Cocktail of the Month: Passion Fruit Margarita

From mixologist Aaron Joseph of Baltimore, MD, this margarita incorporates a spiced passion fruit syrup with classic margarita ingredients and a little bit of heat. It's a twist on a classic recipe and perfect for sipping, especially if you enjoy fruity margaritas. 

Aaron's Passion Fruit Margarita is in the running for Patron's Margarita of the Year competition! You can vote once every day until April 16th! Click here and vote for his Passion Fruit Margarita today!

Margarita Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Patrón Silver

• .5 oz Patrón Citrónge Orange

• .75 oz Spiced passion fruit syrup*

• .5 oz Lime juice

• Add Orange wedge, jalapeño coin & mint sprig for garnish

*Spiced passion fruit syrup ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• a few sliced jalapeño

• 1/2 cup Passion fruit puree (such as Boiron)

• Boil water and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add jalapeño, turn on low heat and allow syrup to reduce for 15 minutes. Take off heat and allow to cool, with jalapeño. Once cool, strain and add passion fruit puree, stirring to combine. Store refrigerated one week.

Instructions:

1. Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill.

2. Strain onto fresh ice in a double old fashioned glass.

3. Garnish with mint sprig, jalapeño slice, and orange half-moon while reading The (Baltimore) Sun.

Cheers!

Why You Should Consider Getting CLEAR

If you follow me on social media (hint, hint), you know I'm Global Entry's biggest fan. It's the fastest way to re-enter the country and breeze your way through customs. It's seriously one of the best ideas Homeland Security's ever had. But what about saving time on the front end of your trip?

TSA Pre-check was all the rage some years ago. But since everyone has gotten it through their credit cards and Global Entry, lines for PreCheck can be as long as they are for regular security. That's where CLEAR comes in.

I first signed up for CLEAR when I was flying to Atlanta last year and saw that the PreCheck line was around the corner. Patience has never been a virtue of mine and the rep for CLEAR just so happened to be standing there. She asked if I'd like to give it a try and I thought why the hell not. Sign up was simple and right there on the spot.

The rep told me that the cost was $179 for the year but I had two months to cancel. $179 sounded really steep to me in the moment but I made a mental note to cancel before the 30 day trial period was over. After the quick finger print scan and sign up with my information, the rep escorted me to the front of the TSA PreCheck line and BAM! I went through security quicker than ever before. With CLEAR, you're able to essentially bypass the entire security line, whether you have PreCheck or not. You don't even need ID! The kiosk uses your fingerprints or eye scan to determine your identity. It's awesome.

I've used CLEAR every time I've gone to the airport since then and each time, it's truly refreshing to skip the line and silently one-up everyone still standing in line. The downside? It's $179 per year. I'm not gonna lie. My feelings were hurt when I saw my account debited for what seemed like an unnecessary purchase at the time. I wondered to myself if I'd really use it. I've used it every time I've gone to the airport since enrolling so it's a small price to pay for someone who travels often. I love skipping lines wherever possible and this just made boarding my flight that much easier. Since the price is a little high, I highly recommend CLEAR for frequent travelers. If you don't travel often, PreCheck may still be an okay, less costly option for you. 

You can also use CLEAR at stadiums and arenas. I've never seen it at a stadium but hey, they say it's there. So what do you think? Would you give CLEAR a try?