These Blenders Crush the Competition

Ah, summer, the season of frozen drinks. But that perfectly blended margarita doesn't just make itself. It requires a machine with enough brawn to crush a pitcher's worth of ice and enough finesse to create a concoction that's neither liquid nor solid, but somewhere in that divine middle ground.

We're talking a mighty serious and sophisticated blender.

Fortunately, the warm-weather months see a wave of such machines on the market. We took a look at seven of them -- most fairly new to the scene -- and put them through the margarita mill. That is, we made a batch of frozen drinks, using mixes from one of our favorite bar brands, Island Oasis (they also make those top-of-the-line frozen-drink machines you see in restaurants). Then, we judged how they delivered on their promise to serve up summer in a glass.

May the best machine win.

The machine: Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker
Price: $299.99
How it works: This unique appliance is really an ice shaver and blender (with a 450-watt motor) all in one -- and has potential to make a very smooth frozen drink. Load the ice in a top chamber and the drink mix and alcohol in the blender. The "concoction maker" first shaves the ice, then deposits the resulting sleet-like mass into the blender. Finally, the blender takes over.
The result: Perhaps too smooth a drink. The ice is shaved to the point that it almost seems to dissolve into the liquid, meaning the resulting margarita is never quite slushy enough. Plus, this is a HUGE machine -- and it doesn't really effectively double as a stand-alone blender. So unless you've got plenty of counter space, we'd pass.
Also of note: Want to bring the party to wherever you plan to head? An optional travel tote ($39.99) is available. Also, don't let the machine's name fool you: It works for a variety of frozen drinks, not just margaritas. Also, different size versions (the Fiji, the Bahamas) are available.