20170821

SOLAR ECLIPSE MARGARITA


First, let me admit I stole the black moon ice ball idea from The CocktailCouple (@CocktailCouple), it was too cool an idea not to rip off. But then I also saw the same idea used by Kyle Hagerty, from the Tennessean Hotel's bar, The Drawing Room, so apologies and thanks to both for the genius idea.

Now that I've admitted I'm a total thief and brigand, at least let me mea culpa with the fact that I turned it into a margarita. They say there's nothing new under the sun, evidently there's nothing new under a total eclipse of the sun either.

The whole focal point of this cocktail is the black ice ball moon slowly melting against the sun orange of the margarita, it's truly a stunning happy hour visual. Skip that and you might as well skip making the drink. It also creates kind of an auroral effect at the beginning when the ice starts to melt, as well as adding pineapple and lime juice to the drink experience.

Of course, when that black ice ball really melts you have a very odd green looking margarita on your hands, but by that time maybe your guests will be too blitzed to know that and, besides, it's going to be dark outside because you are viewing the last total solar eclipse until April 8th, 2024. So, prepare and serve the drink inside to show off, then drag your guests outside to the viewing area as quickly as possible.

One little thing, to make really black ice you're going to need a ton of food coloring. I have professional food coloring in black and used quite a bit of that per cube, but I wanted seriously black ice balls. Most people, however, don't keep black food coloring in their house so I tested making black ice with the standard four color box of food coloring. To make two drinks I used up almost an entire box of the basic food colors. Less of the color and you'll end up with a grayish ice ball instead, so commit to that box of food coloring or don't bother. Instructions for making the black moon ice balls is below.

To make the ice ball melt slower, chill all of your ingredients and your cocktail shaker beforehand.

(Sorry this was so late but better late than never. I've been on various medications off and on since May and haven't been able to have too many cocktails. Yesterday I finally got to quit taking all of them!)


The
SOLAR ECLIPSE
MARGARITA

INGREDIENTS
2 Oz. Tequila
1/2 Oz. Grand Marnier
2 Oz. Fresh Orange Juice
1 Black Moon Ice Ball
(Directions below.)

Garnish: Orange slice

Tools: Cocktail shaker, Spherical Ice Mold, Funnel

Glass: Old Fashioned, Chilled

DIRECTIONS
Add the tequila, Grand Marnier and orange juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake until well chilled then strain into the chilled glass. Add the Black Moon Ice Ball, garnish and serve.

BLACK MOON ICE BALLS
Makes 2 Black Ice Balls

TOOLS: 2 Spherical Ice Molds, 1 Funnel

INGREDIENTS:
2 C. Pineapple Juice
1/3 C. Lime Juice
30 drops Black Food Coloring
or
20 drops each; Red, Blue, Yellow Coloring and 5 drops Green Food Coloring
(Test your color by dropping a bit into some water then adjust the color a drop or two at a time. Too blue? Add some 1 red, 3 yellow). Too green? Add 1 blue, 2 red. Too Purple? Add a green, 2 yellow. Technically, colors opposite on the color wheel when mixed will create black.)

DIRECTIONS: Mix your black ice water then, using the funnel, carefully pour into your ice ball molds. Freeze for 3 to 5 hours or overnight.

Happy Total Solar Eclipse viewing, remember not to look directly at it with the naked eye, and don't let your pets do that either! If you don't have solar eclipse eyeglasses, here's how to make your own solar eclipse viewer.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

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