Best margarita-making device for <= $250?

June 5, 2009 11:38 AM

Mrs. Everichon has requested a "serious margarita maker" for her birthday. The SkyMall/Amazon breed of dedicated margarita makers look suspicious and gimmicky to me. What do actual bars use to make great margarita ice? Is there a special device, or is it just a restaurant-grade blender? I see that the industrial-grade Cool Technologies Margarita Machine runs about $3,500; my budget has a ceiling of, say, $250.
posted by everichon to food & drink (22 answers total)

Perhaps this blender?
posted by mrmojoflying at 11:44 AM on June 5, 2009

yeah, you need a kick-ass pro blender.
posted by gnutron at 11:50 AM on June 5, 2009

The machines that many bars use are actually more like Icee machines than blenders. They have a mix, they pour it in, it freezes, they sploog it out into glasses and serve.

I think the SkyMall-type makers are essentially a blender with a spigot to make dispensing easier. You can also buy non-margarita-branded blenders like this (smoothie machines). My primary concern would be winding up with something that lacks good motor strength to chop up the ice.

Another option is to make margaritas in an ice-cream maker. I think this gives a better icy texture to frozen drinks than blending with ice.

It is worth noting that a "serious margarita" is appropriately served on the rocks, which renders a machine unnecessary. /margarita snobbery
posted by jeoc at 11:51 AM on June 5, 2009 [3 favorites]

How about a Blendtec Blender. Check out their ongoing series of Will it Blend? videos. If it can pulverize concrete, then it should handle some ice cubes.
posted by aGee at 11:56 AM on June 5, 2009

It is worth noting that a "serious margarita" is appropriately served on the rocks, which renders a machine unnecessary.

Let the permanent internet record show that I agree with this statement.
posted by everichon at 12:01 PM on June 5, 2009 [10 favorites]

I know you can rent the professional ones, although I have no idea how much it would cost. Check local party rental and catering places.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:04 PM on June 5, 2009

You want something like this.

I like these blenders because the stainless steel container can absorb abuse (because I know at some point I will drop it, toss something in the sink on top of it, etc, and a glass container is just begging me to break it), it's got stainless steel blades and a 1/2 HP engine powerful enough to break down ice and QUICK enough to do so before friction between the ice and blades creates too much meltwater. Also, it only has two buttons. You don't need eleventy dozen settings: you just need "make margarita" and "pulverize this on a molecular level" settings. The shape of the container is important, too. This one claims some crap about a Wave-Action™ system: I dobn't know what that means, but if it means the ice won't stick in the corners and refreeze into solid chunks, then that's a Good Thing.

Summary:

Stainless steel blades and container
1/2 HP engine
Container designed to move circulate ice and prevent clumping
The simpler the controls, the better
Few grooves, ridges, or flashy design frippery that makes the base harder to wipe clean
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:06 PM on June 5, 2009 [2 favorites]

A FOAF just got one of these Margaritaville blenders as a gift. It's a bit over your budget but he was pretty happy to receive the thing.

Me, I like an old-school Waring with the high-low switch.
posted by bink at 12:08 PM on June 5, 2009

A frozen margarita is made in a machine identical to those that make Slurpees/ICEEs. My dad bought a refurbished 7-11 machine from a dealer for $1000. That is probably about as cheap as it gets for a machine that agitates while freezing.

Your other option is a fancy blender, but you aren't really making a frozen margarita anymore. You are making a margarita on the very-very-small rocks.
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 12:11 PM on June 5, 2009

Just get a bar blender. Any bar blender will do. They are pretty cheap in restaurant equipment stores that do not solely operate in wholesale. My old bar blender came used from my mom and was about 35 years old before it finally kicked it. It was used primarily to make fruity booze drinks.
posted by shownomercy at 12:26 PM on June 5, 2009

Bitter Old Punk didn't mention it, but he is (was?) a bartender, so he knows what he's talking about.
posted by Evangeline at 12:26 PM on June 5, 2009

Oops "for her birthday" meaning gift as opposed to "to use for a party". In that case, I agree with Bitter Old Punk...the key is to get one with On, Low, High, and Off as the only settings.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:30 PM on June 5, 2009

I'm not really answering the question but I've heard people use ice cream makers for frozen margaritas before. It seems like the same concept as a slurpee machine with freezing and agitation at the same time. How well can you repurpose an ice cream machine for margaritas or does the alcohol content require more freezing?
posted by woolylambkin at 4:08 PM on June 5, 2009

I've used an ice cream machine to make frozen bellinis before, it works quite well. All your ingredients should start as cold as possible to make it fast.

Personally I've never had a margarita from a blender that tasted like a restaurant frozen margarita. Mostly they taste like water/ice. I prefer them on the rocks though.
posted by RustyBrooks at 5:07 PM on June 5, 2009

We have a BlendTec blender. Keep in mind that I am the kind of person who absolutely hates purchasing household appliances twice. With that said, I have been extremely satisfied with it for the nearly two years (so far) that I've owned it. You can put frozen fruit in there and turn it into sorbet. It's insane. It's principal function is to kick the ever living shit out of ice.

If you have neighbors, note also that it is very fucking loud.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:17 PM on June 5, 2009

If you're blending the ice, chill the ingredients first so that it doesn't get real watery real fast.
posted by aubilenon at 5:21 PM on June 5, 2009

I just bought this slushie maker for my kiddo, and now I'm thinking that it would make amaaaaazing margaritas. It makes great slushies, at least, grinds the ice down nicely.
posted by lemniskate at 5:53 PM on June 5, 2009

Be careful, recall that margarita machines ruined the economy! :)

How much does she like margaritas? A dedicated machine seems overkill, so I'd choose a good blender.

However, in general, I prefer non-frozen margaritas (original?).
posted by reddot at 8:08 PM on June 5, 2009

not on the blender front - but on the making better girlie drinks front. spend the 99 cents and pick up a bag of ice from sonic. make sure your ingredients are COLD. blend it in whatever blender you choose. you'll get better results than starting with ice cubes or grocery store ice.
posted by nadawi at 11:13 PM on June 5, 2009

Do you have a refrigerator that makes crushed ice? Well, on the off chance you do then all you need is one of those $30 hand blenders and you can whip up a frozen margarita anytime to whatever consistency you desire. You can also make really quick smoothies as well with the bonus of an extremely easy cleanup - which is always the biggest impediment for me to doing it more often.
posted by any major dude at 11:37 PM on June 5, 2009

Followup: I purchased the very model that BitterOldPunk linked to, a Hamilton Beach HBB250, with a stainless steel container.

Result: Totally badass. It reduces ice to a frozen meringue. Highly recommended. Spouse is stoked.
posted by everichon at 9:10 AM on June 29, 2009

Huzzah!

Margaritas for all my men!
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:23 AM on June 29, 2009