This weekend was filled with a pretty good amount of tequila. We had our dear friends over for fajitas on a beautiful, cloud-free, 80-degree summer night. It was truly perfect.

So I had to make one more tonight, and I also have to set the record straight about a few things:

1) A real margarita has exactly three ingredients (besides ice and salt). Tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. God knows what is in those “mixes.” Do not buy them. You don’t need a mix for three ingredients.

2) There’s a lot of ways to make a margarita, but my personal choice is to make them on the rocks. Why? because of the rocks. Margaritas are best served icy, icy cold. But I prefer them to be icy cold without being actually blended with ice.

3. Salt the rim. It’s not the same cocktail without the salt.

Here’s what you need:
2 oz. tequila (I like Lunazul)
1 oz. orange liqueur (your preference – triple sec is what I hear often; I used homemade)
1 oz. fresh lime juice
Wedge of lime for rim/garnish
Coarse salt for rim

Begin by using the lime wedge to wet the rim of a rocks glass. Pour a couple tablespoons of salt onto a plate and dip the glass rim into it to coat with salt. This is accomplished more with getting the wet glass into the thickest parts of the salt, rather than by force. The moisture will make it stick just fine. Add one very large ice cube (such as one made with a Tovolo mold) or 4-5 regular ice cubes to the glass.

Shake the tequilia, orange liqueur and lime juice in a shaker until very, very cold. strain into the glass, then garnish with the lime wedge that you used.