OT: Margaritaville line of mixers, anybody own or use?

YEMTrey

Wife and I are thinking about picking up one of these for the patio. Not sure of model or options yet. Looking for feedback from anyone familiar with them. 

https://www.margaritavillecargo.com/party-machines/

DoubleEgger

I have friends that have them. They are solid. Looks like a killer deal too. 

MJG

Don't do it. I have one and it never gets used. Get a good Vitamix or Blentec at Costco. Much more versatile. 

Dinah_Moe_Humm

I agree MJG.  I bought one at COSTCO about 4 years ago.  I used it the first year or two.  Yes, it's cool to watch it make Margaritas but it's a PIA to clean and I could never get the mix / recipe right.  I actually went back to using a blender.  For me, it was a waste of money.

chuckytheegghead

Also had one, got seldom use. Sold it and got a vitamix. 

northGAcock

I purchased a Comercial bar blender many years ago. It has serviced my home needs perfectly. One of the best small appliance purchases I have made. 

buzd504

another vote for Vitamix.

Jeremiah

We've had one for several years. It's the cheapest one shown. It's served us well with frozen drinks and margaritas. For $130 you can't go wrong, especially when vitamix's start at twice that.

RLS

Trey,

We have owned the Key West about 6 years, no issues with reliability or performance, use it weekly. Yes it's not a fun machine to clean but not the end of the world either to maintain. If you go for one get the larger ice hopper, and make your mix in a bottle in advance, saves time when everybody is lined up at the bar!!! 

Rick

YukonRon

We have the Key West. It has worked flawlessly from the first day we got it. It was given to us as a wedding present. We like it very much. We also have the blender. For cocktails, it does a great job, not so much for making apple sauce. We use the blender for that.

johnnyp

YukonRon said:

We have the Key West. It has worked flawlessly from the first day we got it. It was given to us as a wedding present. We like it very much. We also have the blender. For cocktails, it does a great job, not so much for making apple sauce. We use the blender for that.

I'd be willing to bet it makes a mean bourbon slushie

YukonRon

@johnnyp
Hard to believe, but we just mix and freeze in food storage bags for Bourbon Slushies. It works very well. The alcohol never lets  it freeze solid, and we just cut open the bag and squeeze to pour. Only cleaning is the mixing bowl.

500

Another vote for a Vitamix.  Just got the A2300 and love it.  Easy to clean and powerful, with a 10 year warranty.  Will cost more but worth it.  I love Buffett, but not for his blenders.  I also prefer a shaken margarita in a chilled glass over a frozen one, so no need for a blender there, anyway.

Focker

500 said:

Another vote for a Vitamix.  Just got the A2300 and love it.  Easy to clean and powerful, with a 10 year warranty.  Will cost more but worth it.  I love Buffett, but not for his blenders.  I also prefer a shaken margarita in a chilled glass over a frozen one, so no need for a blender there, anyway.

Yessir, rocks over frozen all day.

Another one of those cocktails, like a Mule, that is stupid simple, but gets Focked up badly.

1.  100% de agave.  Reposado is lovely.
2.  Cointreau.  I like that orange note, and go equal parts to the tequila.
3.  Fresh lime juice
4.  Shake, pour over rocks, or up, in a salt rimmed glass with a slice of lime

Adjust ratios to accompany food, or stiffen for a stand alone.  No need for a fish bowl.

buzd504

Focker said:

500 said:

Another vote for a Vitamix.  Just got the A2300 and love it.  Easy to clean and powerful, with a 10 year warranty.  Will cost more but worth it.  I love Buffett, but not for his blenders.  I also prefer a shaken margarita in a chilled glass over a frozen one, so no need for a blender there, anyway.

Yessir, rocks over frozen all day.

Another one of those cocktails, like a Mule, that is stupid simple, but gets Focked up badly.

