Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes Lemon Margaritas for a Crowd This big-batch cocktail can be smoky if you use mezcal and classic if you go with tequila. Close Credit: Petrina Tinslay Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Servings: 8 to 10 Jump to recipe Lemon margaritas for your crowd! Our big-batch margarita recipe makes it simple to serve this refreshing drink at your next cookout or party. Go smoky by using mezcal or classic with blanco tequila. Whichever route you choose, you’ll get a pitcher of cocktails to serve 8 to 10 people. And you can make the drink ahead, a boon when you are hosting or transporting to a potluck. When you serve, add frozen lemon wedges to each glass to chill rather than ice cubes, which is a great way to add more lemon flavor without diluting the drink. Mezcal and Tequila Are More Popular Than Ever—Here's How to Tell These Agave-Based Spirits Apart Make Ahead To make hosting easier, elements of this lemon margarita can be made ahead. The lemon syrup needs to be made at least an hour ahead so it can cool before you mix it with the other ingredients but it can be made as far as two weeks ahead and refrigerated. Assemble the cocktail in a pitcher the day before and refrigerate. If you're transporting the drink to a potluck, use a thermos. Rim the glasses and add orange rounds and frozen lemon wedges to the pitcher for serving. Directions Make lemon syrup In a saucepan, combine sugar, lemon zest, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Cool, strain, and refrigerate: Remove from heat; let cool completely. Strain, discarding zest; stir in lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate in an airtight container until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 2 weeks. Makes 2 cups. Mix syrup, mezcal, and liqueur: In a pitcher, stir together syrup, mezcal, and orange liqueur. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day, if desired. Rim glasses: Run an orange round along the rim of each serving glass; dip each rim in salt. Serve: Add orange rounds and frozen lemon wedges to pitcher. Pour drinks into prepared glasses; serve with more orange rounds and frozen lemon wedges. 5 More Margarita Recipes to Try: Lemon Mezcal Margarita Serrano-Mint Margarita Orange-Mint Margarita Texas Margarita Frozen Mango Margarita Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the decorvow recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.