The Margarita Brand That Top NZ Chefs Are Raving About
BY SOPHIE CHUNG
Michael Meredith said that it’s “the best pre-mixed margarita out there, even better than most freshly bar made.” So I’d say that it settles the verdict.
6 MAR - 2025
Five stars from us boozehags too.
Amidst the chaos of lockdown, many businesses and ventures were born, driven by innovation and necessity. In this case, a legendary ready-to-serve margarita brand was created from the people’s need to drink a decent marg at home. And I totally get it. Even though it only consists of 3 ingredients, it’s just not the same as when a professional makes it.
You might remember Besos Latinos Ceviche Bar, the vibrant spot in Wynyard Quarter known for its authentic Latin American dishes and drinks. Accruing a loyal base of regulars, some of its punters included Pearl Jam and Barack Obama over its years. Slay. When COVID hit, the owners, Luis Cabrera and his wife Cecilia Lara, began bottling their signature margarita for their customers and local liquor store around the corner.
What started as a business pivot, soon turned into a nationwide sensation with online orders pouring in from around the country. Though the pandemic forced the closure of their restaurants, Luis and Cecilia turned their challenges into an opportunity for reinvention, and Besos Margarita was brought to life.
Besos Margarita
“I’m from Mexico. I grew up in Jalisco and I think people deserve to be drinking a proper margarita,” Luis says. Back when Luis ran his restaurants, his mission was to bring the true flavors of Latin America to New Zealand – and with the new margarita range, that same passion and commitment still holds strong.
“When you have a premium tequila or a premium mezcal in Mexico, you don’t do shots, you kiss it.” This is where the name ‘Besos’ comes from. Meaning ‘kisses’ in Spanish, the brand’s name honours the Mexican tradition of appreciating every sip. “This is a product that is being made by generations; people who wake up at 3am to get into the fields with their families and make this product happen. I want to make sure it’s not just appreciated, but respected. It makes me proud and it’s a pride I want to share,” says Luis.
Made from 100% blue agave, Besos Margarita is on a mission to deliver restaurant-quality margaritas in the most convenient way possible. No mixing, no fuss, just pure, ready-to-serve perfection.
“It’s not just one spoon of this and one spoon of that. I was working with milliliters or two individual grams of variation until I achieved a recipe that I was blown away by,” Luis says.
Acclaimed chefs like Michael Meredith, Peter Gordon, Simon Gault, and Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas have all raised a glass to the Clásica margarita.
A World-Class Cocktail
Reaping the rewards of meticulous craftsmanship, Besos Margarita proudly earned Triple Gold at the Major Liquid Spirits Awards 2023, Gold at the prestigious European Spirits Challenge 2023, Gold at the London Awards 2023, Gold at the American Wines Paper 2023, Gold at the China Wine & Spirits Awards 2023 and Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023. These accolades not only reinforces the brand's credibility but also positions it as a world-class spirit in the competitive global beverage industry.
But the accolades don’t stop there. Closer to home, Besos has also won the hearts—and palates—of New Zealand’s finest culinary experts. Acclaimed chefs like Michael Meredith, Peter Gordon, Simon Gault, and Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas have all raised a glass to the Clásica margarita.
Michael calls it “the best pre-mixed margarita out there, even better than most freshly bar-made.” Peter claimed, “It’s about as good as it gets.” Simon described it as “an absolute gamechanger.” Cameron said it’s “the only pre-mixed margarita worth considering.” And Kerry? “Be prepared to experience the extraordinary!” So I’d say the unanimous approval settles the verdict.
But if you’re not convinced by the awards and what the industry professionals are saying from near and far, I’ll vouch for it too - just in case my humble opinion is of importance to you. After all, Chatty Chums is about beauty and booze so I guess I’m an expert of sorts - sitting at the higher end of ‘pleb’ and way lower end of ‘expert’ in any sense of the word. Anyway, as a discerning booze enthusiast who’s tried most of the options at any given West Auckland liquor store (I haven’t tapped into the stock at Glengarry’s yet - Aroha, are you reading this?) and asks way too many questions while investigating my palate’s range at cocktail bars, I can say that Besos will give you a world-class margarita experience. Not that I’ve been to Mexico or Latin America. I’ve been to L.A. though and that’s pretty close to the border.
Carrying on with my opinion… My favourite from the Besos range is the Margarita Habanero. It’s unlike any of the spicy margs that you would’ve tried and loved at any New Zealand institution. It’s got a big kick of heat and flavour - spicy, sweet and tangy all at the same time, she’s bold yet smooth and has that fiery thrill that will make you come back for more. I guess it’s got that addictive quality that Buldak ramen has. Sorry to Luis for the comparison but it’s a global sensation and I’m hooked.
Besos also have a canned RTD marg called Ligera which is 7% and comes in a 4-pack. I recently took them to the theatres to watch Babygirl which made the movie much better than it actually is. I was fist-pumping during the rave scene - a core memory and seminal moment which has awakened my need to wear business casual in a nightclub - groundbreaking.
Anyway, you should try it with your girlfriends. All you have to do is pour it over ice so even if you’re really uncoordinated and can’t shake a shaker, you’ll be totally fine. I recommend listening to ‘Crush’ after a couple of them.
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