Citrus season has arrived at Taco Mama with its seasonal blood orange margarita. The Hustler wound down at Taco Mama on a Thursday night, sampling pomegranate and blood orange margaritas alongside a selection of chips and dips.
If you’re 21 or older and looking for something to spice up your happy hour, look no further than these staples. We had the option of salting or sugaring the rims of our cups, and the pitchers themselves were decorated with citrus slices.
Jorie Fawcett, Senior Advisor
I have to admit that during my first two years at Vanderbilt, I was a Taco Mama hater. I did not understand why someone would willingly wait outside in the cold for tacos and margaritas. However, once I was introduced to the frozen pomegranate margarita, my life was changed. Soon enough, I found myself in the 5 p.m. line in the freezing cold, anxiously awaiting my turn to order at the dark, yet magical, Taco Mama counter. In addition to the margaritas, we also ordered the sampler platter of chips, guacamole, traditional salsa and queso dip. I had never ordered the queso, which will definitely change after this trip. It was perfectly cheesy and warm, with a subtle spice. My only gripe with the entire experience was that my hands ended up extremely sticky after passing around the margarita pitchers.
Michael Carroll, Staff Writer
The seasonal blood orange margarita is perfect for those who prefer a less sweet, more straightforward margarita. While at Taco Mama, we couldn’t help but try the tried and true, and favorite of The Hustler, frozen pomegranate margarita. This was a welcome deviation as we were enamored by the overwhelmingly flavorful, almost candy-like frozen pomegranate. While this particular margarita had the unfortunate habit of getting too icy, this was remedied by mixing its blood orange counterpart. Together, these drinks created the best of both worlds. The punchiness of the blood orange complemented the tartness and sweetness of the pomegranate. At the same time, this mixture created an easier-to-drink slushy texture between bites of chips and salsa. To put it simply, we came for the blood orange, rediscovered the pomegranate and stayed for the mixture of the two. Being newly 21, I am new to the world of margaritas, and I was pleasantly surprised by both options. I felt like I experienced two different, but successful ways of concocting a fruity margarita. I will definitely be returning to try more Taco Mama variations.
Brina Ratangee, Editorial Director
The frozen pomegranate margarita, simply put, is perfect. It was a nice, icy blend that balanced the sweet yet tart flavor and the strength of the tequila. The blood orange was an energizing blast of citrus — not bad by any means — but clearly second-fiddle to the pomegranate. With less ice to counterbalance the tequila, the blood orange definitely packed a stronger punch. The magic however lies in a combination of the two — a concoction we stumbled upon in trying not to waste a drop of either drink.
Rhea Patney, Managing Editor
As a Zeppos resident, I typically opt for Oscar’s over Taco Mama for margaritas, primarily because of its convenient location. However, after trying the pomegranate margarita, I can confidently say that the trek across campus for this drink is worth it. The combination of sweetness and tartness mixed with the tequila was just delicious. The margarita’s icy cold, thick texture added to the overall effect of its flavor. I opted to salt the rim of my cup (for the texture, I can’t taste salt), which added a nice crunch to the experience. My only gripe with this margarita was that the straws provided were too small to drink it effectively. Drinking straight from the glass was impossible due to the frozen nature of the drink, so I just had to settle for micro-sized sips. The blood orange margarita was certainly stronger — it did not mask the tequila quite as much as the pomegranate. However, this margarita made life feel like summer (which, in this 20-degree weather, is much needed). The pomegranate was my favorite, but the blood orange certainly doesn’t deserve hate. The chips and dip we tried were excellent — the guacamole was well-flavored, the queso was warm and the salsa had a nice amount of spice without being too overwhelming. This appetizer was the perfect complement to the margarita experience.
Pragya Shah, Senior Staff Writer
In consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures, we’re all looking for a little pick-me-up. You might be a latte or a hot chocolate person, or you might want something a little less conventional –– enter Taco Mama’s blood orange margarita. It may sound like a bloody mary (and if you’re anything like me, this might put you off), but I can attest that this concoction is something entirely different. With a bit of citrus, a bit of sweet and a bit of a punch, this margarita had all the makings of a sweet summer day — except, it just so happens to be a winter seasonal special. And, if you’re feeling even more adventurous, I suggest mixing the blood orange with one of Taco Mama’s other delicious margarita offerings. Pair these with some chips and salsa as we did, and you just might be able to forget the freezing weather.
Arden Madden, Staff Writer
Living off-campus, I tend to choose Mexican restaurants based on proximity to my house, normally leading me to Cinco de Mayo or Las Palmas. However, after our visit to Taco Mama, it’s earned a spot in my rotation. We started with “The Sampler,” which came with salsa, queso and guacamole — my favorite part of Mexican food. Out of our two pitchers, seasonal blood orange margarita and the infamous pomegranate margarita, the pomegranate was the clear winner flavor-wise, but it gave us some trouble in its icy form. We opted to mix in some of the on-the-rocks blood orange margarita to fix the texture issue. The blood orange was refreshing, but I don’t like mixing flavors, so the hint of spice with the sweetness was a no for me. (Most of my issues with flavor are personal problems and not the fault of Taco Mama.) However, there was one major issue: there was not enough alcohol in either margarita. Taco Mama’s margarita pitchers essentially function as large quantities of juice. I love juice, but when I reach for a margarita, I have a specific goal in mind — the buzz. To give the margaritas a fair shot, I dragged my good friend, Pragya, back to Taco Mama three days later to decide if the first pitcher was a fluke. We split an entire pitcher and walked out feeling more sober than when we walked in.
Olga Konstantara, Staff Writer
As an impatient person, I typically dread long lines and the anticipation of being seated. Yet, time and again, I find myself standing in Taco Mama’s out-the-door queue because my cravings for their quesadillas and margaritas outweigh my restlessness. A sucker for sour flavors, I can’t resist nibbling on the lime garnish that comes with many of their cocktails and beers. Their seasonal blood orange margarita, a perfect blend of bitter and citrus notes, not only satisfied my love for all things tart but left me yearning for another glass. Considering that my spice tolerance is fairly low, the blood orange margarita quenched the salsa’ heat, giving a refreshing balance to the meal. The friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere at Taco Mama reminded me that even strangers can bond over margaritas and turn fleeting moments into meaningful connections.