The classic margarita has a nobility that's expressed by its simplicity—tequila, orange liqueur for sweetness, and tart lime juice.
Just three ingredients, harmoniously combined and perfectly balanced.
This is a cocktail recipe that you should memorize since it's so easy to whip up at impromptu dinner parties, summer BBQs, or when you need a reminder of sunshine in the middle of winter.
What's the Best Tequila for Margaritas?
I highly recommend using only good-quality tequila to make your margaritas. With only three ingredients in the cocktail, a bad tequila will result in an equally bad margarita.
Look for bottles with labels that say “100% de agave,” which means the tequila is distilled only from Mexican blue agave plants. Cheap tequilas are often cut with alcohol made from corn or sugar cane, resulting in a tequila that tastes flat and burns on the way down.
In addition, good-quality tequila is aged in oak barrels for 2 to 12 months, which gives it nuanced flavors. Blanco tequila (also called plato or silver) is aged for 2 months, reposado for 2 to 11 months, and añejo for 12 or more months.
You can serve this cocktail with salt, or not. Straight, or over the rocks. That part is up to you!
Margarita Variations
Want to change it up? Try any of these variations on the basic margarita:
- Reposado or Añejo Margarita: Having aged longer in oak barrels these tequilas are darker in color and display more complex flavors and aromas. Using them in a margarita can be an eye-opening experience.
- Mezcal Margarita: Swap out tequila for mezcal, tequila’s smokier, wilder-in-flavor cousin.
- Spicy Margarita: Add a few slices of jalapeno to the cocktail shaker to add a bit of heat.
- Pineapple Margarita: Swap out the orange liqueur for pineapple juice.
- Frozen Margarita: We have a recipe that you can make by the pitcherful.
Classic Margarita
Buy tequila marked "100% de agave" and that has been aged for at least 2 months.
Ingredients
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1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila (also called plato or silver tequila)
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1 ounce orange liqueur, such as triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier
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1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
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Plenty of kosher or flake salt for glass, optional (do not use iodized salt)
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Ice cubes, optional
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Lime wedges for garnish, optional
Method
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Salt your glass (optional):
Pour some kosher salt into a wide bowl or small dish. Take a wedge of lime and generously rub it around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim into the salt.
Fill the glass with some fresh ice and set aside. (Skip the ice if you like your margarita straight up.)
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Make the cocktail:
Place the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds, and then strain into a prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge if desired.
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Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
168 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
9g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 168 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 9g | 3% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 8g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 5mg | 23% |
Calcium 2mg | 0% |
Iron 0mg | 0% |
Potassium 19mg | 0% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |