Viva Margarita

Made from the heart of the blue agave plant, tequila is a liquor that tends to provoke strong feelings: people either rave over its rich, pungent taste or roll their eyes heavenward and recall nights that never should've been. Kerr clearly falls into the first category. In the introduction to his latest recipe book, the founder of the El Paso Chile Company exuberantly declares that the most famous tequila cocktail, the margarita, is not just a drink: rather, it's a""lifestyle,"" a""lively libation that fuels our passion for celebrations with fire and soul."" Readers who share his opinion will appreciate the bonanza of tequila cocktails he presents here. From Uber-itas that highlight""the sweet, the tart and the feisty"" tastes of a classic margarita mix to Tequila Gelatin Shooters and fruity Mango Pellegrinos and Iguanabananas, all his recipes rely upon the notorious""cactus water."" Many of the drinks are revisions of other classic cocktails: the Nacionalista is a sort of tequila Cosmopolitan; the Agave Maria is a tequila Bloody Mary. But a few of the drinks are entirely original: Stumbling Tumbleweed Punch, for example, combines limeade concentrate, tequila, creme de cassis and spicy ginger beer into a pink concoction that""has so much zing, it will put the fizz in your next backyard bash."" Thankfully, Kerr refrains from plugging his company's own dips, salsas and mixes in this book--there are only two photos of his new brand of tequila--making this an almost entirely impartial tribute to the""agave experience.""