Margarita

Jack Kerouac

Salt, for the rim

2 oz. tequila

1 oz. orange liqueur

1 oz. fresh lime juice

1 lime wheel, for garnish

Wet the rim of a coupe and coat it with salt. If desired, add ice to the glass.

Place the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker, fill it two-thirds of the way with ice, and shake until chilled.

Strain into the rimmed glass, garnish with the lime wheel, and enjoy.

Kerouac traveled widely and was a key voice for the Beat Generation, writing books such as On the Road and Big Sur. He also spent time in Mexico, and it’s possible that while there, he developed his liking for the classic Margarita, a drink so common now that in the United States many can scarcely imagine a Mexican meal without one.

Though the drink’s origins are unclear (a common problem in the cocktail world), the traditional Margarita is made up of tequila, triple sec (orange liqueur), and lime juice, with the obligatory salt on the glass. Add in some ice and you have a perfect drink for enjoying on a hot day, a welcome relief from the toil of one’s travels.