BELFAST - It's a good thing someone knows how to make a truly good Margarita around here because Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and we're going to need one STAT. La Vida's bar in Belfast boasts around 35 tequilas, some of which are so rare, you'd have to travel to Mexico to find them. Shelly Trisch, the manager at La Vida gave us a live demonstration on how to make their signature Spicy Mango Margarita, which uses fresh puréed mango and a house tequila infused with Habenero peppers, giving the cocktail a fresh, sweet citrusy flavor with layers of subtle heat.

Then the heat came on a little more. You wouldn't want to have five of these.

"Two would probably be your limit," said Trisch.

To make this  "Mango Chunkalicious"* cocktail at home use:

1 shot glass with fresh mango purée

1 1/2 oz Casa Sauza Giro Gold Tequila (La Vida's house tequila)

1/2 oz Triple Sec

Splash of lime juice

1/4 oz house habenero tequila

3 oz sour mix

Splash of orange juice

Shake in cocktail shaker full of ice and pour entire shaker into a Margarita glass rimmed with salt and topped with a lime.

La Vida is the only restaurant and bar in Midcoast doing five nights of Cinco de Mayo starting May 1. They will be open late each night, offering daily specials and events, such as a different margarita of the night sponsored by Cointreau where you keep the bar shaker that your Margarita comes in. There will be door prizes every night and 5 percent  of bar sales will help raise money for a different nonprofit each night, such as Our Town Belfast, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Belfast Art Walk, P.A.W.S. and The Cinderella Project.

Wednesday May 1: Happy Hour all day and night

Thursday May 2: Buy one fajita and get half off a second fajita

Friday May 3: Double happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. and again 9 to 11 p.m.

Saturday May 4: $12 fishbowls! 64 ounces of house margaritas for just $12.

Sunday May 5: Cinco de Mayo and Family Day. Every Sunday kids eat free (with qualifying adult).

For more information stay tuned to their Facebook page, call 930-6320, and check out their profile on penbaypilot.com Main Street.

*term courtesy of Michele DiGiralamo

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com