Cinco de Mayo may kick off the summer drinking season, but why stop all the fun on May 6th? We decided to continue drinking and take a boozy trip around Gwinnett in search of the best Margaritas this side of the perimeter. Here are our top 5 margaritas that are refreshing and cool enough to keep you chill during this hot summer! As the popular 1958 song by The Champs simply put it….“Tequila!”
NACHO DADDY
– CADILLAC MARGARITA
3095 MAIN ST STE 500, DULUTH, GA 30096
WWW.NACHODADDY.COM
This new hot spot in sizzling downtown Duluth is serving up a variety of margarita options if you are looking for a classic with a twist (much like their full menu…gourmet nachos with a twist!) But before you decide to shake things up, you better make sure a bar tender can serve up a primo margarita first! The “Cadillac Margarita” features Nacho Daddy’s Patron Anejo Tequila, triple sec, house-made sweet & sour and is topped with Grand Marnier. Yes, Nacho Daddy has partnered with national brands (Patron) to come up with their own branded tequila!
Nacho Daddy is a Las Vegas original that decided to branch out and make its first location outside of Nevada in our very own Duluth, and is the home of the #GotStung movement as seen on Travel Channel, Food Network and Animal Planet–aka, the scorpion shot! Arachnids not your thing? No worries, they have lots of great mix ups such as Spicy Cucumber, Pineapple Mint and White Peach margaritas.
ZAPATA TACOS AND TEQUILA BAR
– INFUSED MARGARITAS
15 JONES ST NW, NORCROSS, GA 30071
WWW.ZAPATARESTAURANTNORCROSSGA.COM
Do you know the difference between Tequila and Mezcal? The folks at Zapata’s in Norcross do, and they will gladly educate you on the various Agave-based options stocked in their house bar. One of the crown jewels of this program is their trademark margarita made with tequila “infusion” creations: Hibiscus, Tamarind, Serrano and Strawberry. No mixes used here…only the freshest, simple ingredients are used to enhance their prized liquor: 100% Agave Azul, fresh limes and agave nectar.
It would be a crime not to try one of the two mezcal margaritas (mezcal has a smokier essence) on their menu, though. Try the El Oaxaqueno, featuring authentic mezcal, fresh squeeze lime juice, orange liquor and agave nectar, or the El Spicy, made with serrano pineapple syrup and tanjin salt on the rim. Atlanta United fans can be found here this summer, enjoying agave liquor drinks and cheering on the hottest team in Atlanta!
UNCLE JACK’S MEAT HOUSE
– SPICY MARGARITA (AKA SKINNY)
6590 SUGARLOAF PARKWAY, SUITE 201, DULUTH, GA 30097
WWW.UNCLEJACKSMEATHOUSEDULUTH.COM
This establishment isn’t usually hailed for its agave drinks, and rarely do you hear the chef suggest you pair a margarita with a prime select dry-aged ribeye, but their bar program has knocked the horns off their version of a skinny-rita, and it is not lite on the spirits. Uncle Jack’s Meat House’s Spicy Margarita uses both El Jimador Tequila and Banhez Joven Mezcal, Ancho Reyes Liqueur, house-infused jalapeno tequila, agave, fresh lime juice and tajin on the rim…HELLO good times!!
TACOS AND TEQUILAS MEXICAN GRILL
– COCONUT MARGARITA
3480 FINANCIAL CENTER WAY, BUFORD, GA 30519
WWW.TANDTATLANTA.COM
An Atlanta native and favorite, Tacos and Tequilas’ gigantic bar, spacious patio and wide selection of margaritas provides the perfect atmosphere for day drinking or evening laughing with friends during the hot, sticky summer months. If you are post-summer vacay and need a reminder, or are pre-vacay and need something to get you through the next few weeks till the beach, definitely try the Caribbean twist on their house favorite: Coconut Margarita. Featuring 1800 Coconut Tequila, sweet pieces of real coconut, orange liquor, lime juice and agave nectar, it is truly the best of both worlds if you are torn between a daiquiri and a marg.
For those of you who are beer and wine enthusiasts, they didn’t want you to feel left out…their menu has a sangririta (yep, sangria and margarita combo) and a beeririta with dos XX or Corona.
CHEEKY TAQUERIA
– COWBOY MARGARITA
1039 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, SUITE A-122, SUWANEE, GA 30024
WWW.EATATCHEEKY.COM/SUWANEE-CHEEKY
Avid margarita drinkers know that when “Grandma” shows up on the cocktail menu, then it’s got to be a good drink. Cheeky’s Cowboy Margarita is a famous recipe from the tequila distillery’s ancestors (probably his grandma) at Casa Herradura. This citrus combo margarita is made up of barrel-rested Reposado, Grandma (Grand Marnier), a splash of OJ and fresh housemade Cheeky lime mix. The pairing of orange and lime is so sublime–add some chips and salsa, and it’s simply divine!
If you wanna walk on the wild side, try their Blackberry Cilantro or Prickly Orange Margarita…Cheeky definitely wins the award for strangest original cocktail menu pairings.