"Don't allow children to mix drinks. It is unseemly and they use too much vermouth."

— Steve Allen

Features

Out Of Africa

"Today, praise be to God, wine was made for the first time from Cape grapes."
By Dave Hughes

Patio Perfect

Margaritas aren't the only way to wow your guests this summer-check out these 5 fabulous options.
BY DENIse gee

The Red Lights

Six light reds to cool you down during the dog days of summer.
by Mary Subialka

Saucy

This summer add a splash of flavor to marinades and sauces with wine and spirits.
Recipes By Steven Raichle, author of Planet Barbecue

A River Runs Through It

From dry to sweet, crisp to full, no other region can match the cascade of wine styles found in France's Loire River Valley.
By Roger Morris

Departments & Columns

First Round

The softer summer side of Beefeater, one of the newest luxury tequilas, and much more.

Mixology

A toast to the supremely summery English cocktail-the Pimm's Cup No. 1.
BY COLBY JOHNSON

Liquid Assets

Outdoor entertaining essentials for the consummate host.

The pages between the covers of this magazine (except for any inserted material) are printed on paper made from wood fiber that was procured from forests that are sustainably managed to remain healthy, productive and biologically diverse.

BEST. MARGARITA. EVER

I've no scientific proof to back this up, but I'm confident that one of the top five requested porch drinks is the Margarita. That's surely true in my home state of Texas, where Margaritas practically flow from fountains (and sometimes actually do). That proved a challenge when I moved to Austin in my early 30s-until I realized I'd been living in a parallel universe of tequila. You see, early on I decided I didn't like the drink. (OK, so I drank way too much of the cheap stuff one college evening; the result wasn't pretty.) Then I discovered the well-crafted stuff-a.k.a. "top-shelf" or "Cadillac" tequila, exquisitely golden, smooth, and silky. In this drink it comes with just the right amount of lime, and kick.

Serves 1

Rim: 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon lime zest, and 1 lime wedge
2 ounces high-quality tequila
1 ounce orange-flavored liqueur
1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
Garnish: Lime wheel

1. Combine salt and lime zest in a small shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a Margarita glass with the lime wedge. Dip the rim into the salt-zest mixture and set aside.

2. Combine the tequila, liqueur, and lime juice in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into prepared glass. Garnish, if desired.

Recipe by Denise Gee