Classic Margarita Recipe

Total Time:

5 mins

Servings:

1 drink

What are you drinking? We suggest a classic margarita made with tequila, lime, and a touch of orange liqueur. Just three ingredients, no sour mix, no frozen riffs—it's a citrusy, lip-smacking combination that's easy to make at home. Make sure you have plenty of ice—and get out your shaker because this essential libation is shaken, never stirred. Simplicity is key, but don’t forget the salt rim that brings it all together. Cheers!

Just 3 Ingredients

The ingredient list for a margarita is short, which means you need to pay attention to the quality of each element—there's nothing to cover up inferior components.

Use Quality Tequila: Tequila is a spirit made from agave—a plant that can take around seven years or so to grow and mature before it is ready to harvest. Not all tequila is created equal. At the bare minimum, be sure to use 100 percent blue agave tequila. And while some margarita recipes may use aged tequila, a pure, simple unaged blanco is the classic choice for this drink.
Opt for Good Triple Sec: Don't skimp on the orange-flavored liqueur, it adds a gentle, citrusy sweetness to the cocktail. Triple sec is the most well-known, but there are many orange-flavored liqueur options—and not all triple secs are made well; some can taste artificial or too sweet. The French word "sec" actually means dry, which is where this liqueur should lean.
Go With Fresh Limes: Bottled lime juice doesn't work here, it lacks the fresh taste of just-squeezed limes. Plus, you'll need a lime to rim the glass and for garnish, so just buy two as the recipe calls for—one for squeezing in the drink and one for slicing and cutting a wedge from.
Don't Skip the Salt: While a salted rim is not required, we include it in our recipe because it elevates the flavor and is an important layer in the drink's profile.

Double Up

Double this recipe to make two drinks; they'll fit in a standard cocktail shaker.

Directions

Juice lime:

Juice one lime to make 1 ounce and set aside.
Cut one slice and one wedge from other lime:

From remaining lime, slice a thin wheel for garnish and a wedge for salt rim.
Rim glass and fill with ice:

Run lime wedge around one side of the rim of a chilled rocks glass; dip rim in salt to coat. Partially fill glass with ice.

We prefer to use 1 large sphere of ice for minimal melting and dilution.
Shake cocktail:

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add tequila, orange liqueur, and reserved lime juice. Shake vigorously until outside of shaker is cold and frosty, about 10 seconds;
Strain, garnish, and serve:

Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with lime wheel and serve immediately.

You may already know that margarita means daisy in Spanish—but the flower has another definition, too. A daisy is a drink that has citrus, a base spirit, and a sweetening agent, like a liqueur. Others include the Cosmopolitan, the Kamikaze, and the Sidecar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does triple sec do for a margarita?

Triple sec, or another orange-flavored liqueur, is a boozy sweet addition to a margarita. It typically balances the tart lime juice and the power of the tequila. A few naysayers think it masks the flavor of the tequila, but we think it adds equilibrium to the drink.
What is better in a margarita, Cointreau or triple sec?

Both Cointreau and triple sec are good in a margarita, just be sure you have a good quality triple sec if that is what you are using. If you are buying a new bottle of orange-flavored liqueur to make these margaritas, we suggest Cointreau because it has a rounder flavor and is more versatile for drinks beyond margaritas.
Is the margarita a Mexican cocktail?

Like many drinks, the exact origins of the margarita are unknown, but there are many claims about its invention. Most say the drink originated in Mexico, and many say it was "discovered" when well-to-do Americans crossed the border during Prohibition to imbibe where alcohol was still legal, discovering the drink in Juarez near the Texas border, or Rosarito Beach in Baja where Mexico and California meet.