What Is The Best Tequila For A Margarita
There are a ton of tequilas out there but thankfully we sacrificed for the good of humanity and have done countless drink studies to help you choose what is the best tequila for a margarita. So the next time a friend asks you what are the best types of tequila for margaritas, youll be an expert.
The short answer is tequila blanco, also known as silver tequila or white tequila. This type of tequila is young and unaged and has a stronger natural agave flavor that pairs best with margaritas. Thats because they dont have a woody or aged flavor like its more expensive oak barrel aged peers, the tequila reposado or tequila anejo. Dont get us wrong, these other tequila types are delicious in their own right but we like them more as a sipper tequila as opposed to mixing in margaritas.
Best Type Of Tequila For Margaritas
One of the most popular cocktails in Texas is the classic margarita, which is traditionally made with fresh lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur. Served blended or over ice, they offer a perfect marriage of sweet, sour, and salty. Best of all, they can come in an infinite array of flavors, such as strawberry, mango, jalapeño, basil, and much more.
However, the confusion about light and dark tequila, and which is the proper choice for a margarita, is a mutual problem among novice margarita makers. If you love margaritas but have no clue which kind of tequila to use, you are not alone. Continue reading to learn the difference between silver and gold tequila, and some tips on using them to make margaritas.
What Are The Different Types Of Tequila
“The difference between blanco, añejo, and reposado is the aging process, describes Dylan Alpaugh, the general manager of Sophia’s Lounge. Blanco tequilas are unaged and come out clear. Reposado tequilas are aged in white oak bottles for a period of two months to a year, imparting a slight yellowish-brown color. Añejo tequilas are aged in white oak barrels for a period of one to three years, imparting a rich brown color to the tequila.
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Best Tequila For Margaritas
As we mentioned in our how to make the best margarita article, we found that, in our opinion, the best tequila for margaritas is the .
You could do what we did and make several margaritas to come to this decision. But we have tried to save you the time and get right to drinking wonderful margaritas and not concerning yourself with whether you have the best.
How Is Tequila Different From Mezcal
Mezcal is sometimes referred to as tequilas smoky cousinbut you may be surprised to learn that tequila is actually a type of mezcal. Technically speaking, mezcal is any distillate of the agave plant produced in Mexico, and tequila certainly meets those qualifications. There are important distinctions, though: to be called tequila, the spirit in question must be made in one of five specific Mexican states , and must be made exclusively from the blue Weber variety of agave. Meanwhile, the term mezcal refers to an agave distillate made from one of nine specific Mexican states , which may be made from dozens of different agave varietieseither as a single-variety expression or as a blend. While mezcals will vary greatly in flavor profile based on agave variety and geographical origin, its not uncommon for them to have a characteristic roasty flavor from the time the agave spends roasting underground.
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El Recuerdo De Oaxaca Mezcal Joven
Joven or young refers to mezcal that hasnt undergone an aging process, like Recuerdo de Oaxaca Joven, the must-have margarita spirit for bartender Emilio Dominguez of Casa Maya Grill in Deerfield Beach, Florida, who tells us that, El Recuerdo de Oaxaca is Casa Maya Grills new favorite mezcal. The flavor is approachable, smooth and balanced something the mezcal market is missing right now. Appropriately smoky, its perfect for blending into cocktails without overpowering them.
Editors’ Recommendations
Best Budget: Master Of Mixes Margarita Mixer
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Master of Mixes Margarita Mixer is an affordable yet high-quality mix. Its made from a blend of ingredients like Mexican key lime juice, citrus oils, simple syrup and agave syrup. This mixer takes all the elements you would use to make your own drink, like fresh lime juice and triple sec, and simplifies them into a ready-to-drink option.
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Best Spicy: Hella Cocktail Co Habanero Margarita
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To add a spicy kick to your Margarita, consider using Hella Cocktail Co.s habanero-infused mixer. The ingredients include just fresh lime juice, sugar and real habanero peppers. This vegan and gluten-free mixer is not overly sweet and provides a nice balance of citrus and spice. And, the habanero helps liven up your drink without being overpowering.
How Much Tequila Do You Put In A Margarita
For a single margarita, a 1.5-ounce shot of tequila is standard. It is typically equal to the total volume of the other two ingredients . For instance, the classic margarita formula is three parts tequila, two parts triple sec, and one part lime juice. This is adjusted to taste, pouring more triple sec for a sweeter margarita or extra lime to increase the tartness.
