Perfect Orange Margarita

This Orange Margarita Recipe is loaded with citrus flavor! Mix this refreshing cocktail in a single drink or in a pitcher.

Here’s a refreshing citrus version that we almost like better than the original: try this one Orange daisy! Add freshly squeezed orange juice to this classic cocktail and you have a tangy, fragrant drink that absolutely tastes good irresistible. You might think that the margarita is made out of lime and tequila: which is true. But the flavor of the orange liqueur is essential to this famous flavor pairing. Accentuate it by adding even more orange and it’s delicious. In fact, this is one of our new favorite margarita recipes (and we have one plot of variants).

Are you looking for the blood orange instead? Go to Blood Orange Margarita.

Ingredients for an orange margarita

The Margarita is one of the most popular classic cocktails. Invented in Mexico in the 1930s, it’s just as popular today (if not more so!). Every bar and restaurant makes a margarita differently, but we’re big fans of the classic definition. We reject it from the International Bartender Association’s official IBA cocktails, which define a margarita in just 3 simple ingredients. For the orange margarita, simply add orange juice. Here’s what you need:

Triple Sec vs. Cointreau: Which Orange Liqueur is Better?

It’s easy to think that a margarita is just lime and tequila. But orange liqueur is a defining taste! We tried it without the orange liqueur, and it tastes a bit flat. What’s the best triple sec for a margarita? Remember: the term triple sec denotes both a category of orange liqueurs (including Cointreau) and a specific product. Here we use the word Triple Sec to refer to a bottle labeled with the words “Triple Sec”. Here’s what to use in an orange margarita:

• triple sec has a crunchy citrus flavor that goes well with orange margarita. Find a quality triple sec brand, not the cheapest on the block. We love Drillauds.
• Cointreau works too! It’s usually our favorite in a margarita and has a milder flavor with warm spices and undertones. Learn more about Cointreau vs Triple Sec.

Freshly squeezed or bottled orange juice

You can use any type of orange juice in this orange margarita, but our mantra is it Fresh is better! Freshly squeezed citrus juice always tastes better than from the bottle. This is especially true for lemon and lime juice. You can find good bottled orange juice so you can use it here too. Just go for the highest quality orange juice you can find and make sure it doesn’t have any added sweeteners in it. You can squeeze juice from any type of orange, from blood oranges to satsumas.

Make Orange Margarita in a single drink or in a pitcher!

The orange margarita recipe below makes just one drink. But if you’re serving multiple people at the same time, we recommend making a pitcher version! This makes it easier to mix and match a mob. Be sure to use the exact amount of ice below to dilute the drink to the right amount. Here’s what should be added to a jug:

• 1 1/2 cups of tequila
• 1 ½ cups orange juice
• 1 cup triple sec or Cointreau
• 1 cup lime juice
• 3 handfuls of ice cream

Add them together and stir. Then pour into glasses and serve! And there you have it: How to Make an Orange Margarita! Let us know what you think about this drink in the comments below. And be sure to check out our other margarita recipes…read on!

More margarita recipes

Do you love margaritas as much as we do? Try each of our margarita recipes:

• Classic: Plain Margarita, Patron Margarita, Casamigos Margarita, Agave Margarita, Texas Margarita, or Cointreau Margarita
• Light: Skinny Daisy, Virgin Daisy, Vodka Daisy or Frozen Daisy
• Alcoholic: Mezcal, Hennessy, Grand Marnier or Cadillac Margarita
• Fruity: Mango, peach, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, watermelon, pineapple, blood orange, or grapefruit margarita
• Sharp: Jalapeno Daisy or Pineapple Jalapeno Daisy
• Unique: Italian, Blue, Coconut, Prickly Pear, Hibiscus, Cucumber Margarita, or Beer Margarita

When to serve an Orange Margarita

The orange margarita is refreshing and lemony! It works like:

• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Cinco de Mayo drinks
• Drinks late into the night
• Evening drink between boys or between girls
• Aperitif at aperitif time