Margarita time 60+ tequila & mezcal cocktails, served up, over & blended

Cocktail critic Pardilla debuts with an impassioned ode to the margarita in every shape and size. A true scholar of mixology, she shares a well of bartending lore while conjuring an impressively vast array of riffs on the drink, from classic to botanical, as in a Georgia O'Keeffe--inspired iteration garnished with an edible pansy. Another version calls for fresh green juice, while the "al pastor" margarita is made with a bespoke "taco mix syrup." Some recipes bring the heat, such as a guava habanero twist out of Singapore's celebrated 28 HongKong Street, while others bring the ice, like a slushy blended margarita made with sherry hailing from Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Room. The approachable prose and appealing photography help the cocktails jump off the page while in-depth sidebars break down types of tequila, blending methods, and the pleasures of Oaxaca worm salt. Frequent shout-outs to storied bars and mixologists who each put their own--sometimes quite subtle--spin on the margarita make this playful collection a celebration of bartending innovation. It's an ideal gift for tequila enthusiasts. (Mar.)