Margarita

The cocktail that built tequila. Three ingredients, one salt rim, ten thousand variations and one true classic. The 50/50 split between tequila and citrus is what makes it work, and the Triple Sec is what stops it tasting like a sour mistake.

Margarita Cocktail Recipe

4.48 from 68 votes

Calories: 271kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 3

The Margarita is a beloved and widely popular cocktail in North America. Its combination of tangy lime, sweet orange liqueur, and distinctive tequila flavor has made it a timeless classic in the sour cocktail category. The origins of the Margarita, however, are somewhat uncertain.

One account suggests that a Dallas socialite mixed blanco tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice for her guests in Acapulco, Mexico, back in 1948. Others believe that the Margarita evolved from the Daisy cocktail, which follows a similar template of spirits, citrus, orange liqueur, and soda. By omitting the soda and using tequila, the Margarita emerged. Regardless of its exact origins, the Margarita has become a beloved drink.

When making a Margarita, it's important to choose a quality tequila. Opt for a blanco tequila made from 100% blue agave. Avoid mixto tequila, which contains mystery sugars. Using fresh lime juice instead of premade sour mix is highly recommended for a superior Margarita.

Traditionally, orange liqueur has been a signature ingredient in Margaritas. However, variations of the classic recipe have introduced alternatives. Agave syrup is a common substitute for orange liqueur, as seen in the popular Tommy's Margarita created by Julio Bermejo in the '90s.

While there are debates about the Margarita's origins and various preferences such as salted rims or blended versus frozen, triple sec versus Cointreau or Grand Marnier, this version presents a tried-and-true recipe for the best Margarita you can make. Memorize it, and you'll always impress with your Margarita-making skills.

Instructions

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Rum the rim of a cocktail glass with lime juice and dip in salt. Shake all ingredients with ice strain into the glass and serve.
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Served in a Cocktail Glass

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Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 271kcal (14%)Carbohydrates: 21g (7%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Potassium: 61mg (2%)Sugar: 20g (22%)Vitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 9mg (11%)Calcium: 8mg (1%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Beverage, Cocktail, Drinks

Beverage Recipe, Cocktail Recipe, Drink Recipe

Where it came from

The Margarita has at least four origin stories, all unverified. The earliest credible one places it at Rancho La Gloria near Tijuana around 1938, where a bartender named Carlos Herrera supposedly mixed it for a showgirl named Marjorie King. Other versions credit Margaret Sames in Acapulco in 1948, or Bertita’s Bar in 1930. Pick whichever story you like.

What is undisputed is that by the 1970s the Margarita had become America’s most-ordered cocktail and has held a top-three spot ever since. Roughly 380,000 people Google a Margarita recipe every month in the United States alone.

What it tastes like

Tart and bright up front from the lime, warming alcohol heat in the middle from the tequila, and a soft sweetness from the orange liqueur that ties it all together. The salt rim works as a seasoning, not a coating: tiny hits of salt with each sip that amplify the lime and tame the tequila bite.

Made well, it tastes balanced. Made badly (sour mix, no fresh citrus), it tastes like a hangover.

The technique

Three ingredients in a 2:1:1 ratio – tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice. Shake hard with ice for 12-15 seconds, strain into a salt-rimmed glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Salt the rim by running a lime wedge around half the glass and dipping into a saucer of flaky sea salt. Half the rim, not the whole rim – so the drinker has the choice. Pre-salting the entire glass is a 1980s sin we are still apologising for.

Use 100% blue agave tequila. Mixto tequila has up to 49% other sugars and tastes like fuel. The price gap between proper blanco and mixto is small. The flavour gap is huge.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Tequila

What it is: Distilled spirit from the blue agave plant, made only in five Mexican states. Blanco (silver) is unaged or briefly rested. Reposado is aged 2-12 months. Añejo is aged 1-3 years. For Margaritas, blanco is the classic choice. Full ingredient page: Tequila.
Why we use it here: It is the spirit. Margaritas with vodka or rum exist, but they are not Margaritas any more.
Drink Lab pick: Espolòn Blanco. Hits the sweet spot of price and quality. Cazadores and Tromba are also reliable.
Substitute: Mezcal makes a Mezcal Margarita – smokier, drier, deeper. Worth trying once and probably ordering twice.

Orange Liqueur

What it is: Triple Sec, Cointreau and Grand Marnier are all orange liqueurs in different price tiers. Triple Sec is the umbrella term. Cointreau is the premium sub-category.
Why we use it here: The orange flavour rounds out the lime and the sugar balances the tequila. Without it the drink is just a tequila sour.
Drink Lab pick: Cointreau if the budget allows. Bols Triple Sec if not. Combier is a great middle option.
Substitute: Grand Marnier (cognac base) gives you a Cadillac Margarita – heavier, oakier, slightly sweeter.

Variations

The Margarita family is the deepest in cocktail. Six worth knowing:

Spicy Margarita

Frozen Margarita

What if I don’t have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No fresh lime?

Bottled lime juice in a pinch but the drink loses 30% of its character. Persian limes are the standard, Key limes give a sharper version.

No Triple Sec?

Equal parts orange juice and a teaspoon of sugar will fake it. Grand Marnier or Cointreau if you want to upgrade.

No tequila?

Mezcal works (smoky), white rum makes a Daiquiri, gin makes a Gimlet. None of those are Margaritas.

No salt for the rim?

Skip it – the drink is fine without. Sugar rim works for sweet variations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Margarita?

60ml tequila, 30ml orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau), 30ml fresh lime juice. Shaken with ice and strained into a salt-rimmed rocks glass or coupe.

Is a Margarita strong?

Yes. The ABV is around 24% in the glass, which is double a glass of wine. The lime and salt mask the alcohol so it tastes lighter than it is.

How do you salt the rim of a Margarita?

Run a fresh lime wedge around half the rim of the glass, then dip the wet half into a saucer of flaky sea salt. Half the rim, not the whole rim, so the drinker has the choice between salted and unsalted sips.

What is the best tequila for a Margarita?

100% blue agave blanco (silver) tequila. Espolòn, Cazadores, and Tromba are reliable mid-shelf choices. Avoid mixto tequila (anything not labelled 100% agave) – it tastes harsh.

Why does my Margarita taste sour?

Either too much lime juice or not enough orange liqueur. The classic ratio is 2:1:1 (tequila:orange liqueur:lime). Adjust the orange liqueur up if it is sour, or add 5ml of agave syrup.

What does a Margarita taste like?

Tart lime up front, warming tequila in the middle, soft orange-sweet finish. The salt rim adds a savoury edge. Balanced, bright, and bracing all at once.

Should you shake or stir a Margarita?

Shake. The fresh citrus juice needs the aeration and dilution that shaking provides. Stirred Margaritas are flat and harsh.

What is the difference between a Margarita and a Daiquiri?

Same structure, different spirit. A Margarita is tequila, orange liqueur and lime. A Daiquiri is rum, sugar and lime. The Margarita is the tequila-and-orange version of the same idea.

Can you batch a Margarita for a crowd?

Yes. Multiply the recipe by the number of guests, mix in a pitcher without ice, refrigerate. Serve over ice in salt-rimmed glasses on demand. Do not add ice to the pitcher (dilutes as it sits).

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated April 26, 2026 · 1 min read

Margarita Cocktail Recipe