Oz Taco’s & Tequila.

Oz Tacos & Tequila
200 Front St.
Lincoln, RI

Oz Tacos & Tequila is an authentic Mexican restaurant that serves up what its name says: a wide variety of flavorful tacos, tequila and more. The venue has earned the “Best Tacos in Rhode Island” designation from RI Food Fights three years in a row. Executive Chef Andy Pyle brings his creative flair to both Oz Tacos & Tequila and Xaco Taco, where he focuses on using fresh ingredients to create food and drinks that are simple, flavorful and fun. Wrapped in corn tortillas that are locally made and gluten-free, the taco menu offers a range of tastes that feature shrimp, chicken, beef, gyro, pork and more. A menu of “not tacos” ensures additional offerings of appetizers, rice bowls and burritos. Pyle is the original creator of the Watermelon Agua Fresca recipe, which is used as the base for this month’s featured cocktail, Oz’s Cadillac Watermelon Margarita.

Creator: Chef Andy Pyle

Cocktail: Cadillac Watermelon Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Espolòn Blanco or tequila of your choosing
•  3 ounces Watermelon Agua Fresca*
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce Grand Marnier floater

Method: Build the cocktail in a shaker tin, shake and strain over fresh ice. Top with a Grand Marnier floater and a rim of your choosing.

Oz’s Cadillac Watermelon Margarita. Photos courtesy of Oz
Tacos & Tequila.

*To make Watermelon Agua Fresca: 4 cups cubed seedless watermelon; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 cup lime juice; and a pinch of salt. Place the watermelon, water, sugar and lime juice in a blender; process until smooth. Pour the watermelon liquid through a fine sieve and strain the liquid into a large pitcher. Adjust sweetness if desired and serve. Yields 8 servings.

Chef Andy Pyle explained that agua fresca is a traditional Mexican drink made with fresh fruit, water and a touch of sweetener. After it became a hit with guests, the team decided to turn it into a signature margarita.

“We pair the fresh watermelon agua fresca with premium tequila and quality ingredients to let the fresh watermelon really shine. We only offer it during the summer because the drink is only as good as the watermelon we can get, and we want to make sure it’s at its freshest,” he said. “It’s easily one of our most requested seasonal cocktails, and for us, it’s definitely one of the must-have drinks in Rhode Island on a hot summer day. It’s refreshing, made with real fresh watermelon, and has become something our regulars look forward to every year.”