Frozen Matador recipe
Tequila, pineapple and lime flash blended into a bright, finely frozen coupe drink.
Method: Flash blend & strain ·
Glass: Chilled deep-saucer coupe ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: Tiki & Tropical
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Blanco Tequila (100% agave)
- 2 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice (unsweetened and well chilled)
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 cup Crushed Ice (freshly crushed)
How to make a Frozen Matador
- Chill a deep-saucer coupe or wide cocktail glass while you prepare the frozen drink.
- Add blanco tequila, fresh pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and crushed ice to a blender cup.
- Flash blend just until the ice is fine and the mixture is lightly aerated; do not over-blend it into a watery slush.
- Pour into the chilled glass, garnish with a thin lime wheel and serve immediately.
Garnish
Thin lime wheel.
Pro tip
Use cold, unsweetened pineapple juice and crush the ice just before blending. The best Frozen Matador is lively and granular, not thick or syrupy.
History of the Frozen Matador
A Frozen Matador appears in the 1971 Playboy’s Host & Bar Book, using the tequila, pineapple and lime structure of the Trader Vic–style Matador, blended with crushed ice and served in a deep-saucer champagne glass. This version preserves that dry, citrus-led balance while giving the drink a fine frozen texture.
Flavour profile
Tequila, Pineapple, Frozen, Tart
Variations
- Matador — The crisp original: blanco tequila, pineapple and lime shaken into a chilled coupe.
- Frozen Matador — The vintage deep-saucer version, flash blended with crushed ice.
- Matador Norteño — A sotol, pineapple and chile riff with lemon and rich agave.
Practise making the Frozen Matador in the free Virtual Bar game.