The margarita is a classic for a reason! Just three ingredients – tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. Salted rim optional.
BE PICTURED IN; CHARACTERIZED IN:
The classic margarita has a distinction that’s expressed in its simplicity—tequila, orange liqueur for sweetness, and tart lime juice.
This is a cocktail recipe to keep in mind as it’s so easy to make for impromptu dinner parties, summer BBQs or when you need a reminder of sunshine in the dead of winter.
What is the best tequila for margaritas?
I highly recommend only using good quality tequila to make your margaritas. With only three ingredients in the cocktail, a bad tequila makes an equally bad margarita.
Look for bottles with labels that say “100% de Agave,” meaning the tequila is distilled only from Mexican blue agave plants. Cheap tequilas are often cut with alcohol from corn or sugarcane, resulting in a tequila that tastes flat and burns on the way down.
- Want to learn more about tequila? Check out our comprehensive tequila guide!
You can serve this cocktail with salt or not. Straight ahead or over the rocks. This part is up to you!
Margarita Variations
wanna change it Try one of these variations on the easy margarita:
- Reposado or Añejo Margarita – Those tequilas that have been aged longer in oak casks are darker in color and exhibit more complex flavors and aromas. Using them in a margarita can be an eye-opening experience.
- Mezcal Margarita – Swap tequila for mezcal, tequila’s smokier cousin with a wilder flavor.
- Spicy Margarita – Add a few slices of jalapenos to the cocktail shaker to add a little warmth.
- Pineapple Margarita – Replace the orange liqueur with pineapple juice.
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Check out this classic margarita recipe
Classic margarita
Buy tequila that says 100% de Agave and has been aged for at least 2 months.
ingredients
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1 1/2 ounces plain tequila (also called Plato or Silver Tequila)
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1 ounce Orange liqueurlike Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier
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1/2 ounce Freshly squeezed lime juice
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Much kosher or flake Salt for glass, optional (do not use iodized salt)
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ice cubesOptional
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lime wedges for garnish, optional
method
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Salt glass (optional):
Pour some kosher salt into a large bowl or small plate. Take a wedge of lime and generously rub the rim of your glass with it. Dip the rim in the salt.
Fill the glass with some fresh ice and set aside. (Skip the ice cream if you like your margarita neat.)
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Make the cocktail:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge, if you like.
| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 168 | calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 9g | carbohydrates |
| 0g | protein |
