Classic Margarita Recipe (And How to Pick the Best Tequila for It)
A margarita only has three real ingredients, so the tequila does most of the talking. A 100% blue agave blanco tequila brings clean agave flavor and enough backbone to stand up to lime and orange liqueur without tasting harsh or masking the drink with caramel and oak notes meant for sipping neat.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Servings
- 4
Ingredients
- 8 fl oz tequila, 100% blue agave, blanco
- 4 fl oz orange liqueur (triple sec or Cointreau)
- 4 fl oz fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt, for rimming glasses
- 4 wedges lime wedges, for garnish
- 4 cups ice
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 241
- Protein
- 0g
- Carbs
- 14g
- Fat
- 0g
Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.
Need different units or a different yield? Try our Conversion Calculator →
Instructions
- 1Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip the rim into a shallow plate of coarse salt to coat.
- 2Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, then add the tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice.
- 3Cap the shaker and shake hard for about 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels ice-cold to the touch.
- 4Strain into the salt-rimmed glasses filled with fresh ice.
- 5Garnish each glass with a lime wedge and serve immediately.
Tips & variations
- Look for '100% agave' on the label. If a tequila just says 'tequila' without that phrase, it's a mixto, distilled from a blend of agave and other sugars, and it tends to taste thinner and harsher in a mixed drink.
- Blanco (also called silver or plata) is the standard choice for margaritas because its bright, peppery agave flavor cuts through the sweet-tart mix cleanly. Reposado, aged 2-12 months in oak, works too and adds a rounder, slightly vanilla note if that's preferred.
- Skip anejo and extra anejo tequilas for mixing; their long barrel aging is meant to be sipped and gets lost, or clashes, once lime and orange liqueur are added.
- There's no need to buy a $60+ bottle for margaritas. Mid-range 100% agave blancos in the $20-35 range mix just as well as premium bottles, since ice and citrus mute the subtle differences a sipping tequila is priced for.
- For a spicier version, muddle a slice of jalapeno with the lime juice before shaking.
- For a frozen margarita, blend the same ratio with 1.5 cups of ice instead of shaking over cubes.
Storage & reheating
Margaritas are best mixed and served fresh since the ice dilutes and the citrus loses brightness as it sits. If needed, the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice can be combined ahead (without ice) and refrigerated for up to a day; shake with ice and rim the glasses just before serving.
Tips from the Tulo kitchen
- Squeeze limes at room temperature, or roll them firmly on the counter first, to get noticeably more juice per lime.
- Salting only half the rim leaves an unsalted side to sip from for anyone who doesn't want salt with every drink.
FAQ
What is the best tequila for margaritas?
A 100% blue agave blanco tequila is the standard choice. It has clean, bright agave flavor that holds up well against lime juice and orange liqueur without the oak and caramel notes of aged tequilas competing with the drink.
Should I use blanco, reposado, or anejo for a margarita?
Blanco is the classic pick for its crisp, peppery flavor. Reposado is a good alternative if a rounder, slightly oaky note is preferred. Anejo and extra anejo are aged for sipping and tend to taste muted or out of place once mixed with citrus.
Is it worth buying an expensive tequila for margaritas?
Not really. A mid-priced 100% agave blanco in the $20-35 range performs just as well in a margarita as a $60+ bottle, since the lime and orange liqueur mask the subtler flavor distinctions that higher-priced tequilas are made to showcase.
What does '100% agave' mean and why does it matter?
It means the tequila was distilled entirely from blue agave sugars rather than a blend of agave and other cheaper sugars (a mixto). Mixto tequilas tend to taste thinner and harsher, and often cause worse hangovers due to added congeners.
Can I make margaritas without orange liqueur?
Yes, though the drink will taste sharper and less balanced. Substitute a small amount of simple syrup or agave nectar for sweetness, adjusting to taste since orange liqueur also contributes flavor, not just sugar.
