Philip's reputation for the cruising community's finest margaritas has been growing steadily since Mexico; strictly in the name of science and for the benefit of his fellow cruisers, he has tirelessly and unselfishly toiled and, bravely using himself as a guinea pig, tested the results.  Watch out for these luscious puppies because they can sneak up on you and make you want to do a Mexican hat dance on your foredeck.  They go well with spicy appetizers such as Jalapeno Pie or Alcachofas Carina (artichoke dip) especially when the latter is made with jalapeno havarti cheese..

Limes - Mexican limones or key limes or similar

Coarse salt

Honey*

Tequila de agave

Triple Sec liqueur

Water

Ice

For one 8-10 oz. drink:

Cut in half 1-2 small limes. Slice one of the limes and run the slice around the rim of the glass. In a plate, spread out a quantity of coarse salt; invert the glass and coat the rim.

Squeeze the juice out of the lime halves into the glass using a lime squeezer. Into the juice add one teaspoon of honey and 1-2 oz of water. Stir until the honey dissolves**. Add as much ice as will fit in glass. Add two of the squeezed lime halves or, if you want to be fancy, a fresh slice of lime can be impaled on the rim of the glass..

Add 1 1/2 to 2 oz. of tequila and 1/4 to 1/2 oz. of triple sec. Stir and serve.

*  Why honey?  Simply because Carina carries no refined sugar.

** Alternatively, make up beforehand a mixture of lime juice, honey and water and refrigerate.  Use the mixture within a few days as it will start to ferment.