Blood Orange Margaritas

• Recipe by Dean Fearing

Chef Dean Fearing calls this drink, which is a best seller at his wife Lynae’s popular Dallas restaurant Shinsei, "the fall margarita." The sweet-tart blood orange flavor intensifies the margarita-ness of it.

Ingredients

1. 1 quart fresh blood orange juice or fresh orange juice (about 12 blood oranges or 8 large navel oranges)
2. 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice (about 12 limes)
3. 1 1/2 cups Cointreau or other triple sec
4. 3 1/2 cups silver tequila
5. Kosher salt
6. 1 blood orange or orange wedge, plus 12 thin blood orange or orange slices
7. Ice
8. 1 dozen small sage sprigs or leaves

Directions

1. In a large pitcher, mix the blood orange juice with the lime juice, Cointreau and silver tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
2. Spread a small mound of salt on a small plate. Moisten the outer rim of 12 martini glasses with the orange wedge, then dip the rims into the salt to lightly coat.
3. Add ice to the pitcher and stir well, then strain into the prepared glasses. Garnish each margarita with a blood orange slice and a sage sprig and serve.

Make Ahead

The margarita recipe can be prepared through Step 1 and refrigerated, covered, overnight.