Smurfarita Blue Cocktails
Today is National Tequila Day, and what better way to celebrate than with a dazzling and delicious Smurfarita blue cocktail?
Smurfarita’s are delicious, visual delights that will impress your guests with their sheer beauty! I mean, who doesn’t love a blue cocktail? Especially one made with tequila?!!
The Smurfarita is a tasty blue cocktail and is a margarita with a splash of Blue Curacao. Blue Curacao is a blue liqueur that is bitter yet sweet and has a citrusy flavor. The liqueur is flavored with Laraha peels, a citrus fruit that grows on the Caribbean island of Curacao.
The Laraha fruit is also known as a Curacao orange and is a descendent of the bitter orange. It is fibrous and bitter and considered inedible, but the funky-looking peels are flavorful and perfect for making liqueurs, and you can use the zest for baking.
The Laraha peels make and flavor the Blue Curacao liqueur, but the beautiful blue color actually comes from a dye. The alcohol levels in this liqueur range from 15-40%, and some varieties taste like Triple Sec.
Some people pronounce the word “Curacao” as “cure-a-cow,” but the correct pronunciation is “cure-a-sow.”
You can use Blue Curacao in many fun blue cocktails, including the Blue Lagoon, Blue Hawaii, and Sex in the Driveway. And since July 24th is the national “Tequila Day,” my blue cocktail of choice is the Smurfarita.
Here’s the recipe for Smurfaritas!
Smurfarita Cocktails (aka Blue Margaritas)
If you're looking for a cocktail to wow and delight your friends, try the Smurfarita! It's a margarita with a splash of blue Curacao, and it's a fun drink that is guaranteed to dazzle the senses. Add a slice of lime or orange, and include a sprig of mint or lemon balm to make it even more visually appealing than it already is.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces of clear tequila
- 2 ounces of Cointreau or Triple Sec
- 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 ounce of Curacao
- 2 cups of ice
- 2 lime or orange slices
- 2 small sprigs of mint or lemon balm
Instructions
- Combine the liquids in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well.
- Pour into two glasses (glasses can be rimmed with salt, if desired)
- Garnish with the lime or orange slice and a sprig of mint or lemon balm
Garnishes are always fun to add to drinks – especially ones with vibrant colors. The green of the lime and mint really set off the blue, but if you want to go for a visual “pop,” try a slice of orange.
Orange and blue are complementary colors, and when put together, they magically tell the brain to stand up and pay attention – especially in this beautiful neon blue cocktail.
I’ve used both lemon balm and mint for a garnish, but you could also try a couple of lavender flowers or a piece of rosemary or even a sprig of tarragon.
When I served this cocktail to my friends on my last art day, they couldn’t wait to taste it and still rave about my Smurfaritas. I know I should have made a pitcher of them and definitely will – next time.
If you like colorful and tasty cocktails, be sure to try my pretty, purple “Third Eye” cocktail – here’s the link. And here is a link to the blue curacao I used for this recipe. It’s delicious and not too expensive — double win!
