Toreador
A sour and fruity tequila cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 18.4% ABV ∙
The Toreador is a tequila sour of blanco tequila, apricot liqueur, and fresh lime, a classic that appeared in print before the Margarita did.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Tequila blanco 45 mlApricot brandy liqueur 20 mlLime juice 20 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim
Tips
- The 5 ml of syrup just takes the edge off the lime; taste before adding more so the drink stays tart.
History
The Toreador is a tequila sour that is largely unknown in the United States but treated as a standard classic in Australia, where most professional bartenders keep it in their working repertoire. Hayden Lambert, owner of the Melbourne bar Above Board, has described it as "classic but not extremely well-known."
Its earliest known print appearance is in William J. Tarling's 1937 Café Royal Cocktail Book in London — among that book's fifteen tequila recipes, printed sixteen years before the Margarita's name first appeared — though who created the drink, and where, is not documented.
FAQ
What is a Toreador cocktail?
A shaken tequila sour of blanco tequila, apricot liqueur, and fresh lime, often likened to a fruitier Margarita.
What is in a Toreador?
Blanco tequila, apricot brandy liqueur, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a touch of sugar syrup.
Is a Toreador shaken or stirred?
Shaken. With citrus in it, the Toreador gets a hard shake with ice for about 15 seconds, then a fine strain to catch the ice shards.
What glass is a Toreador served in?
A Toreador is served up in a chilled coupe glass, garnished with a lime wedge. Chilling the coupe first keeps the drink cold since it is served without ice.
How is a Toreador different from a Margarita?
A Toreador uses apricot liqueur where a Margarita uses orange liqueur such as triple sec, giving it a softer stone-fruit sweetness. Both are shaken tequila-and-lime sours served up.
