Patio Pitcher Margarita

The preparation

6 steps, about 10 minutes start to finish.

1. 01

   1. JUICE THE LIMES AHEAD: 8 oz is about 8 limes. Do it at 4:30 with the rest of the prep and keep the juice covered in the fridge. Cut two more limes into wedges.

2. 02

   2. Combine the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and 2 oz of agave in a pitcher. Stir 20 seconds.

3. 03

   3. TASTE IT. If the limes were sharp, add the third ounce of agave. If it tastes right, stop. The pitcher is meant to lean tart because it is going against cheese and char.

4. 04

   4. Chill the pitcher in the fridge until 7:05. No ice in the pitcher; ice goes in the glasses, so the last pour at 8:10 tastes like the first.

5. 05

   5. RIM: run a lime wedge around the outer edge of each glass and roll the outside in kosher salt. Outside only, so the first sip is the drink and not a mouthful of salt.

6. 06

   6. Fill the glass with ice, pour about 4 oz over it, drop a lime wedge in.