The Best Margarita Recipe on the planet requires fewer ingredients and less effort than you would think -- guaranteed. The perfect balance of sweet and tart, it's hard not to love this one. These fresh and delicious drinks call for only four ingredients and no special bar tools.
This marg on the rocks is super customizable, which means you have a say in your ingredient choices, so there is no way you'll be disappointed in the outcome.
Perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying a date night in with your man, the Best Margarita Recipe absolutely deserves a place on your cocktail rotation.
Looking for more awesome margarita recipes to try? Bookmark our Strawberry Margaritas On the Rocks in your internet browser for next time!
CLASSIC MARGARITA INGREDIENTS
- Tequila
- Orange Liqueur
- Lime Juice
- Agave Nectar or Simple Syrup
HOW TO PICK YOUR TEQUILA
Personal preferences matter when it comes to picking out the tequila for your margarita.
If you genuinely enjoy a bolder flavored tequila, go with an aged tequila like a Reposado. Reposado tequilas are aged for up to 12 months in oak barrels, giving this tequila a smooth flavor with hints of oak, vanilla, and caramel.
If it's the sweet citrusy vibe of margarita your heart loves the most, you should probably go with a Blanco tequila (also known as Silver tequila).
Blanco tequilas are agave forward with citrusy notes. This tequila will allow the lime juice and the orange liqueur to shine more than an aged tequila.
TRIPLE SEC VS. ORANGE LIQUEUR
Grand Marnier and Cointreau are both high-quality liqueurs made from orange peels. So what's the difference?
It comes down to the type of oranges and alcohol used to make them that separates the two. They are similar in flavor, but you may find you prefer one over the other.
Grand Marnier is considered an orange liqueur, and it is made from brandy and bitter oranges called Citrus Bigaradia. Cointreau is regarded as a triple sec, and it is made from sugar beet alcohol, with a mix of both bitter oranges and sweet oranges.
So which one should you choose in order to make the best margarita humanly possible? If you like a sweeter, smoother flavor, go with the Cointreau. If you want your cocktails a bit more on the dry side, Grand Marnier it is.
And, if you're big on orange, be sure to add these Cadillac Margaritas to your must-make cocktail list!
FRESH LIME JUICE
The key to making the best margaritas is fresh lime juice. Premade, bottled margarita mixes are loaded with artificial flavors and tons of sugar. Fresh lime juice is the major difference-maker between a so-so margarita and the absolute best margarita.
Each lime will yield about ¾ ounces of juice, and you'll need an average of two limes per margarita. If you are making margaritas for a crowd, a handheld citrus juicer or a citrus press comes in handy!
THE SWEETENER
Last but not least, let's talk sugar. You can use agave nectar or simple syrup. Classic margarita recipes call for simple syrup, while skinny margaritas are often made with agave syrup.
Like with Grand Marnier and Cointreau, simple syrup and agave nectar vary in sweetness levels. Agave nectar is sweeter per ounce than simple syrup, so you may find you don't need as much of it.
More than anything, the perfect sweetness of your margarita comes down to personal preference, and you might find you like up to a full ounce. Whichever sweetener you choose, start with only a scant ½ ounce and add in tiny increments.
Being able to tailor the recipe to your exact liking is the beauty of homemade margaritas!
DO I NEED BARTENDING TOOLS?
To get straight to the point, the answer is a resounding no. You don't need specialty bartending equipment to make the best margaritas ever. You can get by with the kitchen basics you likely already have.
Whether or not you want to pull out the cocktail shaker is up to you. Using a cocktail shaker will also need a jigger to measure out your pours. However, the easiest way to whip up margaritas at home is to pull out a standard kitchen measuring pitcher and a spoon to stir.
A shaker serves two purposes: to mix and chill.
Measuring pitchers are already equipped with ounce-measuring markers. This eliminates the need for the extra jigger tool and that whole "shaking step" altogether.
And, as for the chilling aspect of the shaker, margaritas on the rocks are served over ice -- that will chill your cocktail plenty.
You'll also want to have either a margarita glass or rocks glasses. If you were wondering, a rocks glass is just fancy bar slang for a short, 8-ounce glass.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST MARGARITAS!!!
- Fill a rocks or margarita glass with ice.
- Add the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup to a measuring pitcher or to a shaker filled with ice.
- Stir or shake.
- Pour over ice and serve!
Excited to try your hand at another at-home cocktail? I highly recommend our Frozen Margaritas!
HOW TO ADD A SALTED RIM
To add a salted rim to your margarita glass, pour about a ⅓ of a cup of Kosher salt (also known as margarita salt) onto a small plate and shimmy it around to spread out a bit.
Then, take a lime wedge with a slit cut in the center of it and run it along the rim of your glass. Turn your glass over and swirl it around on the plate, using your fingers to press the salt onto the edge of the glass gently.
Note, the exact same process would be used for a sugar rim.
6 MORE MARGARITA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Mexican Martini
- Watermelon Margaritas
- Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
- Coconut Margaritas
- Blood Orange Margaritas
- Peach Margaritas
Mexican Martini Recipe
Watermelon Margaritas Recipe
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
Coconut Margaritas
Blood Orange Margarita
Peach Margaritas
Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, quick and easy to make, and super customizable. That's why we call this the Best Margarita Recipe!
- 1 ½ ounce (3 tablespoons) Reposado or Silver tequila
- 1 ½ ounce (3 tablespoons) fresh-squeezed lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec)
- Scant ½ ounce (just under 1 tablespoon) agave nectar or simple syrup
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Add ice to a rocks/short cocktail glass or a margarita glass.
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In a separate beaker or measuring pitcher, combine the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave nectar. Stir until well-combined.
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Pour over the ice, serve, and enjoy.
Source: CuracaoLiqueur.com