Mírate, a renowned Los Angeles restaurant, treads new waters with a scrumptious tropical twist to the classic margarita. Concocted from coconut-washed reposado tequila, along with coconut cream, coconut liqueur, and a dash of fresh lime juice, this enticing margarita rendition has earned its place in many a customer's heart.

The driving force behind this creative beverage is Maxwell Reis, the beverage director at Mírate. He conceived this creamy delight as an homage to El Cholo, the forerunners that brought Mexican restaurant-style burritos into the American mainstream back in the 1930s. Reis recounts comically that his decision to innovate on the coconut margarita he and his friend had previously enjoyed was akin to an inside joke gone right. This gave birth to the Mírate Coconut Margarita.

Mírate's bar program, established only in 2022 in Los Feliz, has already gained recognition for its predominant emphasis on agave spirits. Its commitment to uplifting smaller producers and hosting informational tasting events has seen it named among F&W Global Tastemakers Awards' Top Bars in the U.S., as well as earned the 12th spot on World’s 50 Best Bars in North America.

Reposado tequila, typically associated with a more earthy, woodsy flavor pallet, surprisingly marries well with the subtly nutty and tropical notes of coconut. Reis favors G4 Tequila, a reposado variant infused with a hint of toasted coconut. This potent mix is washed overnight with toasted coconut flakes, enhancing the tequila's innate coconut notes even further. To add to this, Reis uses Kalani for the coconut liqueur, a brand that merges fresh coconut milk with a Mexican rum base made from sugar cane.

Ready to break the monotonous margarita rut, Reis came up with a surprisingly delicate drink that intertwined five different types of coconut while still maintaining balance. Additionally, they incorporated a homemade coconut cream, but enthusiasts can substitute this with Coco Lopez blended with coconut milk or another coconut cream of their choice for a more hands-on approach.

What one might expect to be an overpowering coconut circus, turns out to be a symphony of nuances. The toasty agave notes from the reposado tequila slice through the creamy coconut, while fresh lime juice helps to offset the sweetness ensuring an overall balance. It's like a tropical vacation served in a glass.

"The drink played a significant role in inspiring our new venture, Daisy Margarita Bar," reveals Reis. Now, for those residing in or visiting Los Angeles, there are two venues where they can try this popular beverage. Alternatively, for the brave and adventurous, why not try recreating this tropical delight at home?

The recipe for the signature margarita using toasted coconut washed tequila, Kalani Coconut Liqueur, Mírate’s homemade coconut cream and freshly squeezed lime juice is given here. Garnish the cocktail with toasted coconut flakes and, voila, you have a taste of the tropics right at home!