Salt Rimmers - Spice up your Cocktail!

Long gone are the days of Taco Tuesday with your friends while enjoying a large margarita and queso. With most restaurants still take-out only, Quarantine 2020 has forced us to become at home bartenders either with a video chat with friends or a small home gathering.

Have you ever made a margarita at home, salted the rim of your glass, and enjoyed the happiness brought to mind with the first sip?  But not everyone likes their margaritas the same...some like a lot of tequila, some like sweet, some like sour, some add OJ or other juices, and some like them skinny.  With all of the different variations of America's most popular cocktail, why should the salted rim just be salt? Different variations of salt will change the cocktail.  Add your favorite salt blend to your favorite margarita blend and surprise yourself...it's really hard to mess this up! 

I remember the first time I tried Tajin (Ta-heen) at a friends house.  The chili, lime, salt combination was amazing.  I immediately went and bought a bottle and proceeded to put it on pretty much anything I ate.  Then it hit me to try it with a margarita.  It was amazing...and my margarita journey has never been the same. 

Check out the different recipes we've provided below to help spice up your next Margarita, Moscow Mule, Bloody Mary, and many more.

Ingredients

Lemon Rosemary Salt Rimmer
Suggested Cocktail Kit: Bloody Mary

• Zest from 1 Lemon
• 2 Tbsp. Rosemary
• 1/2 Cup Course Salt

Chipotle Lime Salt Rimmer
Suggested Cocktail Kit: Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita 

• 1 tsp. Chipotle Chile Pepper
• Zest from 1 Lime
• 1/2 Cup Course Salt

Citrus Lemon-Lime Salt Rimmer
Suggested Cocktail Kit: Skinny Margarita (Coming Soon)

• Zest from 1 Lemon
• Zest from 1 Lime
• 1/2 Cup Course Salt

Orange Margarita Salt/Sugar Rimmer
Suggested Cocktail Kit: Strawberry Basil Margarita

• Zest from 1 Orange
• Zest from 1 Lime
• 1/2 Cup Course Salt
• 1/2 Cup Sugar

Grapefruit Lime Salt Rimmer
Suggested Cocktail Kit: Spicy Paloma

• Zest from 1 Grapefruit
• 1/2 Cup Course Salt

Instructions

1. Zest the Fruit.  This is done best with a microplane, but can also be done with the small side of a box shredder.  
   Note: If you don't have a microplane or box shredder, you can carefully cut the rind, removing the white pith parts and then mince. 
   
   
   
2. Mince the Herbs. Remove the fragrant herb portions and discard any stems.  Mince the herbs as small as you can get them. 
   
   
   
3. Mix Together.  Mix the zest and fresh herbs with salt/sugar and put on a baking sheet in a thin layer. 
   
   
   
4. Cook. Place in a hot oven set on the lowest setting.  Leave in the oven until the herbs and zest are dried out, typically 6 hours. Stir frequently on the baking tray so the mixture doesn't burn. 
   Note: A dehydrator works best, if you have one.
   
   
5. Cool & Dry. When everything is dry, allow to cool. Add chipotle chili powder (if using). 
   
   
   
6. Finishing Touches. Grind the cooked product using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.  
   Note: you can use a rolling pin if you don't have a mortar and pestle.
   
   

EXTRA: How to Rim your Glass