Tequila Summer Shandy

Ever since my first trip to Paris with my buddy, Dirty, I always thought the idea of tequila flavored beer was just wrong. Mostly, this was due to purchasing a single can of “Desperados – Tequila Flavored Beer,” from a convenience store in Paris. Needless to say, that decision was a regrettable one; however, I seem to have overcome my trauma. After concocting a tasty beverage that incorporates tequila and lemonade flavored beer into one refreshing summer drink, I feel like giving a lot of things a second chance!

Makes one drink at about 165 calories.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Tequila (Tequila Blanco – about 69 cal.)
• 8 oz. Summer Shandy Beer (about 92 cal.)
• 2 – 3 Fresh basil leaves
• Two 1/8 lime wedges
• 4 – 6 cubes of ice
• Optional: Coarse sea salt

Equipment:

• Tall pint or cocktail glass
• Jigger or other ounce measurement tool
• Muddler
• Stirrer
• Knife

Directions:

1. In order to start, get the lime wedges (or slices if you prefer) ready. First, cut a lime in half, cut one half in half again, and then cut one of those smaller pieces in half once more to create two 1/8 lime wedges. If you prefer large, round slices, then just cut a lime in half and cut two thin, full slices from half of the lime.
2. At this point if you want to rim the glass with salt, then pour out a thin layer of coarse sea salt (Kosher salt will also do in a pinch), on a small plate. Then take a piece of lime and run it along the rim of the glass while squeezing very very lightly. This is just to get a little moisture from the lime on the rim. Then turn the glass over and dip the rim into the salt on the plate.
3. Next, drop the 1/8 lime wedge (or 1/4 lime wedge if you want even more lime flavor) into the glass along with two fresh basil leaves.
   
4. Using a muddler, lightly crush the lime and basil leaves at the bottom of the glass. You just want to bruise the basil leaves rather than destroy them. If you muddle the basil too much, you’ll end up with little basil bits floating in the drink and some people may not like that.
   
5. Toss in a few ice cubes so that the glass is mostly full (4-5 should work) and pour the 1 oz. of tequila over the ice. One trick before you put the ice in the glass is to rinse them in water just before using them. This makes the ice smooth and causes less bubbling/frothing when pouring carbonated beverages over the ice.
   
6. Next, crack open a can or bottle of your favorite summer shandy and slowly pour about 8 – 10 oz. (or until the glass is full) of beer into the glass.
7. Use a cocktail stirrer to stir the drink without jostling the ice too much or causing the beer to fizz. The main reason this drink is stirred and not shaken like James Bond would prefer, is because shaking a carbonated beverage is just a bad idea.
8. Lastly, garnish the beer with a lime wedge hanging off the glass or a basil leaf floating on top.