Margarita
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If Mexican food is on the menu, this margarita is the drink to go with it—simple to make and easy to adjust to your taste.
A good margarita is all about balance. Bright lime, smooth tequila, and just enough orange liqueur to round it out. This is my go-to ratio: fresh, citrusy, and not too sweet, with the option to add a touch of simple syrup or agave if you like it a little sweeter. For the best flavor, use a blanco tequila you’d actually enjoy sipping—something clean and smooth, like Casamigos, Patrón, or Espolòn—and a good orange liqueur like Cointreau for a polished, well-balanced drink.
A few small details make a big difference. Always use fresh lime juice, shake the drink well so it’s properly chilled and lightly diluted (that’s what takes the edge off the alcohol), and serve it over plenty of ice. I love a salted rim for contrast, but it’s optional. Once you’ve made it once, it’s easy to tweak—more or less sweet, or even a small splash of orange juice if you prefer a softer, slightly sweeter drink—until it’s exactly how you like it.
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Margaritas
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur, such as Cointreau, Triple Sec, or Grand Marnier
- 1 oz fresh lime juice, from 1 lime
- ¼ oz simple syrup or agave syrup (optional)
- Lime slices, for garnish
- Coarse salt, for rimming the glass
Instructions
- Place coarse salt on a small plate. Rub rim of glass with lime wedge and dip in coarse salt if desired. Add ice to glass if using.
- Combine drink ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add some ice and shake vigorously, then strain into prepared glass. Garnish rim with lime slice.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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We make this whenever we want margaritas! So much better than store bought mix! Thank you!
Happy Fourth of July! We are off to a friends lake house with a cooler full of your goodies….black bean and corn salad, chipotle chicken quesadillas, and a LARGE batch of your wonderful margaritas! I read the reviews and put the drinks in mason jars with a lime slice in each one…what a darling idea from another reviewer! I’m betting I get invited back!!!!!!!! Thanks Jen!
So what kind of tequila do you prefer?
I like Casamigos, Patrón, or Espolòn.
Very tasty Margaritas – just enough tequila for a little kick, but not so much that your guests are throwing rocks at each other! We have found our summer drink.
Love this and plan to make a large pitcher ASAP!
These are delicious! When in season, finish with a squeeze of a fresh blood orange wedge and these go to a whole new level! Jenn mentioned difficulty keeping up with demand, so here’s our tip that works out well for parties: Mix up a huge batch and pour 1 cup servings into individual mason jars – leaves them about half full. We put the lids on and then pile the cute jars into a metal tub filled with ice. All guests have to do is grab a jar, grab a handful of ice and put it in the jar, shake vigorously, toss the cap, and enjoy!
This is my new favorite Margarita recipe. Look no further, so good!
Love this and my son loves the non-alcoholic version
These were fabulous and so easy. Had a girls night with fresh guacamole and Mahi-mahi fish tacos. Love your recipes !
Delicious…..but I have another option that I make regularly. I use one cup tequila, 3/4 cup triple sec, 3/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice, and 3 cans of your favorite nectar. I use mango, peach, pear, whatever is your fancy. Mix, chill, pour over ice.