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    Home · Recipes · Cocktails · The BEST Margarita Recipe

    April 5, 2022

    The BEST Margarita Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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.

    a margarita with a salt rim and a lime wedge

    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. 

    as overhead look at a margarita with a lime and salt rim

    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.

    A bottle of Cointreau next to a bottle of Herradura 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.

    margarita mixture being poured into a glass with ice

    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. 

    a lime being juiced with a hand juicer

    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!

    a margarita with a salt rim and lime wedge on the side

    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.

    lime juice in a glass measuring cup with sliced limes beside it

    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!!!

    1. Fill a rocks or margarita glass with ice.
    2. Add the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup to a measuring pitcher or to a shaker filled with ice.
    3. Stir or shake.
    4. 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. 

    a margarita with a lime wedge on the side and salt rim

    6 MORE MARGARITA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

    • Mexican Martini
    • Watermelon Margaritas
    • Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
    • Coconut Margaritas
    • Blood Orange Margaritas
    • Peach Margaritas

    • A Mexican martini on a black surface with olives around it and salt on a plate behind it.

      Mexican Martini Recipe

    • Watermelon Margaritas with a lime garnish and a salted rim and wedges of watermelon surrounded the glasses.

      Watermelon Margaritas Recipe

    • Frozen Strawberry Margarita

      Frozen Strawberry Margaritas

    • Fizzy Blood Orange Margarita

      Blood Orange Margarita

    • Peach Margaritas

      Peach Margaritas

    4.34 from 3 votes
    a margarita with a lime wedge on the side and salt rim
    Print
    The Best Margarita Recipe
    Prep Time
    6 mins
    Total Time
    6 mins
     

    Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, quick and easy to make, and super customizable. That's why we call this the Best Margarita Recipe!

    Course: Cocktails
    Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
    Keyword: Best Margarita Recipe
    Servings: 1 Serving
    Calories: 273 kcal
    Author: Kelly Anthony
    Ingredients
    • 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
    Instructions
    1. Add ice to a rocks/short cocktail glass or a margarita glass.

    2. In a separate beaker or measuring pitcher, combine the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave nectar. Stir until well-combined.

    3. Pour over the ice, serve, and enjoy.

    Nutrition Facts
    The Best Margarita Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 273 Calories from Fat 9
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 1g2%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Sodium 4mg0%
    Potassium 60mg2%
    Carbohydrates 24g8%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 19g21%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 21IU0%
    Vitamin C 15mg18%
    Calcium 6mg1%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Image for PInterest

    Source: CuracaoLiqueur.com

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    I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

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