From Sparrow’s cocktail list, the Juanita-Rita is our house margarita with a point of view, named for the Kirkland neighborhood we call home ($15).
About Juanita-Rita
Named for the neighborhood Sparrow calls home, Juanita, the quietly great corner of Kirkland tucked between the lake and the hills, the Juanita-Rita is our house margarita with a point of view. It uses 100% blue agave tequila, fresh lime, elderflower liqueur in place of triple sec, and a house cayenne agave nectar that puts a slow, building heat into every sip. Most margaritas use triple sec or Cointreau for citrus sweetness, but elderflower is soft, floral, and faintly lychee-forward, giving a more elegant, slightly more complex margarita that still drinks as fresh and lively as the classic. The spiced rim finishes it.
The Recipe
- 2 oz 100% Blue Agave Tequila (Blanco or Reposado)
- 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.5 oz Elderflower Liqueur
- 0.5 oz Cayenne Agave Nectar
- Spiced salt rim
Rim half the glass with spiced salt so guests can choose their sip. Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass, or up into a coupe. The cayenne agave nectar is the secret: agave nectar infused with cayenne pepper, introducing a building heat that arrives after the first sip and lingers through the finish. It is not a hot cocktail, it is a cocktail that gets more interesting the further you drink.
Tasting Notes
Crisp and bright from the first sip. Fresh lime leads, the elderflower adds softness and a floral note, and the tequila’s roasted agave character grounds the drink. Then the cayenne agave nectar arrives, a slow warmth that builds. The spiced rim adds texture and a hit of savory salt on every sip. Refreshing on first contact, layered on reflection.
What to Pair It With
This is Sparrow’s most versatile cocktail. Order it with nearly anything on the dinner menu, and it is particularly excellent with the Lamb Quesa-Birria Tacos, the Mussels and Sausages, or the American Wagyu steaks where fresh lime cuts the richness. A natural on our four-season patio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Juanita-Rita different from a regular margarita?
It uses elderflower liqueur instead of triple sec for a softer floral note, plus a house cayenne agave nectar that adds a slow building heat. It is named for Sparrow’s Juanita neighborhood in Kirkland.
How much is the Juanita-Rita at Sparrow?
It is $15 at Sparrow in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Fancy Feather and the Raspberry Fields Forever. We are on the Eastside in Kirkland, so reserve a table and come taste it.