Margarita

A classic sour of blanco tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime juice, served without ice in a salt-rimmed glass; tart, citrusy and lightly salty.

26.4% ABV
Shaken
3 min
Coupe
sour
citrusy
refreshing
strong
IBA official cocktail · Contemporary Classics

about 1.6 standard drinks (US, 14 g of alcohol). Estimated after dilution with ice.

Ingredients

1¾ ozBlanco tequila (100% agave)Choose a blanco tequila made from 100% agave.
¾ ozOrange liqueur (triple sec)Triple sec. A cognac-based orange liqueur gives a richer variation.
½ ozFresh lime juice
1 pinchSalt (optional)For the rim of the glass only. Optional.

Ice: No ice · Garnish: salt

Method

Chill a coupe. Moisten the outer edge of the rim with a little lime juice, then dip it lightly in salt.
Pour the tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime juice into a shaker filled with ice.
Shake hard for about 10 seconds, until the shaker is very cold.
Strain into the prepared glass, with no ice.
Serve right away, with the salted rim as the only garnish.

Want it without alcohol? Try the alcohol-free version: Virgin Margarita

Tips

Squeeze the lime juice just before shaking. Bottled juice makes the drink flat and dull.
Salt only the outside of the rim, and only around half of it if you like, so each sip can be taken with or without salt.
A common variation replaces the triple sec with an orange liqueur made on a cognac base. It tastes rounder, with more depth.

Swaps

Missing something? These swaps change the taste a little but keep the drink balanced.

Orange liqueur (triple sec) → Dry orange curaçao

History

The origin of the Margarita is disputed. Several bartenders in Mexico and the United States are credited with it, and none of these stories is confirmed. Its name means "daisy" in Spanish, and the drink is often seen as a tequila take on the Daisy family of sours.