It’s snowing in Portland, Oregon and I’m thrilled (for now). As someone who was born in Mississippi and later lived in Los Angeles and Florida, I’m always fascinated by fluffy white things that fall from the sky, at least until it takes “too long” and I feel trapped in the slick frozen streets. (It doesn’t snow that much in Portland, so the city won’t be ready for it for more than a few days.)
You’d think such weather calls for hot cocoa and mulled wine, but lots of snow means I get the heat up and running, and constant heat leaves me dehydrated and craving for juicy, thirst-quenching libations. (I understand alcohol is the opposite of moisture, but a cold, shaken cocktail is much more refreshing than a hot, wine-based wine.)
Fortunately, I stocked up on way too many things at Trader Joe last week, including a carton of pineapple juice (a favorite of my tea-totaling friend). He drank most of it last night but left just enough to make a couple of matadors, a Trader Vic cocktail that I read about recently over on punch.
This drink is incredibly hot – almost too hot – but somehow it works. Tequila always plays well with lime and pineapple, and the juice of the latter offers just enough sweetness to keep the acidity in check. Punch recommends shaking over shaved ice, but regular broken ice will work too. Just be sure to shake hard and long.
To make a matador you will need:
- 1 ounce tequila
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
Pour everything into a shaker filled with cracked or shaved ice and shake it until it is very cold. Strain into a coupé or similar container. Sip while looking at some snow and repeat the process until you feel encouraged to step out into that snow.
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