The Limeless Island - B-Rad's Margatinis

There must have been more than a million lime trees on the island of Molokai'i and yet our group successfully stripped them of just about every single lime we could possibly get our hands on.  The new name for Molkai'i is the limeless island.  If you plan on visiting in the next month or so you probably won't find many limes if any at all.  I'd suggest waiting until the new crop is ripe and ready. Give it a year.

It all started when Therese and I headed to the farmer's market on our first full day on the island. Brad and Judy hollered to us as we scurried out the door excited about the food adventure awaiting us, "Make sure you get limes, lots and lots of limes." Therese hollered from the car window as we sped away "For what?" "You'll see," we heard, as their voices disappeared behind us.

The first stop on our journey was the farmer's market and amidst the huge avocados, mini sweet peppers, pineapples, guava and other exotic Hawaiian fruits and veggies we found the limes.  Lots and lots of limes. Some were large, but the majority of the limes we found were rather small.  Everyone on the trip soon learned that these were the best, not only for their amazing amount of juice, but also their bitter sweet taste.

Although we were only gone for about three hours, you would have thought it had been days.  A house filled with anxious drinkers awaited us and as we began to unload the car Brad grabbed the bags of limes, headed to the kitchen and began the juicing process. Judy helped us with the rest of the groceries and began telling us the tale of Brad's famous B-Rad's Margatini's.  One of the best margaritas I have ever had, the B-Rad is prepared with the finest of liquors and is PO-TENT.  Hence, Judy explained, the B-Rad Margatini should be shaken and strained into a martini glass.  That is of course unless you want to get really hammered.  If so, use a tumbler and pour liberally.

We drank these just about every day while lounging in the pool and ended up depleting the Molokai'ins of their precious supply of limes.  We felt bad, for about a second, when we left the island, but did so knowing that this incredible drink kept us happy and at many times a little wobbly during our incredible vacation.

Thanks to Brad and Judy for sharing the secret behind this incredible drink.

To make the tasty B-Rad Margatini use:

- 1 part good tequila
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- 1 part simple syrup (1:1 mixture sugar dissolved in water)
- 1/2 part Cointreau
- 1/2 part Grand Marnier

Shake, strain and serve in a salted martini glass OR tumbler with lots of ice.