When sizing the margarita up to a pitcher, simply increase the ingredients and keep them in proportion. For example, in the typical half-gallon pitcher, you would combine 3.75 cups tequila, 2.5 cups orange liqueur, and 1.25 cup lime juice. This makes 7.5 cups, leaving room in the pitcher for you to adjust the three ingredients to taste, add a sweetener without increasing the alcohol, or chill it with ice. The margarita is a strong drink, so dilution and small servings are important.
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Just Add Tequila For The Perfect Fiesta
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To make , all you need are a few simple ingredients: high-quality tequila, fresh lime juice, and a citrus sweetener like triple sec, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or even just a little agave syrup. Combine, shake and pour, its as easy as that. But, when you dont have the right ingredients or the time to whip up a drink, a good Margarita mixer can be incredibly helpful. There is a wide variety to choose from. Each has a distinctive flavor profile, from sour to spicy to fruity, offering something for every palate.
Here are the best Margarita mixes that are both delicious and affordable.
A Short Guide To Tequila And Making A Great Margarita
Quick Cinco de Mayo quiz: Where is the margarita more popular, the United States or Mexico? If you guessed the U.S. you win. Margaritas are the number one cocktail ordered in the U.S.
In Mexico, the Paloma a combination of grapefruit soda, tequila, salt and lime juice is the mixed-drink of choice. But north of the border, margaritas reign supreme and, as you might guess, there’s no day where margaritas are served more in this country than Cinco de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo is sort of an odd holiday. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT Mexican Independence Day that takes place in September. No, Cinco de Mayo is simply the commemoration of a battle where the French were defeated in Puebla. In Mexico, it is not an official holiday and Puebla is really the only place where the day is observed.
This is not to say you shouldn’t celebrate yourself. After all, there’s a solid American tradition of embracing other countries’ holidays as an excuse for a good happy hour . Plus the weather is so nice in May and there are really no other good party holidays until Memorial Day . So if you’re looking for an excuse to be festive, then today is the day to break out the chips and guacamole and make a nice pitcher of margaritas.
So here’s a little primer on margaritas and tequila for your Cinco de Mayo holiday. Enjoy and remember to call a cab for any friends who are celebrating with you.
There are five types of 100% agave tequila:
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So Which Kind Works Better In Margaritas
Now, to finally answer the question at hand: which is better for making a margarita? While at the end of the day, it really is your preference, mixologists and tequila experts agree that there is a better choice when it comes to tequila for margaritas.
The tequila winner across the board for margaritas is silver or white . This is because silver tequila ages for the shortest amount of time, giving it the strongest and purest taste so it can cut through the other flavorings that youre adding.
When you use silver tequila for margaritas, you are getting a pure tequila taste, which will blend well with other flavorings and mixes. People prefer to sip on gold tequila rather than diluting it into mixed drinks because it has a more unique flavor profile.
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“While there are a number of variables, typically having a drink every night does not necessarily equate to alcohol use disorder, but it can increase the risk of developing alcohol-related health problems,” Lawrence Weinstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer at American Addiction Centers tells WebMD Connect to Care.
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What Kind Of Tequila Is Best For Margaritas
My recommendation will always be for a blanco or reposado tequila for margaritas. Ive learned that I am not the biggest fan of gold tequila in my margaritas.
However, tequila gold is a popular choice for fruity restaurant margs because its inexpensive and the flavor is easily manipulated in mixed drinks!
If you want a lighter, more refreshing agave taste in your margarita, go for a blanco . Looking for a slightly richer experience? Try a reposado!
Lets look at some common questions about tequila!
Can you use Reposado tequila for margaritas?
Absolutely. Its one of my go-to options for homemade margaritas. It just depends on what kind of margarita Im making and which flavor profile were in the mood for!
What is a good inexpensive tequila for margaritas?
As mentioned above, the least expensive categories of tequila are going to be the silver and gold options. Go for a blanco because its always 100% agave and wont compete with the flavors of your margarita mix. You can also grab an inexpensive bottle of gold tequila, but its harder to find one that is 100% agave.
What is the best type of tequila?
If youre looking for a true sipping tequila , the answer to this question is going to be añejo. The price tag will often reflect the quality because it simply takes so much longer to produce.
What is the best top shelf tequila?Whats the smoothest tequila?
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Don Diego Santa Aejo Tequila
Añejo tequila receives 1-3 years of aging in oak barrels, and its commonly considered a sipping tequila rather than a cocktail spirit. However, mixologist Daniel Rodriguez of Cantina Rooftop in NYC appreciates Añejos complexity when making a Cadillac margarita, a spin on the classic marg that utilizes aged tequila and Cognac in lieu of blanco tequila and triple sec. Don Diego Santa Añejo Tequila is very smooth and elegant with aromas of hazelnut, clove, and vanilla. This tequila is very affordable and can compete with some of the most expensive tequilas. You can sip it or prepare the Don Diego Old Cadillac Margarita with this tequila, Rodriguez says in support of his Añejo preference.
