Pity the margarita. It’s so typecast, always appearing alongside nachos and tacos. Truth is, though, its perfect balance of sweet and sour and its simple formula form an ideal baseline from which a clever drink maker can riff. That’s exactly what bar manager Kevin Mabry does at the very un-Mexican Capo, a sprawling Italian ristorante. His spin, the Don Corleone, adds blood orange puree or sorbet to the standard tequila/orange liqueur/lime recipe, giving the drink a sweeter personality. That’s an offer you can’t refuse.

Liza Weisstuch

DON CORLEONE

Makes 1 cocktail

1½ ounces blanco tequila

¾ ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

½ ounce blood orange puree (or 1 ounce blood orange sorbet)

½ ounce lime juice

1 orange wheel

1. In a shaker with ice, add tequila, curacao, puree or sorbet, and lime juice. Shake.

2. Double-strain into a tumbler over ice.

3. Garnish with orange wheel.

Adapted from Capo

Liza Weisstuch can be reached at liza.weisstuch@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @livingtheproof.