Right here’s tips on how to make the traditional margarita recipe! It’s straightforward with simply 3 substances: tequila, lime, and orange liqueur.

There’s a purpose the margarita is world’s hottest tequila drink. This traditional bitter cocktail hits simply the proper stability of earthy tequila, zingy lime juice and candy orange liqueur. Many eating places and bars have created syrupy spins on the theme, or added flavors from mango to hibiscus. However we maintain coming again to that traditional system: simply 3 substances makes the very best balanced tart and salty cocktail. Right here’s tips on how to make the finest margarita!
Margarita substances
The margarita is among the hottest traditional cocktails in historical past. It was principally doubtless invented in Mexico within the 1930’s (there are lots of competing origin tales, so the precise story is unknown). Margarita means “daisy” in Spanish and was doubtless a variation on the Brandy Daisy. The Daisy is a historic household of drinks with base liquor, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and soda water.
The margarita grew to become fashionable through the Prohibition period, when People would journey to Mexico to get alcohol. It has spawned many variations which have diluted the traditional option to make it. The traditional margarita recipe has the next substances (per the definition by the Worldwide Bartender Affiliation’s IBA official cocktails):
- 1 ½ oz tequila
- 1 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
- ¾ oz lime juice

Learn how to make a margarita
The traditional margarita recipe is straightforward: you can also make it as a single drink or as a margarita pitcher. Both means, you’ll want to permit time to arrange the glass rim and garnishes earlier than making the drink. Right here’s tips on how to make a single drink:
- Rim the glass with salt. The traditional margarita has a salt rim to enhances the candy and bitter flavors within the drink. Unfold the salt on a plate in a fair layer. Take a lime wedge, lower a notch within the center, then slide it across the rim of the glass. Dip the skin fringe of the glass within the plate of salt, then shake off any free salt into the sink.
- Shake in a cocktail shaker. Place the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker and add 4 ice cubes. Shake it till the drink is chilly.
- Pressure right into a glass. Pressure the drink right into a glass. If serving on the rocks, add clear ice. The margarita is usually served in a lowball or Outdated Original glass, however a curved margarita glass works too.
Variation: margarita pitcher
Need to serve this margarita recipe for a crowd? The easiest way to make a number of margaritas directly is to make a pitcher. The margarita pitcher makes for 8 servings and also you don’t have to shake up every drink individually, which is time consuming. Stir ice proper into the pitcher to relax and dilute the drink. Right here’s what to do:
- Place 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec, and ¾ cup contemporary lime juice in a pitcher.
- Add 3 handfuls ice and stir till chilly.
- Pour into the ready glasses.

Greatest tequila for margaritas
Many specialists say tequila blanco is finest for margaritas. Tequila blanco (or “new” tequila) has been aged lower than 2 months and has that traditional tequila burn. However tequila reposado provides an intriguing depth of taste. Listed here are a number of suggestions for selecting the finest tequila for margaritas:
- Rule of thumb: any mid-priced tequila tastes nice in a margarita. Search for 750 ml bottles within the vary of $22 to $35. Something cheaper isn’t price shopping for.
- Tequila reposado (aged) makes a clean, subtle margarita. Tequila reposado is aged 2 to 12 months in oak barrels (reposado means “rested” in Spanish). It has a clean taste and notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel. Some manufacturers we like embody Casamigos, Milagro Reposado, and Suerte Reposado.
- Tequila blanco can be supreme for margaritas. It has a simple agave-centric taste and spicy end. Some manufacturers we advocate are Espolon Blanco, El Tesoro Blanco, Patrón Silver, and Casamigos.
Attempt our Casamigos Margarita or Patron Margarita recipes!
Use clear ice
The easiest way to make a margarita on the rocks? Use clear ice. Clear ice is artisanal ice that’s crystal clear and might be lower into stunning natural shapes. It’s one of the simplest ways to take a cocktail from good to glamorous!
You may make your personal clear ice at house: all you want is a small cooler or clear ice tray. Make up a batch 1 day upfront: go to Learn how to Make Clear Ice for particulars!

Widespread margarita recipes
There are various variations on the traditional margarita! Whereas the traditional stays our favourite, there are many nice methods to combine up the system. Listed here are a number of extra variations to attempt:
This margarita recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Description
Right here’s tips on how to make the traditional margarita recipe! It’s straightforward with simply 3 substances: tequila, lime, and orange liqueur.
- 1 ½ ounces tequila blanco or reposado*
- 1 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
- ¾ ounce contemporary lime juice
- Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, for the rim
- Lime wedge, for the garnish
- Minimize a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime across the rim of a glass. Dip the sting of the rim right into a plate of salt.
- Place all substances in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake till chilly.
- Pressure the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve.
- For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec, and ¾ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir till chilly. Pour into the ready glasses.
- Class: Cocktail
- Technique: Shaken
- Delicacies: Cocktail
- Food regimen: Vegan
Key phrases: Margarita, margarita recipe, margarita substances, tips on how to make a margarita