An Ode to the Michelada, the Most Refreshing Drink Ever Created
We're celebrating National Beer Day with a damn good beer cocktail.
We'll get to the drink. But first, a quick history detour.
On April 7, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen–Harrison Act into law, legalizing the sale of low-ABV beer and wine, and setting into motion events that ended Prohibition's 13-year stranglehold on America. After signing the bill, Roosevelt famously said, "I think this would be a good time for a beer." Eighty-five years later, we couldn't agree more.
Nobody wins when governments get in the way of a good thing, and with that in mind, it only feels right to celebrate National Beer Day with a little help from our neighbors to the south. For the uninitiated, the Michelada is what happens when you mix beer, lime juice, and whichever spices, sauces, and peppers your heart desires. It's perfect for a hangover, great by the beach, and comes in handy for wishing you were someplace sunny.
Though there's some debate among booze scholars as to who actually invented the recipe, what is certain is that we owe a debt to our Mexican brethren for coming up with one of the most refreshing drinks under the sun. Actress Genesis Rodriguez is one of the cocktail's biggest fans, and gave Esquire her preferred recipe, the "Michelada a la G." Salud.
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- Yields:
- 1 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 5 mins
- Total Time:
- 5 mins
Ingredients
- 1 can or bottle, light Mexican beer
- 1 can Clamato
- 2 oz. fresh lime juice
- 2 oz. sea salt
- 1 lime
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. hot sauce*
Directions
- Step 1Cut a fresh wedge of lime and rub it around the rim of a glass, then flip upside down into a layer of sea salt (or chili salt, if preferred) until the edge is coated all around.
- Step 2Turn the glass upright. Add lime juice, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a splash of hot sauce, and a pinch of salt.
- Step 3Combine equal parts light Mexican beer (Modelo, Corona, Tecate) with Clamato into the glass until full.
- Step 4Stir lightly and enjoy.
*Genesis adds: "For the hot sauce, I like the savory kind. Smoky ones, chipotle ones, not so much tabasco–too plain. And if you're feeling adventurous, substitute a splash of low sodium soy sauce with the pinch of salt in the glass."
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