Best Simple Margarita (Classic Recipe!)

Here is the best easy margarita recipe! Serve this drink on the rocks with the classic ingredients: Lime, Cointreau and Tequila.

stop there Here’s the best margarita recipe you’ll find: zesty, crisp, and classic. It’s easy and only uses 3 ingredients. Many restaurants and pre-made mixes use a lot of sugar, but you won’t miss it here! This classic drink is perfectly tart and balanced. Make a custom drink or pitcher for a night out with friends. How to make the best classic margarita on the rocks… in just 5 minutes!

What’s in a margarita? 3 simple ingredients!

There’s nothing I love more than a basket of fries and salsa and a margarita in my hand. In restaurants and bars, I usually ask the bartender if he can “spice it up”. I didn’t know a Real margarita drink doesn’t contain simple syrup! That’s right: just the sweetness of orange liqueur. This makes the best margarita recipe you will find.

This popular Mexican cocktail was invented in the 1930s. It’s a classic sparkling cocktail that’s on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails. This means that there is an “official” definition. This is in a margarita:

• 1½ ounces of tequila
• 1 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
• ¾ ounce lime juice

Make a Classic Margarita on Ice: 3 Easy Steps!

Now that we know the ingredients…how do you make a margarita? This easy margarita recipe is “on the rocks,” meaning it’s served over ice. It’s incredibly easy to do; Here’s how!

1. Rim the glass with salt. A classic margarita has salt on the rim. Why? Salt enhances the sweet and sour taste of the drink.
2. Shake in a cocktail shaker. Take this tequila, Cointreau and lime juice and shake them together in a cocktail shaker with 4 cubes of ice.
3. Pour into a glass and add ice. Pour the drink into a glass and add ice cubes. What kind of glass for the best margarita? The margarita drink is often served in a lowball or old-fashioned glass like the one you see here, although the classic curved margarita glass works too.

What is the best tequila for margaritas?

Many sources say tequila blanco is best for margaritas. Tequila Blanco (or “new” Tequila) is aged less than 2 months and has the classic tequila burn. But the Tequila Reposado adds an intriguing depth of flavor: it’s our top pick. Here’s our preference for the best tequila for margaritas:

• Tequila Reposado ages longer than Blanco, at least 2 months. This gives it a more nuanced flavor with hints of vanilla and oak. Our favorite is Margarita with Reposado, but feel free to use whatever you prefer!
• In any case, try to find a mid-range tequila. You don’t want to make this drink out of cheap stuff!

Any good tequilas we tried? The Patroness Margarita and the Casamigos Margarita.

Do you really need Cointreau?

In our opinion, the best margarita recipe includes Cointreau as the orange liqueur. Cointreau has a balanced orange perfume flavor between bitter and sweet, while Triple Sec can have a harsher taste. (If you’re unsure about buying a bottle, there are plenty of Cointreau drinks like the Sidecar, Lemon Drop Martini, and Cosmopolitan.) But you can use Triple Sec if that’s all you’ve got!

Fun Fact: “Triple sec” means triple distilled: It’s actually not a brand name. Cointreau is a kind of triple sec: it is triple distilled. For more information, see Cointreau vs Triple Sec.

This is how you make a perfect salt ridge

Now let’s talk about the rim of the glass in this classic margarita recipe! The best type of salt is kosher salt or sea salt flakes as it has a nice thick texture. Or try our homemade margarita salt: the orange and lime zest make the drink perfectly festive! Here are our tips for designing the perfect rim:

1. Spread the salt in an even layer on a plate.
2. Take a lime wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This will perfectly wet the edge of the glass without having to use your fingers!
3. To rim the glass, you want the salt only on the outside of the glass, not on the inside where it can fall into the drink. To do this, tilt the glass so that only the outer edge goes into the salt. Then shake off the loose salt in the sink.

Dress it up with clear ice!

How do you get your plain margarita over the top on the rocks? Use clear ice. Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails: it is crystal clear and can be cut into beautiful organic shapes. It’s the best way to take a cocktail from good to glamorous! Try to have a batch ready before cocktail hour because this ice cream really steals the show. All you need is a small cooler or a clear 24-hour ice maker. See How to Make Clear Ice for more information.

Pitcher margarita for a crowd

Shaking drinks to order can be a chore when you’re entertaining a crowd. The solution? Try a pitcher of margarita! For 8 servings, place in a pitcher:

• 1 1/2 cups of tequila
• 1 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec
• ¾ cup lime juice
• 3 handfuls of ice cream

Mix and you have 8 glasses in 5 minutes! Be sure to add the right amount of ice cubes: this will dilute the drinks just enough.

Can you make a margarita mix?

You can! We prefer the taste of the jug variant above. But margarita mix is ​​also great for parties and you can mix it up ahead of time. Here are some options:

• Margarita Mix: This margarita mix recipe makes a large jug of 8-16 drinks. It also uses a bit of lemon to create a sour mix.
• Sweet and sour mix: You can also make a sweet and sour mix! For each drink, mix together 2 ounces of tequila, ½ ounce of Cointreau, and 1 ounce of sweet and sour mix.

Daisy Varieties!

This classic margarita recipe is perfect for sipping at any time. As with any classic cocktail, there are hundreds of variations on the theme. Here are some of the most popular margarita recipes:

This Best Easy Margarita Recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Rather classic cocktails

This margarita is a stunning classic! Here are some more of our top cocktails, lime cocktails and sour cocktails that you might also enjoy:

• Paloma Cocktail A cousin of the classic margarita, this easy tequila cocktail recipe features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime!
• Tequila Sunrise This vibrant cocktail layers the colors of a summer sunrise with tequila, orange and grenadine.
• Classic Mojito It’s perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
• Tom Collins Cocktail This popular, light and sparkling gin cocktail! This is how this soft drink is prepared: and don’t forget the cherry.
• Lemon Drop Martini A tangy classic cocktail, perfectly balanced and refreshing, served with a sugar rim and a squeeze of lemon.