Jump to Recipe This classic margarita is the best margarita recipe you’ll ever make! Made with 3 simple ingredients, it’s the perfect balance of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice that makes a crisp and refreshing drink every single time. Margaritas are timeless. Whether you’re making a pitcher of margaritas for you and your friends to enjoy poolside, a drink to accompany your favorite tacos, or a couple of glasses to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I think every occasion is worthy of a good margarita. And that includes today, my friends. Tequila has always been my liquor of choice. The flavor truly is delicious to me. Maybe it’s in my blood? It’s possible. I am Mexican after all. All I know is that when you love tequila as much as I do, knowing how to make a good margarita is a must! Here’s what you need to know. What is a margarita made of?Tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Those three simple ingredients are all you need to make the best margarita. How to make a margaritaMargaritas are incredibly easy to make, especially when you remember the 2-1-1 ratio. That’s 2 parts tequila, 1 part orange liqueur, and 1 part lime juice. Here’s how to put it all together:
What kind of tequila is best for margaritas?Reposado tequila is typically the go-to for margaritas, but you can use blanco, reposado, or añejo varieties. It’s all personal preference! In these photos, I used a really good añejo tequila that I had in the cupboard because I was craving something with a bit more complexity and sweetness. When I want a margarita that’s simply refreshing and crisp, I choose a reposado or blanco tequila. The most important thing when choosing tequila for classic margaritas is quality. Since margaritas are only made with three ingredients, choosing a high-quality tequila is important since there is nowhere for flavors to hide! Which orange liqueur is best for margaritas?Triple sec and Cointreau are the two types of orange liqueur that are often used in margaritas. They’re both acceptable to use, but I prefer one over the other depending on the type of margarita. When making this classic margarita, I prefer using Cointreau because of its smoother finish and more balanced flavors. When making blended fruity margaritas, I prefer using triple sec since its straightforward orange flavor is often diluted in the drink. Sometimes Grand Marnier is used instead of triple sec or Cointreau, but it is not a traditional ingredient in a margarita. Don’t 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 (we’ve all been there!), try to use the kind that is not from concentrate. Santa Cruz Organic pure lime juice is a great option! recipe tips and variations
Prep: 5 minutes Total : 5 minutes This classic margarita is the best margarita recipe you'll ever make! Made with 3 simple ingredients – tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.
Serving: 1drinkCalories: 225kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 12g (4%)Protein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 43mg (1%)Fiber: 0.1gSugar: 10g (11%)Vitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 9mg (11%)Calcium: 4mgIron: 0.1mg (1%) Course:Drinks Cuisine:Mexican This recipe was originally published in September 2016 and was updated in August 2022 with more extensive recipe testing and helpful information. If you’re wanting the older version of the recipe, it is as follows:
free ebook! download my top 10 recipes bookSubscribe and receive a free e-cookbook of our Top 10 Easy Mexican Recipes! Get My Copy! Reader InteractionsHow much margarita equals a shot?3 ounces of margarita mix. 2 ounces of silver tequila. 1 ounce of triple sec.
How many drinks are in one margarita?One Margarita is about 1.5 standard drinks.
How strong is a margarita?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 (54 proof), or just over half the strength of a tequila shot.
How many shots are usually in a cocktail?In a fifth of alcohol—the most common alcohol bottle size—there are about 17 shots. Adhering to the standard pour will ensure you get the most out of each bottle, which is especially when making well drinks.
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