Tasting Margarita Mixes for National Margarita Day, So You Won't Have To

First three ingredients: water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid

Most questionable ingredient: SAIB (sucrose acetoisobutyrate)

Jose Cuervo's mix has very little odor and is the color of watered down fresh lime juice, which is weird because there's none in it. Still it has a less aggressive flavor that is pretty agreeable. If you're looking for short cuts on the cheap, this is the way to go. Still, I'm a little intimidated by the idea of eating an acronym.

First three ingredients: water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid

Most questionable: metabisulfite

We're back to the neon green color that looks more appropriate for a children's toy than a cocktail. The bathroom cleaner smell I'm not too fond of is present here as well. While the label claims a "made from scratch" taste I'm not able to find it. Instead it tastes like mindless calories. Which brings me to ...

First three ingredients: filtered water, citric acid, sodium citrate

Most questionable ingredient: sucralose

I thought because the first three ingredients were sugar-free this one might have some attractive tartness to it, but apparently sucralose packs a saccharine punch. This stuff is cloying. And it tastes like Diet Coke smells.

First three ingredients: sunshine, good soil and rain clouds

Most questionable ingredient: it's lemon juice.

After tasting so much sweetness, a sip of Myer lemon juice made the back of my mouth lock up in a horrific cramp. Yet even in this state of pain, tasting fresh citrus after multiple shots of sucralose was literally like swallowing sunbeams. The best part is an ounce of lemon juice has seven calories. That's just two more than the skinny stuff.

I like lemons over limes for their reliability. They always yield a ton of juice and the tartness is consistent. Every now and then you can end up with a lime that only offers a modest teaspoon of juice, and then you're stuck doing tequila shots (not that that's a bad thing.)

I know it's more work. I know that sometimes you just want a simple drink. But it doesn't get much more simple that squeezing a lemon. And it's more than worth the effort.