The Cocktail Couple: Sharing a drink with Clooney

By Kim and Robert Livengood
| 11:50 a.m. September 17, 2014

Arts + Entertainment
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It’s no secret that I absolutely love gossip magazines. You know the ones I’m talking about: "People," "US Weekly," "Star," "In Touch." As a PR girl, I try to get away with it and call it work, but I know it’s definitely a guilty pleasure.

So when I kept seeing photos of George Clooney wearing Casamigos Tequila T-shirts, it got me curious. I mean, come on —it’s George Clooney. Who wouldn’t want to spend a few hours online Googling him. Ok, Robert didn’t, which is why this particular post is coming from only one half of the Cocktail Couple.

It seems that everyone’s favorite actor, Clooney, known for on-set pranks and finally getting married (and if you didn’t know that, maybe you should get your own subscription to "People"), has gone into the spirits business. The brand officially launched last January and is privately owned by Clooney, along with celebrity restaurateur Rande Gerber and land developer Michael Meldman. For all you fellow gossip-ites, Rande is married to Cindy Crawford. And if you don’t know who that is, I might have to pay for your"People" subscription myself. Apparently, Clooney and Gerber have homes next to one another in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. So the name Casamigos roughly translates to "house of friends.” I need friends like that.

I read that they spent five years in research and doing blind taste tests. For some reason, this made me crack up. I wish I was wittier, because I know there is a really good joke in there about taking their time on research. Let me know what it is.

As I am not a tequila connoisseur, or a connoisseur of anything really, I’m not going to share a story about how I purchased their blanco and reposado tequila and my thoughts on them. There are two great reviews from people way more qualified than I, who have already done that homework assignment. Unfortunately, they both had different opinions.

http://tastetequila.com/2013/casamigos-tequila-review/

http://www.drinkspirits.com/tequila/george-clooney-casamigos-tequila-review/

I will share this with you: in my recent Sept. 8th issue of "People," there was a full-page article for “George Clooney and Rande Gerber’s ‘Casa Fresca” Margarita. The quote from the guys says that “If we are entertaining, this drink is one of the favorites that our friends ask for.” Seriously, how do I get to be their friend? I would NEVER ask someone to make me this drink. Yes, it was absolutely delicious. However, it was a lot of work to make. I guess they have a bartender on hand, so it’s probably not like asking your host to work for you during your visit.

I didn’t have any Casamigos tequila on hand when I had the urge to make one. And since we aren’t huge tequila drinkers, I figured I would use what we purchased for National Tequila Day last month,the Tierra Fertil Blanco. I followed the recipe almost exactly.

Casa Fresca Margarita

In a mixing glass (I used a shaker) muddle:

5 mint leaves
3 cucumber slices
3 lime wedges

Add 1 ½ oz. Reposado tequila
Add 1 ½ oz fresh grapefruit juice (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR JUICE IN A CAN!)
Add ice and shake.
Strain into an ice-filled glass.
They recommend salt on the rim, but I chose to ignore that
Top with club soda.
Garnish with cucumber slices, lime wedge and mint leaves.

I highly recommend making this yourself. Sorry, George, I’m not sure your tequila would make the drink better. But if you want to be my new friend, I’m happy to change my mind.

For more information (and to see a great video of George in bed) check out their website.

It is available at a few local liquor stores, but if you don’t want to make the investment just yet, the following local spots have it on hand: