With one in five Americans claiming to love margaritas, it’s no surprise that this cocktail is a mainstay on restaurant and bar menus. However, you don’t have to go out to enjoy this simple yet delicious cocktail. This is the ultimate guide to making and enjoying the perfect margarita cocktail recipe. 

Skip the Mix 

If you want to make the perfect margarita, skip the pre-made mix. These mixes are high in sugar and can never compete with the flavor of freshly juiced limes. Making a fresh margarita is so simple there is no reason to depend on mixes. 

Perfect Margarita Cocktail Recipe 

This margarita cocktail recipe makes two drinks. This makes it perfect for making a drink for you and a friend. You can cut the measurements in half if you only want to make one drink. You can additionally double or even triple the recipe if you’re going to make a batch of margaritas to put in a pitcher. 

• Ingredients
• 1/4 cup kosher salt or any coarse sea salt
• Lime wedges for glasses and serving 
• 4 oz. blanco tequila
• 2 oz. orange liqueur
• 1.5 oz. fresh lime juice
• Ice 

Step 1

Before you make the margarita, prepare your glass. Pour the salt into a shallow dish. Use a cut piece of lime to rub the rim of a rocks glass, getting it wet. Then, dip the limed edge into the salt. The salt will stick to the glass because of the lime juice. If you plan to make a margarita on the rocks, go ahead and add a few ice cubes to the glass. 

Step 2

Fill a shaker with ice and then measure out and pour in the tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur of your choice. Shake well for about ten seconds. Pour the mixed cocktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

Choose the Right Tequila 

Because the perfect margarita cocktail recipe is so simple, choosing the right tequila is crucial for a successful drink. A blanco tequila is a great option, but you can also use a reposado. Whatever tequila you choose, check that the label states “100% de Agave.” This lets you know that it is high-quality tequila. If the label doesn’t say this, the spirit could be up to 49% other spirits and additives. This results in a less appealing margarita. 

Orange Liqueur 

Adding orange liqueur will balance the lime flavor and increase the complexity of the cocktail. It also improves the consistency and texture of the liquid for a silkier mouth feel. Choosing the “best” orange liqueur is about personal taste. It should enhance the tequila flavor, not mask it. 

Triple Sec

The budget option is to use triple sec. The orange flavor isn’t as strong, while the sweetness is turned up. It tends to also have a lower alcohol content than premium orange liqueurs. 

Cointreau

This French orange liqueur is the most popular among margarita enthusiasts. The orange flavor is more complex, with notes of sweetness and bitterness that you don’t find in triple sec. The orange flavor comes through as clean and fresh. The alcohol content is also stronger than other orange liqueurs. 

Grand Marnier

This premium French orange liqueur is blended with cognac. It will give your margarita cocktail recipe a deeper and more complex flavor. There will also be hints of spices from the cognac. 

Lime 

While you can buy a bottle of lime juice, this won’t give you the freshest flavor. Instead, buy a few limes and juice them yourself. Freshly squeezed limes have a bright and fresh flavor that will enhance the aromas of your margarita cocktail recipe. 

There are two types of limes that you can use. Persian limes are the large green ones you can easily find in the grocery store. They produce a lot of juice but are less aromatic and bitter. The other option is to use key limes. These are much smaller limes that can be harder to source. Each lime produces less juice. However, the juice is significantly more aromatic and has a more intense flavor. 

Salt 

Do not use table salt to rim your rocks glass. This type of salt has small granules that will dissolve too quickly when they come into contact with liquid. Instead, use Kosher or coarse sea salt. This type of salt has large grains that will dissolve more slowly. They also create a better balance when you sip your cocktail. The salt on the rim is there to brighten the sweet and sour notes of the cocktail. 

How to Serve a Margarita 

Most people drink margaritas when it is warm outside. The refreshing drink is typically considered a summertime drink. Because of this, most people prefer to have their margaritas served on the rocks. However, this can also mean that it will get watered down. If you don’t want this to happen, you can serve it straight up. Whether you have ice or not, garnish your margarita with a lime wedge. 

Experiment with the Basics 

You can begin experimenting once you have mastered the base margarita cocktail recipe. Instead of using tequila, you can replace it with mezcal. It will give your margarita a more complex and slightly smokey flavor. 

Give your margarita a fruity twist by adding muddled strawberries, pineapple, or peach. Use a fruit-flavored simple syrup if you like your margaritas on the sweeter side. Skip the salt rim and use sugar instead to complement the fruit. 

Make your margarita spicy by adding sliced jalapeno or serrano chilis. Use spicy salt for the glass rim. Start slow, though. The heat will sneak up on you. 

FAQ

1. Why are margaritas shaken and not stirred?

Margaritas are shaken and not stirred because shaking is more effective for chilling the drink. This gets the drink to the right temperature without watering it down too much. The ice shaking through the drink creates air bubbles. This gives the margarita a slightly bubbly and frothy look, making the drink feel lighter. 

2. Do you lick salt before the margarita?

You should lick some of the salt off the rim as you take a sip. This will give you a small amount of salt with each sip for a nice balance of flavors with the lime and alcohol. 

3. How unhealthy is a margarita?

How unhealthy a margarita is will depend on how it’s made. If you use a pre-made mix, they will be high in sugar. Those with more triple sec can also be higher in sugar. 

Check out Distillery Nearby and find a place near you to sample tequila for making the perfect margarita.