Tequila lovers in Jakarta may finally rejoice – the Margarita cocktail is finally being given the love and appreciation it deserves here. The Indonesian capital is joining in on the US-born tradition of National Margarita Day (Feb 22) this year to celebrate the iconic cocktail.
But one day isn’t enough. Instead, major tequila brand Jose Cuervo is hosting their own Cuervo Margarita Festival from February 12 and 25. The main attraction will be seven hand-picked establishments in Jakarta (and two in Bali) that will be serving up their own unique take on the margarita during these dates.
Luckily, we’ve already done the hard yards, taking on the very serious task of tipping back every signature margarita that’ll be available here in Jakarta. Here are the ones you should look out for:
De Luca
De Luca’s cocktail is an excellent intro to the world of margaritas. Clouded, muted lemon tones replace the lime and make the drink refreshing and ultra-smooth. The glass doesn’t have a salt rim, making it much easier on the palate. It’s shaken and served with a frothy top and a single pink rose petal.
Rating: 9 stars out of 10.
Savoi Ultra Lounge
The team at Savoi have pulled together a somewhat experimental combination of a margarita and a mojito with the addition of glace cherry and cucumber. Does it work? Yes, kind of. It strays a little far from its margarita roots, but it’s perfect for those not so keen on the sharp tang of the original cocktail.
Rating: 6 stars out of 10.
Super Loco
Super Loco pulled out all the stops for their creation, and the effort has absolutely paid off. Blood orange, guava juice and agave (imported directly from Mexico) bring a deeper, full-bodied range of flavors to the drink which make it different from all the others. Bartender Mirwansyah, better known to his fans as ‘Bule’, said that the team wanted to keep it simple but add fruity vibes to the traditional recipe, which is usually dominated by lime.
Rating: 10 stars out of 10, and also the winners of the people’s choice award.
Lucy in the Sky
Although not our favorite, this cocktail definitely ticks all the boxes for flavor, texture and presentation. The addition of grapefruit juice and spiced honey gives it a bitter-sweet kick, while the creamy whipped topping is an excellent contrast to the tangy drink itself.
Rating: 8 stars out of 10.
Publik Markette
Another with floral inspirations, Publik Markette’s concoction was probably the strongest out of the seven. Big hits of syrup, rose and tequila come through first in this drink, which has a beautiful pale pink color. The glass is rimmed with salt and flower specks and looks very delicate for a cocktail with such potent flavors.
Rating: 6 stars out of 10.
The Cuervo Margarita Festival Indonesia will take place February 12-25. Participating establishments in Jakarta include Por Que No, Publik Markette, De Luca, Wilshire, Lucy in The Sky and SAVOI.
Coconuts Media attended the Cuervo Margarita Festival preview as a press guest of Jose Cuervo.
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