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What Is The Best Type Of Tequila For Margaritas
Tequila is the most important part of a . Without tequila, its really not even a Margarita . So the main question is: Which type of tequila should you use?
TL DR: Blanco tequila. Its unaged, and a more pure expression of what the agave plant can do than both the more mellowed-out reposado and anejo tequila . If you can only choose one tequila, you need something right away, and you dont have time to experiment with different Margarita recipes, then you need to grab a blanco tequila.
I prefer blanco tequila personally because the flavor is pure, Diego Livera, the head bartender at Tavo in New York City, tells VinePair in an email. When tequila is aged, the oak adds this beautiful sense of caramel and spice that makes it more elegant. When I drink a Margarita, I prefer the ones that have the purest flavors mostly because they complement the rest of the ingredients so well.
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In other words, bigger, bolder agave flavors belong with lime, orange liqueur, and a salt rim. Tequilas that have been cooled down from oak have subtlety, but its a subtlety that gets lost in the classic three-two-one margarita .
The simplicity, however, ends there if youre a true Margarita fan. Because while the classic Margarita should always be made with blanco, innovative twists on the classic can use whatever matches the ingredients best.
Jose Cuervo Clasico Blanco Tequila
Its no wonder that Jose Cuervo is one of the most widely known tequila brands on the market. Its a classic, and for good reason. Produced, of course, with blue agave, the blanco tequila is unaged and makes the perfect addition to any cocktail and the dream base of any margarita. Both sweet and strong, with a note of spice, its a crisp tequila that youll always come back to. £29.69. At
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Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
With a rapidly rising profile and a spectacularly popular smoky taste, the agave spirit known as mezcal often replaces tequila as the primary liquor in margaritas. Taproom manager Lamarr Hawkins of Brooklyn Cider House in NYC favors the rendition made by Del Maguel Vida, stating that when making margaritas, I find myself reaching for a mezcal in place of tequila. The smoky flavor of mezcal is a great contrast to the citrus of lime and triple sec. My bottle of choice for a mezcal margarita tends to be Del Maguey Vida. The notes of this particular mezcal lean towards tropical fruit and honey, which add a unique pop to the classic margarita.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Colleen Graham is a beverage writer with over a decade of experience writing about cocktails and bartending. She has visited tequila distilleries in Mexico, tasted countless tequilas over the years, and wrote a book on the spirit.
Kate Dingwall, a sommelier and spirits writer, updated this roundup. She has been writing about wine and spirits for five years and has visited the Jalisco region over a dozen times. She has even harvested her own agave.
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Whats The Difference Between Gold And Silver Tequila
The obvious difference between the two types of tequila is the color, with silver tequila being clear in color and gold tequila being an amber/caramel color that can range in shades of light and dark.
The biggest and most important difference between the two is how long they are aged, which gives them a difference in color and flavor. Silver tequila is typically bottled immediately after it is distilled, but it can age for a maximum of two months.
It is also distilled in stainless steel, which prevents it from changing or acquiring any color. Basically, this is what keeps it clear in color. The taste is also different from gold tequila. Silver tequila is strong and harsh, which is why people use lemon or lime to neutralize it in drinks or shots.
Gold tequila is distilled in barrels. These barrels are what give the tequila its golden color . The length of time spent in the barrels makes the shade of gold vary, with a longer amount of time resulting in a darker shade.
The longer gold tequila ages in the barrel, the more expensive and high-quality it will be. Typically it is aged anywhere from 60 days to a year, but some brands will age it for years.
Codigo 1530 Rosa Tequila
If you want to enhance your margarita experience, Codigo 1530 Rosa Tequila can help you out. With unique floral notes, this spirit is one-of-a-kind.
It has rested for one month in an uncharred Napa Cabernet French White Oak barrel. This tequila works well in a margarita and other tequila-based cocktails and can also be enjoyed as is.
This is undoubtedly the best tequila for margarita for people who are interested in trying a soothing drinking experience. This spirit provides a beautiful pink hue and a fantastic aroma that will surely make you fall in love with it.
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This roundup was edited by Jesse Porter, whose Cadillac Margarita recipe is typically quite well-received by his friends, and yet who’s gotten very little traction on his Lincoln Margarita recipe.
Jonah Flicker is an experienced writer who has been covering spirits and traveling the world visiting distilleries for the past six years. His work has appeared in many different national outlets covering trends, new releases, and the stories and innovators behind the spirits. His first love remains whiskey, but he is partial to tequila, rum, gin, cognac and all things distilled.