Frozen Siesta Cocktail

Even cocktails can get awkward when the weather heats up – on a 90° day, a chilled classic will reach room temperature pretty quickly if served without ice.

What is a siesta cocktail?

In 2006, bartender Katie Stipe created the Siesta by grating the Hemingway Daiquiri, a Havana-made blend of white rum, fresh lime juice, fresh grapefruit juice, and maraschino liqueur. Instead of the rum, Stipe Blanco used tequila, and instead of the maraschino, she opted for bittersweet Campari, an Italian liqueur you might be familiar with if you enjoy drinking Negronis.

Shaken and served in a coupe glass, Siesta is invigorating and bright, with the perfect bitter note. Frozen, it tastes even better in summer!

In this recipe, I crank up the flavors a bit, increasing everything but the tequila to ensure the lemony, tart-bitter flavor comes through, even when the drink is mixed with plenty of ice.

Which Tequila Should I Use?

Avoid mixto tequilas, which are distilled from a blend of agave and cheaper sugar.

And if you’re wondering what to do with the rest of the bottle, consider a Paloma or a Bloody Maria!

What’s the best way to make frozen drinks at home?

If you don’t have a slushee machine on your counter, you can Use your blender to make a smooth frozen concoction. But it needs a little preparation in advance:

• Freeze Base: First, combine your drinks in a resealable container, e.g. B. a mason jar and let it chill in your freezer for at least four hours. It will not freeze solid, but the temperature will drop sharply, so the mixture will not immediately melt the ice in the blender.
• Then mix with ice: When you’re ready to make a drink, just mix it with ice. You’ll need about 1 1/2 cups of ice per drink for proper dilution, so consider getting a large bag from the store. (You can double this recipe to make more drinks, but make sure to mix one batch at a time to avoid overloading your blender.)

Feel free to keep multiple batches in your freezer if you have a crowd to serve!

What glass should I serve this drink in?

I like a salt-rimmed Rocks glass for this drink, but you can also serve smaller portions in a stemmed glass. If you don’t want to rim the rim with salt, simply add a pinch to each drink, but don’t skip it entirely — the salt brightens the flavors and balances out the Campari’s bitterness.

Top: Put the glasses in the freezer after the rim so that the drinks stay cool a little longer!

More tequila cocktails for summer

• Blueberry Pitcher Margaritas
• Classic paloma
• Classic margarita
• Watermelon Pitcher Margaritas
• Pineapple Jalapeno Pitcher Margaritas