Grapefruit Margarita with Dobel Tequila

Whether you’re employed or not, a drink on a Friday is always a good idea. These days, perhaps because of the warmer weather, I’m all about margaritas. Luckily, the good people over at Dobel — founded by Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta (the sixth-generation producer of Jose Cuervo) — sent me a bottle of their beautiful tequila to try, and I must say, it’s quite interesting.

Dobel looks like a blanco, but it’s actually a blend of reposado (15 months), anejo (24 months), and extra-anejo (36 months) that’s been filtered for clarity. So while it has the look of a blanco, which makes it ideal for mixing, taste-wise it’s more complex with a bit of spice and wood aroma from the Hungarian Oak barrels it’s been aged in.

Also of note, the 100% blue agave tequila is single sourced from the family-owned Lowland ranches in Jalisco, Mexico, and each bottle bears the name of the ranch it’s from, along with the date it was bottled. It’s a nice personal touch that helps distinguish the line from the more commercial one from the parent company.

If you’re hard-core, Dobel is perfect for sipping, but it also adds nuance to a simple margarita. The recipe for my go-to margarita is below. (I add seltzer when I’m in the mood for a bubbly margarita and simple syrup if the grapefruit juice is too tart.) Enjoy and TGIF!

One 750mL bottle of Dobel retails for around $50.

Grapefruit Margarita
Adapted from the Los Angeles Times

Servings: 2

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (optional)
7 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice
2.5 ounces (5 tablespoons) Dobel (or your blanco or reposado tequila of choice)
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) triple sec
2 slices of lime to garnish
1 teaspoon simple syrup* (optional, add if you like sweeter cocktails or if the grapefruit juice is too tart)
Big splash of seltzer or club soda (optional, add for a bubbly margarita)

1. Run one of the lime wedges squeezed for juice halfway around the rim of a cup and dip it into a plate of salt, if using. Set aside. Repeat.

2. Combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and simple syrup (if desired) in a cocktail shaker. Shake over ice until chilled.

3. Fill salt-rimmed glasses with ice. Strain shaker into glasses.

4. Top each glass with a splash of seltzer or club soda, if using. Gently stir.

5. Garnish each drink with a slice of lime.

*To make simple syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan, and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. I make extra and keep it in the refrigerator for later use.