 to 18 months) and Don Julio Añejo Blanco (the youngest).
All are available worldwide except Japan where only Don Julio is available.
To create the Hennessy Margarita, bartenders use reposado tequila instead of blanco or silver aged tequilas because their flavor profile is more similar to that of the fresh lime juice used in this particular cocktail.
This makes the resulting drink less sweet than if you were using another type of tequila.
So what exactly does a good Hennessy Margarita taste like? Well, let’s find out!
How Do You Make A Hennessy Margarita?
To start off, we need to talk about what exactly a hennessy margarita is.
The first thing to note is that the original recipe calls for Cointreau, but this isn’t always available in bars or restaurants so many recipes use triple sec instead.
There’s also no real standard way to add salt to your margaritas — some people like their margaritas very salty while others prefer them less salted.
Finally, there’s no single agreed upon method for making an actual margarita either.
So how does all of this affect your ability to recreate a perfect margarita?
Well, if you’ve ever had a good margarita then you know that they’re not really just regular drinks.
They’re complex concoctions that require careful preparation and balance between different flavors.
That said, here are three things that will help ensure success with any margarita recipe (but especially the Hennessy).
- Choose a high quality tequila. This might seem obvious, but even the best brands can come up short when compared against something like Patron Silver Tequila. If you want to get fancy you could opt for one of the better agave based tequilas from Jalisco such as El Jimador Blanco which is aged for six months before being distilled. Or you can go the more traditional route and choose a brand like Patrón Especial. Either way, these are going to be the best options out there.
- Use fresh limes over bottled stuff. You don’t have to spend much money to buy a bunch of limes every time you want to make a margarita. Just slice down the middle of each fruit and squeeze its juice into whatever vessel you plan to serve them in. Fresh squeezed lime juice is far superior to anything you’ll find in a bottle.
- Don’t skimp on the sugar. Even though you may think you won’t need it, adding too little sugar to your margarita can actually lead to a bitter aftertaste. While the amount varies depending on which type of tequila you’re using, generally speaking 2-3 teaspoons per serving should suffice.
What Are The Ingredients In A Hennessy Margarita?
A good quality tequila is key to making this cocktail so look out for brands like Cuervo or Herradura Tequilas which will have notes of agave that give the spirit its distinctive flavor.
The second ingredient is Cointreau, an orange liqueur usually used as part of mixed drinks but can be used alone too – just add more lime juice!
Finally, there’s the brandy, typically Cognac, and fresh squeezed lime juice.
So, what else does a good hennessy margarita need?
- Freshly muddled mint leaves
- Lime wedges (no salt)
- Ice cubes
- Cognac
- Club soda
- Limes
This recipe makes enough for two people, although if you want to serve them individually then simply halve everything except the club soda. You could also use triple sec instead of the Cointreau if you prefer.
How Many Calories Are In A Hennessy Margarita?
A 4 ounce serving (1/4 cup) of the classic cocktail contains 75 calories.
This is slightly less than a regular beer or glass of wine but more than an average soda can.
While it may be tempting to order a large drink, you will need to watch your weight if you do so.
The calorie count goes up quickly as the drink gets larger.
If you find yourself drinking more than two drinks per sitting, then this is not going to help you lose those extra pounds!
Calories from alcohol
- Alcohol has no nutritional value, although some people claim that they feel better after consuming alcoholic beverages.
- If you choose to consume alcohol, moderate consumption is advised because overconsumption increases the risk of developing health problems such as liver disease.
How Much Alcohol Is In A Hennessy Margarita?
A standard margarita contains 1 ounce (30 ml) tequila, 2 ounces (60 ml) fresh lime juice, and ½ teaspoon simple syrup or sugar.
That means that the alcohol content will be roughly 30 percent by volume.
However, the amount of alcohol you get from your margaritas depends on how strong they are because some margaritas contain more than just alcohol.
For example, if you order a “margarita grande” instead of a regular margarita, you can expect to have about 50 percent more alcohol!
But what does this mean for the number of alcoholic drinks you should consume per day?
Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, consuming two servings of alcohol each week increases your chance of developing health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
So while drinking three margaritas may not seem like too big an issue, it probably isn’t good for your overall well-being.
If you want to keep things healthy, stick to one margarita per night.
And remember that there are other ingredients besides alcohol that contribute to the flavor and quality of your margarita.
These include salt, sugar, cilantro, chili powder, and orange liqueur, which gives the margarita its distinctive citrus aroma.
What Is The History Of The Hennessy Margarita?
Harry Craddock created the first version of this cocktail in 1936 at the Savoy Hotel in London.
He used gin as his base liquor, but it wasn’t until 1948 that he added vermouth to the mix.
In 1951 he served it up again at the Las Vegas Hilton, where it became an instant hit – so popular that they had to ban it from the hotel menu!
The next year, it went global when it appeared on the menus of the Côte d’Azur resort hotels.
