The Margarita is the world's most popular tequila cocktail — tart lime, bright orange liqueur, and quality tequila served on the rocks or frozen, with or without a salt rim. It is festive, refreshing, and universally loved.
Ingredients
Glass
Margarita
The Story
The Margarita's origins are muddled with competing claims. One popular story credits Carlos "Danny" Herrera, who created it at his Tijuana restaurant in 1938 for a customer who was allergic to all spirits except tequila. Another credits socialite Margarita Sames, who mixed the drink at her Acapulco vacation home in 1948. A third claim points to bartender Don Carlos Orozco in Ensenada.
Regardless of who first combined tequila, lime, and orange liqueur, the Margarita exploded in popularity across the American Southwest in the 1950s and 1960s. The frozen margarita machine, invented in 1971 by Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez, turned it into a cultural phenomenon.
How We Make It
Salt Rim
Run a lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass and dip in coarse salt. Chill the glass.
Shaker
Add 60ml blanco tequila, 25ml fresh lime juice, and 20ml triple sec to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake
Shake hard for about 12 seconds until the mixture is cold and integrated.
Strain & Garnish
Strain into the chilled margarita glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wheel.
Variations
Spicy Margarita
Muddle jalapeño slices in the shaker before adding the other ingredients. The heat from the chili builds slowly and complements the lime's tartness perfectly.
Mango Margarita
Ripe mango blended with the rest of the ingredients and ice — a tropical, sweet, and bubbly version that is perfect for summer.
Mezcal Margarita
Swapping the tequila for mezcal adds a deep smokiness that completely transforms the character of the drink. For the adventurous only.
Bartender Tips
100% Agave Tequila
Always use 100% agave blanco tequila. Mixto tequilas (the cheap ones) contain added sugars that cause harsh hangovers and inferior flavor.
Salt Half the Rim
Salt only half the rim so the drinker can choose with each sip whether they want salt or not.
Lime, Lime, Lime
The Margarita lives and dies by its lime. Squeeze it fresh, measure it precisely, and never settle for bottled juice.