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El Cactus closes

One of our Top 10
Margarita independents for 2007 has closed. #8 El Cactus in Fountainville, PA has shut it's doors. We are sure bartender "Poison Ivy" is still serving rounds but you will no longer be able to sample one of the finest we have found. In order to keep our list intact, we have added a location that qualified this year. All the way from Singapore, we are proud to introduce La Viva!

Record Heat:
This summer we have already been to the East Coast, California, London and Dublin and we can tell you - it's hot everywhere. Global Warming kind of hot! In respect to your guests we suggest escalating ice cubes in each round of margaritas. Start with three in the first glass, so no one feels cheated. Then add an extra cube each subsequent refill. Cool for them and safer too!

Music For Margaritas

Flight of the Conchords

The third biggest band in New Zealand? A hit tv show? All we know is that this is a great summer CD. Margarita music is meant for good times and you will laugh at loud at "Think about it" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room". Add the spot on "Bowie" spoof and you have a party. Best of all, the punch lines are wrapped in great music.

Here They Are...

The Best of 2007 for Top "Independent" and "Chain" Margaritas!

Independent Margaritas

1
Los Sarapes, Chalfont, PA - We were as surprised as anyone after traveling from Shanghai to London that our favorite margarita was in a little restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania...And, even more exciting, it was the "Top Shelf" with 1800 Reposado and Cointreau, not even their most expensive drink. Which goes to show - it's all about the bartenders, not where the bar is or how much you pay.

2
The Lime, San Diego, CA - This place has almost mythical status with the staff at TopMargaritas. It may have been too much pressure for anyone to live up to. We stopped in for our annual "Super Premium" margarita (Casa Vieja Blanco is the base, the rest is a well guarded secret) and we were just slightly disappointed. You won't be...

3

Consuelo's Mexican Bistro, Santana Row, San Jose, CA. How do you improve one of the best tequila bars in the world? Expand with an addition outside surrounded by beautiful trees and a casual setting. Without a doubt, the best team of bartenders we know. Your best bet is to tell them what you like and they will handle the rest.

4

Packards Steakhouse, Palm Harbor, FL. Located right off the PGA course Copperhead in the beautiful Innisbrook Resort, Packards is an old school steak and hard liquor restaurant. The bar staff are well trained on making a stiff drink and a "Top Shelf" is not made for the Cosmo drink looking to go big. Word is that the resort is going through major renovations in the next two years - here's hoping they maintain this great bar!

5

Matteo's Salsa Loco, Bethany Beach, DE. Bigger and better than ever, our favorite seaside margarita joint now boasts an expanded tequila bar. And while we enjoyed our Tres Generationes and Grand Marnier we also sampled a straight shot of Patron Platinum. Wow! There is no better way to ease the pain of leaving the beach than a 5:00 pm margarita on their deck.

6

Casa Orozco - Livermore, CA. Forget the "house margarita" (too sweet) and order Sauza Hornitos and Cointreau. Our favorite family place remodeled and expanded their Dublin location which hasn't quite matched the margarita quality yet but serves great food.

7

Deckers, Grand Cayman. Maybe it was the double decker bus we were drinking in or the island breeze, but a last minute attempt by our bartender hit the spot. Don't take the "house" margaritas, ask for the good stuff.

8

La Viva, Chijmes, Singapore Across from an major landmark, La Viva sits quietly nestled among several dining spots. We were dubiuous, as many spots in Singapore now advertise margaritas. Our bartender was modest, but delivered an outstanding drink. Given the consistent heat and humidty, we consider La Viva an oasis. (Note: this winner replaces the closed El Cactus)

9

Rodeo Bar, New York, NY. What is it with us and buses? Another bar that boasts a bus but this one comes with a lot of cowboy attitude. There is nothing fancy about these margaritas, they just are well made. This place takes our "Music for Margaritas" ideas seriously, with live bands playing the perfect soundtrack for drinking tequila.

10

Blue Agave Club, Pleasanton, CA There is no better setting for a margarita than outside in the cool California evening at the Blue Agave. With a robust tequila bar and waiters who tell you what kind of margarita you are having, this is a great place to chill. We enjoyed a Herradura Anejo with Cointreau.

Chain Margaritas

1

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. You are always guaranteed two things here - great margaritas and a good time. This year we had the "Perfect Margarita" with both gold and silver Margaritaville tequila, Cointreau, Curacao, and Rose's Lime juice. We give extra props to the Universal Studios location in Florida with two "Boardwalk windows" serving decent margaritas. You can send the kids to the roller coasters and chill in a deck chair with a "to go" cup.

2

Ritz Carlton They say there's no formula, but these bartenders know what they're doing. We highly recommend the pool bar at the Cayman Islands resort and the Amelia Island locations.

3

Gardunos of Mexico Located in the Southwest of the U.S., we were dubious on any place with the words "Margarita" and "Factory" in the same sentence. Their mass market appearance didn't ease our suspicions. But the bartenders are very well trained and our 1800 and Grand Marnier margarita was exceptional for a chain.

4

Roys You know the food is good but Roy's has the Ali'i Margarita made with Gran Centenario Plata and Cointreau that is light and sweet. Traditionalists will scoff at the lack of punch but it goes with everything served.

5

Chilli's Forget the marketing gimmick of the blue shaker and order the house margarita which is better and cheaper. Consistently good

6

Hard Rock Cafe Generally forgettable, the Denver outpost delivered some of the best we've tasted all year. make your way to the back bar and a bartender who holds herself to a higher standard.

7

El Torito Remember, we just drink there - this isn't "TopMexicanfood.com". The Cadillac made with 1800 Reposado, Triple Sec, and Grand Marnier goes down easy despite a mixer from "Sunkist"

8

Chevy's While the bar looks promising, don't try anything fancy. The traditional margarita on the rocks works well. If you order peach mango margaritas, we can't do anything for you

9

Maya Grill/Mexico - Walt Disney World Where is the last place on earth you expect to be hammered by a strong margarita - how about Disney? We have sampled margaritas in the many locations one company operates within the Disney World theme parks and we can tell you - these guys mean business!

10

W The "W" bars have disappointed us over the years given the emphasis by the hotel chain. While the scene is hot,the bar staff seems like they just went behind the counter. Cosmos are the focus and the margaritas, while decent, need a style upgrade to match their surroundings