And since then, the drink has gone through many iterations, including the addition of citrus liqueurs like triple sec or Grand Marnier.
In 1970, Jose Cuervo introduced its “Rey del Tequila” blend (the king of tequilas), which took over for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey in the United States market.
But what makes a good margarita? According to bartenders, it should have three components:
- A high proof spirit – usually 80-proof vodka or rum, with some brands going higher than 100% proof. You can also use brandy, whisky, or other spirits in place of the main ingredient.
- Fresh ingredients – fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, and simple syrup are key. Fresh mint is optional, though it adds flavor and fragrance.
- Good water – good quality water will make all the difference in your final product. If you’re using bottled water, stick to distilled water if possible.
Ingredients for the best margaritas
If you want to try creating your own homemade margaritas, here are the basic ingredients you need:
- 80/100 Proof Vodka
- Lime Juice
- Simple Syrup
- Sugar Syrup
- Ice Cubes
- Mint Leaves
How Did The Hennessy Margarita Come To Be?
Harry Craddock first created this drink as an after-dinner treat for his guests.
He liked to serve small amounts of alcohol in order to make them more palatable, so he decided to use Cognac instead of whiskey or brandy.
The original recipe called for equal parts of cognac, triple sec (also known as Cointreau), and fresh squeezed lime juice.
A few years later, the drink became popular among American tourists who were visiting London during Prohibition.
In 1933, the hotel changed its name from “Savoy” to “Hennessey” in honor of the owner of the company that produced the liquor.
At first, the new owners didn’t know what to do with the old recipes, but they eventually got used to making Hennessey cocktails like the Margarita.
By 1937, the drink was already gaining popularity in North America, where it had been invented.
In 1940, Hennessey made a major change to their Margarita formula.
They replaced the triple sec with simple syrup and added salt to improve the flavor.
This version of the drink became very popular, especially after World War II.
Afterward, the company introduced several other versions of the Margarita including tequila, bourbon, rum, vodka, and even gin!
Today, the term “Hennessy” refers not only to the product itself, but also to the brand and the style of drinks that are associated with it.
You can find many different types of Hennessy products all over the world, such as Hennessy VSOP, which is a high quality blend of cognac and armagnac aged in oak barrels for 12 years.
You can also try Hennessy XO, which has been blended together using 100% extra-aged cognacs from various distilleries.
What Are Some Popular Variations Of The Hennessy Margarita?
There is no doubt about it – the Hennessy Margarita is an iconic drink that is extremely easy to make.
The only thing you need to remember is not over-mixing your ingredients, which can lead to separation between them.
This will result in a very watered down version of the original drink.
So what exactly goes into this classic cocktail?
Well, if you want to replicate the authentic flavor of a real Hennessy Margarita then here are six different recipes that will help you do just that!
- Classic Hennessy Margarita Recipe: We start off with our standard recipe, but we add a dash of orange bitters instead of simple syrup to give extra depth and complexity.
- Spicy Hennessy Margarita Recipe: For those who like their drinks hot, this spicy variation will hit all the right notes.
- Minted Hennessy Margarita Recipe: If you prefer something fresh and light, try adding mint leaves to your drink.
- Raspberry Hennessy Margarita Recipe: With raspberry juice as a base, this tasty combination makes for a fruity twist on the classic.
- Rosemary & Honey Hennessy Margarita Recipe: Rosemary adds a nice earthiness while honey gives this concoction sweetness.
- Lemon Thyme & Basil Hennessy Margarita Recipe: Lemon thyme and basil combine together for a tangy lemon flavour that brings out the best in both the herbs.
What Are Some Tips For Making The Perfect Hennessy Margar
To make this cocktail you need to use two different spirits – tequila and Cognac (or Armagnac).
The combination is a marriage made in heaven as both have their own unique characteristics that work well together.
Here are some key points to consider when creating your first batch of these delicious drinks:
- First, measure out 1 oz (30ml) of each spirit separately into separate cups and then add ice cubes until they reach half-full.
- Once your glasses are filled with crushed ice, pour equal parts tequila and cognac over the top. You can also add an extra dash of orange liqueur if you like.
- Finally, stir gently but thoroughly before pouring the finished product into the glass.
If you want to create a more sophisticated variation of this iconic drink, try substituting fresh mint leaves for the lime wedge or using triple sec instead of orange juice.
And remember, don’t be afraid to experiment!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces tequila reposado
- 1 ounce Hennessy Cognac
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- ½ ounce lime juice
- For the garnish: lime wedges
Instructions
- Slice a lime slice into a notch, then rub the wedge all the way around the glass rim. Dip the rim’s edge into a salt dish (or for a festive look, use Margarita Salt).
- One handful of ice cubes should be added to a cocktail shaker along with the tequila, Hennessy, Cointreau, and lime juice. Shake until chilled.
- Pour the margarita through a strainer into the salted-rimmed glass. Serve the glass after adding ice to it.
Nutrition
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