The Margarita is a cocktail classic that doesn't need any help selling itself. Everyone knows it. Nearly everyone likes it, and rightly so. This cocktail is a three (okay, four if you want to count the salt) ingredient masterpiece. Blanco Tequila, Triple Sec and Fresh Lime Juice come together to form an unbelievable, complex cocktail. That is why, when called on to make a batch for a client, I jumped at the chance. Its early January. It's freezing outside. Let's mix up some fresh citrusy tequila-filled goodness. Here's what you'll need.

• A good quality Blanco Tequila. Look for 100% agave. If you drank it in college you're too good for it now. You know which bottles I'm talking about. I like Pueblo Viejo Blanco.
• A good quality Triple Sec. Shell out the extra coin for Cointreau here. Trust me, nothing else stands up to it.
• Some Fresh Limes.
• Some Kosher Salt. Yes it must be Kosher Salt. No Sea Salt or Iodized Salt here please.
• Some Ice
• A Cocktail Glass or A Double Old Fashioned Glass depending on if you like your margarita served up or on the rocks.
• A Cocktail Tin
• A Hawthorne Strainer
• Cocktail Jiggers (1oz./2oz. and .5oz/.75oz)

First you'll want to prep your glass. You've got three options here as far as salt is concerned: salted, partially salted and unsalted. It's your call. I like salt. Pour some Kosher salt onto a plate. Take a wedge of lime and rub it around the outside of the rim of the glass. Roll the outside of the rim of the glass in the salt. You can cover the entire rim or just half of it if you're not sure if your audience likes salt. Set your prepped glass in the freezer to chill till you're ready to fill it.

Now let's build that drink. Grab your cocktail shaker and jiggers. Add 2 ounces of Pueblo Viejo Blanco Tequila, 1 ounce of Cointreau and .75 ounces of fresh Lime Juice. Top the cocktail tin off with ice and shake that drink. Strain your Margarita into your chilled and salted cocktail glass or, if you prefer your Margarita on the rocks, strain it into your chilled and salted double old-fashioned glass that is filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a wedge of Lime and take a sip before you've got to make more for your friends.