Este Cinco de Mayo Cocktail es mi amor

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Is my Spanish correct?  Si o no?  I got an email with this recipe, called Corazon de Camarena, and HAD to try it.  I love herbs in my cocktails.  And strawberries are so delicious right now.  It sounded like the perfect drink to try out for Cinco de Mayo.  I'll be honest, I don't usually get all crazy about this holiday.  I think I maybe went out to a bar once on Cinco de Mayo.  When I was in college.  And while I barely remember it, its because it was so long ago not because I had a drunken blast.  

So when a tequila company asks if you want a sample, you say, claro que si!  Don't you love the bottle of the Camarena Tequila?  Everything about it makes me want to whisk it off for a relaxing vacation to Cabo.  The recipe is super easy, uses super fresh ingredients and is a little different from your run of the mill margarita.  No better time than the middle of the afternoon on a weekday when you are home alone with the children to try out a new cocktail recipe I always say.

Dude, I'm wasted!! No, just kidding.  I took several sips and then stopped.  But didn't want to.  No children were harmed in the making of this recipe:

Corazon de Camarena

2 oz. Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila

1/2 cup strawberry simple syrup (*see recipe below)

2 oz. fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon agave nectar

2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped roughly

Sliced strawberries

Place the basil in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, pour in the tequila.  Use the back of a spoon (or muddler - or end of a metal ice cream scooper like I used) to mash the basil leaves into the tequila.  Fill the shaker with ice and add strawberry simple syrup, lime juice and agave nectar.  Fill with ice, shake and strain into a high ball glass over ice.  Garnish with sliced strawberries on the rim and ribbons of basil mixed in the drink.

*Strawberry Simple Syrup

Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 5 sliced strawberries in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Cool the syrup, then strain the liquid through a sieve, pressing the strawberries to extract all liquid.

My Conclusion:

I made the strawberry simple syrup the day before so I knew it would be cold when I wanted to make the recipe.  I used cheesecloth instead of a sieve.  It may not have been fine enough.  As I squeezed, bits were starting to ooze out and it looked like something that would work well for a Halloween special effect.  I found it a bit sweet, and since I don't enjoy overly sweet drinks, I decided to leave out the agave nectar when I made the final drink.  It took about 2 1/2 limes to get 2 oz. of juice so plan your shopping list accordingly.  As per usual, I didn't read the part about serving over ice.  I think the recipe above would be for two drinks if they were served over ice.  

I REALLY liked this recipe.  A LOT.  The tequila smelled really good.  I'm not sure I usually think that when I smell tequila (which is not often).  I highly recommend this recipe for your Cinco de Mayo and summer entertaining.  Be sure to check out the Camarena website for this and other recipes.  There are some others I am going to try.  And I just saw this tequila at my local grocery store this weekend, so you should be able to find it in a store near you.  Please note that my son only wants me to take his picture when I don't want to.  And yes, that is melted chocolate all up on his grill.  If mama is drinking in the afternoon, kids can have chocolate bunnies.  What's fair is fair.  

I received a bottle of Camarena Tequila to sample.  Holler! 

Sharon

All photos mine.