Don't get us wrong, we love limes. But these days tequila is flirting with a wide range of fun flavors for margaritas of all shakes. Here are a few places where we applaud the liquor's promiscuity.
Cactus Margarita
$8, $4 Sun-Thu, 5-9 p.m.
We went naked at Lopez when we ordered the cactus margarita though we did have the option of sugar, salt or a spicy citrus-pepper rub. All natural seemed a good fit for this prickly plant-inspired cocktail served on the rocks: It's tangy and savory like fruit punch. Lopez, 2196 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-932-9000, lopezonlee.com
Mango Mint Margarita
$6, $4 Mon-Fri, 4-7 p.m.
Fresh mango offers a sourness similar to limes but without the lip-puckering reaction. Much of that is thanks to the sugar that rims the glass. It's a sweet balance coolly finished by fresh mint leaves. You can upgrade to higher-test tequila for $2, but it's still just as refreshing and buzz-worthy with the well stuff. Johnny Mango, 3120 Bridge Ave., 216-575-1919, jmango.com
Chocolate Covered Cherry
Margarita
$7, all day, every day
Finally, we tequila drinkers have our version of a chocolate martini without the vodka. It's technically an after-dinner drink, but don't let that stop you (it didn't stop us!) from sipping Patron XO coffee-flavored tequila and cranberry juice sweetened to a cherry flavor from amaretto and cream. Zocalo, 2071 E. Fourth St., 216-781-0420, zocalocleveland.com
