Strawberry Basil & Kick-Ass Margaritas at Tia Juana's

Jessica Ford

Strawberry Basil Margarita

​It's time to encourage double-fisting for our Drink of the Week. Tia Juana's in Irvine makes two specialty margaritas that stand out from the rest: the Strawberry Basil and the Kick-Ass. Of course you can choose to have just one, but if you're going to attempt the Kick-Ass, you may want to have a recovery drink waiting.

The Strawberry Basil is a light, refreshing margarita made with Herradura Silver tequila, muddled basil and fresh strawberries, lime juice, and agave nectar. It's on the level of mimosas and Bloody Marys for those looking for an early-afternoon drink. 

The Kick-Ass is at the complete other end of the margarita spectrum. El Jimador Silver Tequila is shaken with muddled pineapple, lime juice, agave nectar, and Serrano peppers. The peppers add a strong kick (duh!) with every sip. It may, in fact, kick your ass, but you won't be able to stop drinking until you conquer it.

Tia Juana's Long Bar & Grill, 14988 Sand Canyon, Irvine, (949) 551-2998; www.tiajuanas.com.