Tip: Try our Casamigos Margarita or Patron Margarita recipes, each with different types of tequila! All you need is three ingredients for the best margarita recipe that comes out perfectly balanced—a mix of boozy, zingy, salty, and sweet. Alex and I have created over 30 margarita recipes, but guess what? We keep coming back to this classic formula every time. We love it so much we even included it our latest cookbook! You can serve a margarita straight up, or on the rocks in a lowball glass. The ingredients in this basic margarita recipe are:
Tequila: A mid-price range tequila blanco is ideal, but you can also make the drink with tequila reposado for more nuanced, smooth flavor notes. Triple Sec or Cointreau: We like a margarita with Cointreau, which adds a sophisticated finish. You can also use Triple Sec, an inexpensive orange liqueur with more straightforward flavor. Lime juice: Always use the juice of fresh limes: bottled just can’t compare to fresh citrus.
Or, try a Tajín rim: it’s a Mexican seasoning blend of chili peppers, lime, and salt that adds a burst of tangy, spicy flavor.
Any mid-priced tequila tastes great in a margarita. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35. Tequila blanco is ideal. It has a straightforward agave-centric flavor and spicy finish. Brands we like are Espolon Blanco, El Tesoro Blanco, Patrón Silver, and Casamigos. Tequila reposado (aged) makes a sophisticated margarita. It has a smooth flavor with notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel. Brands we like include Casamigos, Milagro Reposado, and Suerte Reposado.
Frequently asked questions
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Try a frozen margarita for a summery spin. Make it spicy with a jalapeno margarita, or smoky for a mezcal margarita. Swap in Grand Marnier to make a sophisticated Cadillac margarita, amaretto for an Italian Margarita, or beer for a beer margarita. Try fruity spins like the strawberry margarita, mango margarita, pineapple margarita, and more.
