Really Shake The Thing
Bartenders go to town because thorough shaking not only chills the drink but also combines the ingredients so the booze doesnt sit at the bottom of the glass. Shake the cocktail until the outside of the container is frosty, at least 20 seconds. The rest is simple: Strain into a glass.
A version of this article originally appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of Mens Health.
Make Homemade Margarita Mix
Homemade margaritas are so easy to make from scratch, so I dont think pre-made margarita mixes are really necessary. However, you can make your own homemade margarita mix to help prep for parties.
If youre planning to host a party, a mix will make the drink-making process much easier!
How To Make A Classic Margarita
To make this classic margarita youll need tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur . While a classic margarita is quite easy on its own, I wanted to simplify the recipe even further with an easy to remember 2-1-1 ratio.
- 2 oz of tequila
- 1 oz of lime juice
- 1 oz of orange liqueur
Shake or stir these ingredients together and then add ice . Alternatively, you can triple or quadruple the recipe in a blender and add ice to have a frozen margarita as well.
What type of tequila should you use? I used a reposado tequila which is aged in a barrel 2 months to just under a year. Reposado is often considered the perfect tequila for margaritas. Two other types of tequila are joven and añejo. Joven is lighter, aged less than reposado and cheaper. While añejo is darker, aged over a year and is more expensive.
You many also want to include salt on the rim of your margarita. You can purchase a coarser salt online or at the grocery or liquor store. Generously spread the salt on a plate large enough for the rim of the glass. Run a slice of lime around the rim of your glass. Then place the rim in the plate of salt. Pour your classic margarita in a glass and youre all set!
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How Do You Make A Skinny Margarita
For my favorite skinny margarita recipe, I just make a couple of tiny changes compared to a classic margarita. Replace the Triple Sec with freshly squeezed orange juice for that simple orange flavor without the extra calories. You can also use agave syrup to add a bit of sweetness to your liking. This comes out to less than 200 calories for a large glass of my skinny margaritas!
Whats The Secret To A Good Margarita Recipe
Lime juice is key for making the best margaritas. AND, since juicing limes can be time-consuming and expensive, I always buy lime juice by the gallon. It stores well and its cheaper.
To keep your margaritas budget-friendly, check out First Street 100% juice. It sells by the gallon for just under $7 compared to most lime juice brands that sell by the gallon for close to $30.
If you need to purchase a smaller amount, sells a pack of two 32-ounce bottles, but youre paying a higher price. I cook quite a bit with lime juice, and I put it in my water a couple of times a day also, so I dont mind storing the gallon.
Healthline wrote a fantastic article on the benefits of lime water for skin, weight loss, and your digestive system if you need some extra incentive to purchase the gallon.
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How Strong Is A Margarita
Using the original recipe and an 80-proof tequila along with Cointreau, the margarita is definitely not a low-proof cocktail. It shakes up to around 27 percent ABV , or just over half the strength of a tequila shot. If you serve it on the rocks, it will dilute and relax a bit over time.
Recipe Tags:
How To Make A Margarita
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Which Orange Liqueur Is Best To Use In A Classic Margarita
Orange liqueur is essentially vodka sweetened with sugar and orange peels. There are many brands of this liqueur on the market, but the most common brands are Cointreau, Curaçao and Grand Marnier.
For this margarita recipe I used Cointreau. Its the most commonly used and best orange liqueur for margaritas. The other two brands are a little different despite their orange liqueur label.
- Cointreau is considered a triple sec liqueur due to its French origins and mix of sweet and bitter oranges.
- Curaçao comes from the Dutch Caribbean island of the same name and is considered both a brand and type of orange liqueur. While traditionally rum-based, Curaçao produces a grain version too. Due to its tropical origins, the oranges for this liqueur are sweeter which is why its not considered a triple sec.
- Also, from France, Grand Marnier is considered a triple sec and Curaçao hybrid. Unlike the previous brands mentioned, its orange flavor is mixed with cognac.
