When I first saw the Absolut Cilantro vodka I knew I had to have it.  I LUV Cilantro…well almost as much as I love Vodka!!!

Over the last few years, Absolut has been at the forefront of introducing new and interesting flavored vodkas (well ahead of the pack of other vodka brands and with excellent results) from their signature city series dedicated to San Francisco (grape,dragon fruit, and papaya) , Miami (passionfruit and orange blossom), Chicago (olive and rosemary), Boston (black tea and elderflower flavored), Brooklyn (red apple and ginger), New Orleans (mango and black pepper), and Los Angeles (acai, acerola, pomegranate, and blueberry) to their innovative flavors like Wild Tea, Mango, Hibiskus, and Orient Apple.  So I did what anyone does when they want something in 2013…I posted a plea on social media for someone, anyone to get it for me!  Luckily, it is pretty readily available at most specialty wine and spirits stores.

The flavor is actually a mix of aromatic cilantro and vibrant lime.  It smells good and has a smooth finish.  As part of the launch, they promoted a signature cocktail using their newest flavor – the Absolut Cilantro Rita, so I thought I’d start there and try it before I started experimenting in other adventures of mixology.

It is a pretty simple recipe, you basically make a margarita and substitute the tequila for Absolut Cilantro.  And the secret with all great ‘ritas is the fresh lime juice.  The finished product is an awesome twist on a classic and it is fresh, light, and crisp.  It definitely works!!