Walk into any restaurant or bar these days, and you will likely see a margarita on the menu. While many drinks sport the moniker, not all of them are crafted the same. Invariably, some taste better than others. You try to recreate the perfect margarita at home, but it never tastes quite the same. The margarita is a simple cocktail to make; you just need to know the basics. If you want to learn how to make a margarita, you need to learn the basics. 

Use High-Quality Tequila 

The tequila is the centerpiece in a margarita. However, using a poor-quality tequila will result in a terrible-tasting drink. Low-quality tequila is made from lower-quality agave and could be as low as 51% agave. The rest is fillers and additives. This creates a harsh flavor that is hard to drink. Quality tequila is made from 100% agave. Always look for this when choosing the tequila you plan to use for your drink. Then you will select the type of tequila. There are five types, and not all of them are ideal for mixing margaritas. 

1. Blanco (white)
2. Joven (gold)
3. Reposado (rested)
4. Añejo (aged)
5. Extra añejo (ultra aged)

The go-to type of tequila for margaritas is blanco. It is an unaged tequila that is clear in color. It has a mellow flavor that makes for a mild taste in a margarita. If you want a drink with more of a kick, then try using reposado instead. It will have a stronger flavor, and you will taste the alcohol more. 

Choose the Orange Liqueur

The most popular and traditional liqueur used in a margarita is Cointreau. It is an orange-flavored liqueur. It is produced in France and makes an appearance in several popular cocktails. The bright and fresh orange notes complement the lime juice and tequila perfectly in a margarita. The result is a vibrant drink that is perfect for drinking in the hot summer months. If you don’t have Cointreau, you can substitute Triple Sec or Grand Marnier. These alternatives will create a slightly different flavor profile but are still delicious. Using Grand Marnier will give your margarita a richer and slightly bitter taste. It would work well for transitioning your margarita into the cooler months. Consider one of these high-quality orange liqueurs for your margarita.

• Cointreau
• Grand Marnier
• Triple Sec 
• Orange Curacao 

No matter what orange liqueur you choose, be sure to read the label. Cordial producers are allowed broad creative license when adding flavor to their liqueur. This process can change the intensity and flavor profile, ultimately changing your margarita cocktail tastes. Some wash the spirits over the fruit, others steep the fruit in the spirits, and others simply add extracts. 

Use Real Lime Juice 

It may take a little effort, but real fresh squeezed lime juice is the best option. This is the best quality ingredient and will showcase and elevate the taste of the tequila. If you are worried about the lime pulp getting in the drink, you can double strain the liquid as you pour it into the glass from the shaker. 

Skip the Margarita Mix 

When learning how to make a margarita, skip the pre-made mix. The perfect margarita is simple and clean. Margarita mixes are full of artificial flavors and sweeteners. This results in the drink being overly sweet. Some mixes even mask the flavor of the tequila, which completely changes the drink’s taste. 

Use Large Ice Cubes 

You need to add ice to the shaker to chill the drink while you blend the perfect margarita. The best ice to use larger chunks. It will melt slower and be more effective at chilling the liquid. Ice cubes that are too small will have too much surface area, causing the ice to melt too quickly. This would water down the drink. The same applies to the drink glass, also. 

Salting the Rim 

You cannot use just any salt on the rim of your margarita glass. Table salt is too fine, which would result in too much salt overpowering the drink. Rock salt used in preserving meat has too large of crystals. They will be tough to drink and won’t stick to the glass well. Kosher salt is the best because it is the right balance of size. It is coarse enough that it won’t dissolve too quickly while not being too large. There is also salt specifically sold for margaritas that will work well. 

Whether or not to salt the rim is about personal preference. You do not have to salt the rim if you do not like it. However, a good alternative is to salt half of the rim. Doing it this way looks elegant and allows you to drink with or without salt. 

Shake Do Not Stir 

The margarita is best when shaken, not stirred. Shaking the mixture ensures the ingredients are thoroughly blended together while also getting chilled. The ice melts slightly and aerates the drink to bring out the layered flavors of the tequila and lime. 

The Perfect Margarita Recipe 

The perfect margarita recipe is simple with minimal ingredients. Like many other cocktails, the goal is to showcase the main liquor ingredient. In this case, it is tequila. The basic recipe calls for mostly tequila, an orange liqueur, and lime juice. However, everyone’s taste preferences are different. So you may want to adjust the proportions to suit your taste. Thankfully, the recipe is forgiving, so a little more or a little less of something won’t hurt it. However, a word of caution. Adding too much sugar or sweetness will ruin the drink and destroy the flavor of the tequila. Add more lime juice or Cointreau if you want the drink to have a bit more bite and sour taste.