Whats The Best Tequila For Margaritas
Many sources say tequila blanco is best for margaritas. Tequila blanco has been aged less than 2 months and has that classic tequila burn. But tequila reposado adds an intriguing depth of flavor: its our top pick. Heres our preference for the best tequila for margaritas:
- Tequila reposado is aged longer than blanco, at least 2 months. This gives it a more nuanced flavor, with notes of vanilla and oak. We like the margarita best with reposado, but you can use whatever you prefer!
- Either way, try to find a mid-price range tequila. You dont want to be making this drink with the cheap stuff!
A few great tequilas weve tried? The Patron Margarita and the Casamigos Margarita.
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A Simple And Best Margarita Recipe
If youve ever ordered a Cadillac margarita, youre probably familiar with Grand Marnier. Im convinced this stuff is what adds the WOW factor to any drink.
This orange-flavored liqueur served in a shot glass alongside a Cadillac margarita adds the perfect sweet touch. I incorporated it into this recipe for added sweetness since we are eliminating a store-bought margarita mix.
For just under $20 at Total Wine, you can buy a bottle of Grand Marnier , and Costcosells an even bigger bottle for under $30, which is a fantastic price compared to other places that sell it for $40.
Skip The Lime Garnish
You probably have one or two extra limes lying around after making all that lovely fresh juice. Dont slice them into wedges to use as garnishes, no matter how natural that seems.
Why? Because your drink is perfectly balanced at this point. By adding a lime wedge, you are inviting someone to squeeze it into their drink. That will throw off the citric balance of the cocktail, Mor says. Instead, he suggests expressing an orange peel on top, giving the drink a citrusy aroma without the threat of more acid. Margaritas, like most things in life, are all about balance.
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Dont Forget The Lime Juice
I highly recommend using fresh lime juice when making margaritas. It simply has a fresher and more balanced tart flavor than bottled lime juice.
If you do decide to use bottled store bought lime juice as a shortcut , try to use the kind that is not from concentrate. Santa Cruz Organic pure lime juice is a great option!
Margaritas For A Crowd
To make margaritas for a crowd , use 2 cups of lime juice , 2 cups of gold tequila , 1 cup of agave , and 1 cup of Grand Marnier .
The key is keeping all parts equal. If you want to make two BOMB-ASS margaritas, use 2 ounces of lime juice , 2 ounces of gold tequila , 1 ounce of agave , and 1 ounce of Grand Marnier .
And, dont be concerned by the dark color you see in the pitcher because once you mix the margarita in the shaker and serve it over ice, the drink looks more like a lime margarita with the perfect swirl of brown booze!
Serve my Lets Guac About It guacamole to your guests while theyre sipping on their BOMB-ASS margaritas to ensure one unforgettable party!
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A Mason Jar Margarita
The Spruce Eats / Claire Cohen
It has become popular to serve margaritas in a Mason jar with a ton of ice. The original margarita recipe was designed to be served as a short drink, with a volume of just 3 1/2 ounces. As with most classic cocktail recipes, it will barely fill many of today’s larger margarita and cocktail glasses, much less a Mason jar.
If you want to make a Mason jar margarita, you need a recipe designed for the larger volume. This modern version makes a drink that’s just over 6 ounces. With plenty of ice cubes and fresh fruit, it will fill the average Mason jar mug perfectly.
To make this margarita, shake 2 ounces tequila, 1 ounce triple sec, and 3 ounces fresh sour mix with ice. Strain it into an ice-filled Mason jar and add a few lime wedges.
This can also be mixed directly in your Mason jar. At first, cut back on the ice, shake or stir the drink, then fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you’re a fan of mixing drinks in Mason jars, Shane Carley’s “The Mason Jar Cocktail Companion” is an excellent book. All of the recipes are measured in parts and many of the booze-heavy recipes have been adapted to the higher volume. Carley’s Mason jar margarita, for instance, mixes 3 parts tequila, 2 parts orange liqueur, and 1 part lime juice.
