They were writers, poets, and artists who rejected the political, literary, and artistic conventions of previous generations. This group preached non-conformity; listened to jazz—a controversial genre at the time; and took debauchery to extremes unseen at that point. The Beat Generation—Ginsberg, Burroughs, and Kerouac, to name a a few—lived up to its name. These guys lived rough.
It was Jack Kerouac who was said to have coined the term ‘Beat Generation,’ and he is also considered by historians to be the front man of the movement that was so impactful on the American cultural landscape. Kerouac and the Beat writers were the precursors to the entirety of hippie culture and many of, what we now view as, the cliché themes of the ’60s—namely: drugs, promiscuity, Eastern mysticism, and all levels of creativity and debauchery. The Beat Generation’s angsty, rough-and-tumble lifestyle and work gave way for new ways of looking at and creating art and undoubtedly had a strong influence on the cultural shift of that decade.
Like many of his famous freewheeling friends, Kerouac’s commitment to alcohol was strong, and his commitment to a quality margarita was even stronger. Kerouac discovered his love of margaritas over the course of his many adventures in Mexico, the motherland of margaritas.
This Champagne Margarita recipe is a celebratory twist on the cocktail Kerouac so adored. So “burn, burn, burn” as he famously said, and ring in the new year, “like fabulous yellow Roman candles.”
MAKES 1
Ingredients
- 3 oz Teremana Blanco (or any tequila blanco)
- 2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- ½-1 tsp triple sec
- Champagne
- 1 pinch kosher salt, for the rim
- A handful of ice cubes
- Garnish: lime wedges
Method
- Wet rim of glass with lime juice, dip rim of glass in kosher salt, and chill in freezer.
- Combine simple syrup, triple sec, tequila, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake.
- Remove glass from freezer and pour contents into glass.
- Top off with champagne to your taste. Garnish with lime wedge.
- Enjoy!