• 2 oz of Tequila 
• 1 oz of orange liqueur
• ¾ oz of Lime juice 

Start by using a piece of lime to wet the rim of a glass. This will help the salt stick better. Next, add fresh ice and have the glass ready to go. Measure in the tequila, liqueur, and lime juice with a shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well to mix and chill. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge. 

The Perfect Frozen Margarita Recipe 

The perfect frozen margarita recipe is slightly different from the rocks version. This is because you must add more ice to freeze the drink. Ice is made of water, so as the ice melts, it waters down the drink. Next, add additional sugar and lime juice, ensuring the drink doesn’t become a bland, watery mess. However, just like the traditional recipe, you can adjust the amounts to better suit your tastes. 

• 2 oz of Tequila 
• 1 oz of orange liqueur 
• 1 oz Simple syrup
• 1 ½ oz of Lime juice 
• 2 ½ cups of ice 

Add all of the ingredients to your blender. Run the blender until it is smooth and the ice is chopped up and blended. Pour the frozen margarita into two glasses. You can salt the rims if you want. 

Use a Strong Blender 

If you want to make the perfect frozen margarita, you need a good quality blender. Cheap or low-quality blenders cannot thoroughly blend the liquid and ice. As a result, you end up with a chunky or icy margarita that is not pleasant to drink. A high-quality blender will blend the ice and liquid into a satisfyingly creamy and slightly slushy concoction. The perfect consistency is thick but not too thick. You should be able to easily drink it through a straw without too much effort. It also shouldn’t melt into a liquid in under 10 minutes of making the drink. 

Adjust the Proportions 

You need to adjust the proportions when you turn your traditional margarita into a frozen version. The added ice can water down the drink and give it a disappointing taste. Not adding enough ice, you end up with a watery drink that does not have the right frozen consistency.  

Simple Syrup Instead of Sugar 

When making a frozen margarita, do not use granulated sugar. Because the drink is chilled with ice, it is too cold to get the sugar to dissolve into the drink. The result is a gritty margarita. Instead, you should use simple syrup. This liquid form of sugar sweetens the drink without changing the texture. 

Getting Creative With Your Perfect Margarita 

Once you master how to make a margarita, your next task is to find the perfect margarita for your tastes. While the standard recipe makes a great-tasting drink, you don’t want to drink the same thing all the time. Instead, you can get creative with a solid basic recipe. Because you have mastered the traditional recipe, you can easily add ingredients or flavors to change or enhance the drink. 

Spice It Up 

Turn your regular perfect margarita into a spicy one by adding a slice or two of jalapeno to the shaker when making the drink. Then, rim the glass with spicy margarita salt. You can buy pre-made spicy salt or make your own. Mix kosher salt with a bit of chili powder, ancho chili powder, and smoked paprika. Garnish with a jalapeno slice. 

Add Fruit 

Turn your margarita into a fruity blend for an enjoyable summer treat. You could drop a few berries into the completed margarita. This creates a subtle hint of flavor. For a more intense flavor, you can use a flavored simple syrup. For authentic flavor, you can make your own. You could also buy a pre-made version. Just check the label to ensure it contains real fruit and not just flavorings. 

While berries are an obvious choice, there are other options. Adding peach nectar can give you a lovely flavor profile, as it pairs well with the lime and orange flavors already present. Another delicious option is to use watermelon juice. This would keep the drink tasting light and refreshing. Grapefruit juice is another excellent option. However, be careful adding too much grapefruit juice. Add too much, and you have made a Paloma. 

If you want to add fruit to a frozen margarita, use frozen fruit or fruit concentrate. This adds flavor while keeping the right consistency. Adding fresh fruit to the drink will warm it up too much and cause the ice to melt too quickly.

Make It Sparkling 

The margarita recipe is a simple and forgiving one. Because of this, it can easily support the addition of sparkling wine or seltzer. Once you make your drink, use a taller glass instead of pouring it into a short cocktail or rocks glass. Top off the drink with a fizzy liquid like seltzer or sparkling wine. Give it a gentle stir to combine. You now have a refreshing fizzy drink that is slightly sweet, a bit sour, and perfect for sipping on a hot summer day. 

Now that you’re an expert in all things margarita, you can explore distillery tours with Distillery Nearby to start sampling spirits to make these popular drinks magical.