What’s The Difference Between A Daiquiri And A Margarita
The daiquiri and margarita are two very popular classic cocktails that have a similar sweet-tart flavor profile. The original recipes for both use lime juice, though the daiquiri has a rum base and is typically sweetened with simple syrup rather than triple sec. Both cocktails can be made with a variety of fruits or tossed in the blender too.
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How To Make A Margarita :
Detailed instructions are included in the recipe below, but here is a brief overview of how to make a single-serving homemade margarita:
What’s The Best Tequila For Margaritas
I highly recommend using only good-quality tequila to make your margaritas. With only three ingredients in the cocktail, a bad tequila will result in an equally bad margarita.
Look for bottles with labels that say 100% de agave, which means the tequila is distilled only from Mexican blue agave plants. Cheap tequilas are often cut with alcohol made from corn or sugar cane, resulting in a tequila that tastes flat and burns on the way down.
- Want to learn more about tequila? Check out our comprehensive Tequila Guide!
In addition, good-quality tequila is aged in oak barrels for 2 to 12 months, which gives it nuanced flavors. Blanco tequila is aged for 2 months, reposado for 2 to 11 months, and añejo for 12 or more months.
You can serve this cocktail with salt, or not. Straight, or over the rocks. That part is up to you!
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How To Make A Moscow Mule:
Its super easy to learn how to make a Moscow Mule cocktail. Simply
How To Make A Perfect Salt Rim
Now, lets talk about the glass rim in this classic margarita recipe! The best type of salt to use is kosher salt or flaky sea salt because it has a nice chunky texture. Or try our Homemade Margarita Salt: the orange and lime zest makes the glass look perfectly look festive! Here are our tips to making the perfect rim:
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Heres A Video Showing How Easy This Classic Margarita Is:
You see, margaritas are one of those things that are different to different people. Some like them crazy sweet. Others like them really strong. Some want very tart and sour lime. Others, just a citrus whiff. And lets not get started on rocks versus straight up, salt or no salt. Yikes! If I dared to claim that I had the best margarita recipe, a good 75% of you would want to fight with me. But why fight when we can drink?
So, what Im giving you below is my favorite margarita recipe. Its how I make them to my taste. I dont like them super-boozy. I do like them very limey. And I like a touch of sweetness.
The Best Margaritas Are Not Frozen
Having a frosty, cold margarita is always the GOAL!
Not only does it taste good, but the ice complements the alcohols, sweetener, and lime juice used.
If you dont have an ice maker in your freezer, you can always Instacart a big bag for under $3 or hit up your local grocery store.
When making margaritas for a crowd, its wise to buy a large bag because the freezer ice maker is small, and you dont want to ever run out of ice when youre making the best margaritas of your life!
I know many drink expertsout there would disagree about buying store-bought ice, but when you have the right ingredients and base for a perfect drink, you can afford to simplify some things.
Because the BOMB-ASS margarita recipe is so good, we dont need to worry about getting too fancy with our ice. Trust me, for this recipe, any shaped ice will do.
Now, back to the rocks advice. Margaritas over ice are always better than frozen margaritas because the frozen ones melt faster, resulting in a diluted margarita. Ice cubes melt slower, and if you dont believe me, then at least give this a chance to explain.
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How To Make A Mojito:
So lets talk about how to make mojitos! For a single serving, simply:
That said, while making a mint mojito in a cocktail shaker is standard, I often take a shortcut and just muddle and mix everything together directly in the serving glass , which is just as delicious. )
How Much Alcohol Is In A Margarita
This really depends on the recipe and your preferences. My preferred ratio for a great margarita is 2 parts Tequila to 1 part lime juice and 1 part Triple Sec. Thats quite a bit of alcohol in any given margarita .
So for a typical glass, you could expect 3 ounces of alcohol. If you want less alcohol in your drink, simply use a 1:1:1 ratio .
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