1.  100% de agave.  Reposado is lovely.
2.  Cointreau.  I like that orange note, and go equal parts to the tequila.
3.  Fresh lime juice
4.  Shake, pour over rocks, or up, in a salt rimmed glass with a slice of lime

Adjust ratios to accompany food, or stiffen for a stand alone.  No need for a fish bowl.

I agree, but a little less Cointreau (or more tequila) and I prefer silver for mixing.  To each his own, though.

Focker

buzd504 said:

Focker said:

500 said:

Another vote for a Vitamix.  Just got the A2300 and love it.  Easy to clean and powerful, with a 10 year warranty.  Will cost more but worth it.  I love Buffett, but not for his blenders.  I also prefer a shaken margarita in a chilled glass over a frozen one, so no need for a blender there, anyway.

Yessir, rocks over frozen all day.

Another one of those cocktails, like a Mule, that is stupid simple, but gets Focked up badly.

1.  100% de agave.  Reposado is lovely.
2.  Cointreau.  I like that orange note, and go equal parts to the tequila.
3.  Fresh lime juice
4.  Shake, pour over rocks, or up, in a salt rimmed glass with a slice of lime

Adjust ratios to accompany food, or stiffen for a stand alone.  No need for a fish bowl.

I agree, but a little less Cointreau (or more tequila) and I prefer silver for mixing.  To each his own, though.

I hear ya, and on board, silver being more stand alone.  Try reposado some time.

It's all gravy, as long as you're not using the Cuervo mix and well triple sec. 

Hub

Was not familiar with VitaMix until I read this thread.  Went and checked some prices ... HOLY COW!!  Boys, please help me out.  I am all for buying the best.  I've always believed in that.  But 500 bucks for a blender?!? Why?!?

buzd504

Hub said:

Was not familiar with VitaMix until I read this thread.  Went and checked some prices ... HOLY COW!!  Boys, please help me out.  I am all for buying the best.  I've always believed in that.  But 500 bucks for a blender?!? Why?!?

It will pulverize anything to oblivion and it has (I think) a 7 year warranty.  It heats things up enough to make a warm soup without putting it on the stove.  There are a few comparable products (Blendtec, for one) at comparable prices.  Like the BGE, when you want the most/best functionality and price isn't your first priority, you go for Vitamix (or comparable).

For fun, Blentec's site:  http://willitblend.com/

Braggart

Have both the VitaMix and the Margvlle Mixer.   Use the VitaMix often, the Margvlle less often.  Both have their uses.

The Margvlle is alot of fun in the summer when we have people over.  Everyone likes show.  Easy enough to clean when you get the hang of it.

Regardless of how you make them...slushies are great on a hot summer's day and tend to go down waaaaaay too easy.

krobertsmsn

Vitamix

Dredger

I am sure that the Margaritaville is a fine machine and does a great job, but not everyone loves a Margarita. We do have guests on occasion that want one when they spy the Vitamix, so we oblige. Here's a recipe from the Vitamix site for a great Margarita. We're not much for using mixes, especially when we can make it from scratch.

Whole Fruit Margarita

Yield: 8 cups (1.9 )

Total Time:  11 Minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

    ¼ cup (60 ml) water
    6 ounces (180 ml) tequila
    2 fluid ounces (60 ml) Grand Marnier
    1 orange, peeled, halved
    1 lime, peeled, halved
    1 lemon, peeled, halved
    6 Tablespoons (75 g) granulated sugar (we use honey)
    6 cups (1.4 l) ice cubes

Directions

    Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
    Select Variable 1.
    Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
    Blend for 45 seconds, using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.
    Pour into salt-rimmed margarita glasses.

@Hub, there are just too many uses for the Vitamix to try and list them. Check them out on QVC where they have great demos to show a lot of the ways to use them. They also have the best prices and package deals. At least, they did when we got ours. We were skeptical because of the price too and spent a lot of time researching, but so glad we chose to get one. We have the 7500 and it fits perfectly under our kitchen cabinets.