Review: Manhattan Margarita
First, let’s clear up the confusion.
- Yes, it’s a pre-mixed margarita, not a Manhattan. The color is from citrus juices added to “perfect” the recipe.
- No, it’s not from Manhattan. It’s from California. “Manhattan” refers to Manhattan Beach.
- No, it’s not made in Manhattan Beach, which is in Los Angeles. It’s made in Graton, in Northern California. It was created in SoCal, though.
What’s in this ready-to-drink bottle or orange? “Silver agave tequila, triple sec, lemon, lime, orange, cranberry, and pineapple.” That’s a lot of stuff for a margarita — and if you switched the tequila to rum you’d have yourself a tiki drink — but let’s not judge it by its cover. How does it actually taste?
The orange color is immediately tricky. I don’t know if it’s a trick of the mind, but I get an initial rush of carrot flavor when first sipping on the cocktail. That may be an effect of too much fruit flavor hitting all at once. The pineapple and cranberry and all that citrus — it all comes together a little haphazardly, almost, indeed, like a sloppy tiki drink.
The tequila is what sends things in another direction, adding an agave bite and a slight petrol burn to the proceedings. But it’s that racy, sweet-and-sour lime character that is so essential to a great margarita which I missed the most. This is probably a pretty subjective area, as others may find the fruit cluster bomb more palatable. Your mileage may vary.
30 proof.
B- / $20 / manhattanmargarita.com
Manhattan Margarita
$20
