## How to make a traditional margarita cocktail

A classic margarita cocktail drink served straight up or on the rocks, is one of the most popular cocktails of all time. And for good reason! It will cool you down on a hot day or warm you up on a cool day. Any day is a good day for a margarita.

The ingredients and steps for making a traditional margarita cocktail are:

| Ingredients | Amount |
| ----------- | ------ |
| Kosher salt | 1 tablespoon |
| Tequila | 1 ½ fluid ounces |
| Orange flavored liqueur (such as Cointreau®) | 1 fluid ounce |
| Lime juice | ½ fluid ounce |
| Ice | 1 cup |
| Lime wheel | 1 |

- Sprinkle salt on a small plate.
- Lightly wet the rim of a cocktail glass or margarita glass with a damp paper towel.
- Dip the moistened rim in salt to coat. Set aside.
- Combine tequila, orange-flavored brandy, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass or a salt-rimmed, ice-filled margarita glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.

## Variations of the margarita

There are many twists and variations on the margarita, from adding fruit, to serving it frozen by blending with ice, perfect for summer time. The most famous twist on a margarita that involves changing the actual ingredients is unquestionably the Tommy’s margarita. This Margarita variation was created by bartender Julio Bermejo in the early ’90s at Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant, a San Francisco favorite. Most cocktail bars today serve their house Margs using the Tommy’s Margarita formula, which swaps out the usual orange liqueur in favor of agave nectar. The resulting mix of tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice and agave nectar puts the tequila front-and-center, so be sure to make it using a quality 100% agave tequila.

Some other popular variations of the margarita are:

- Frozen Margarita: As the quintessential frozen cocktail, you’ll find this one served in chain restaurants, cocktail bars and even occasionally a dive bar. It became popular in the 1950s, as blenders made their way into bars, and was launched into the mainstream in 1971 when Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez created the first Frozen Margarita machine. To make it, tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur get blended with ice until smooth; throwing in a pinch of salt won’t hurt either.
- Spicy Margarita: The Spicy Margarita is near-ubiquitous on cocktail bar menus, but it can take many different forms depending on the spice used. Some bartenders create pepper syrups, others choose to add a spicy tincture or pepper-infused tequila, but the most common and least-fussy way to make one is by muddling some fresh pepper with agave syrup before shaking the rest of the mix. Freshly sliced jalapeño peppers are muddled with agave syrup in a shaker before being topped with a blanco tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice.
- Fruit-Flavored Margarita: Whether you go with a strawberry margarita, a white peach margarita, a kumquat margarita, or even a frozen Sriracha-mango margarita, fruit and margaritas make a perfect pair. If you’re partial to margaritas on the rocks, fruit puree is your best bet for some fruity flavor. For frozen margaritas, simply toss a few pieces of fresh or frozen fruit into the blender as you’re making the margarita.

## Tips for choosing the right tequila and mixers

The quality of your tequila and mixers will affect the taste of your margarita. Here are some tips for choosing the right ones:

- Tequila: There are two types of tequila you’re probably already familiar with, blanco (or silver) and reposado. Blanco tequila is unaged tequila that is clear, strong and the usual choice for margaritas. Reposado tequila, on the other hand, is aged in oak barrels for up to a year, giving it a golden color and more mellow flavor. But those aren’t the only types of tequila you can use in a margarita. While they’re typically reserved for sipping, añejo and extra añejo, which are aged for 1 to 3 years and 3-plus years respectively, will add a rich, caramelized and luxurious flavor to a marg. You could also use joven tequila: It’s a blend of blanco and aged tequila with a smooth and citrusy flavor. If can’t decide which would work best for your taste buds, check out our picks for the best tequilas for making margaritas.
- Orange liqueur: The most common orange liqueur used in margaritas is Cointreau, which is a high-quality triple sec with a balanced sweetness and citrus flavor. Other options include Grand Marnier, which is a blend of cognac and orange liqueur that adds a richer and smoother taste, or Combier, which is another premium triple sec that is lighter and more floral than Cointreau.
- Lime juice: The key to a good margarita is using freshly squeezed lime juice, not bottled or concentrated. Fresh lime juice has a bright and zesty flavor that complements the tequila and orange liqueur. You'll need about one or two limes per margarita, depending on their size and juiciness.

## Garnishes for the margarita

The classic garnish for a margarita is a lime wheel or wedge, which adds a pop of color and a squeeze of extra lime juice if desired. But you can also get creative with your garnishes and add some flair to your drink. Here are some ideas:

- Salt rim: A salt rim is not only a garnish but also a way to enhance the flavor of the margarita by balancing the sweetness and acidity. You can use kosher salt, sea salt or even flavored salts like chili salt or citrus salt. To make a salt rim, wet the edge of the glass with a lime wedge or some water, then dip it into a plate of salt. You can also make a half-salt rim by only coating one side of the glass.
- Sugar rim: If you prefer a sweeter margarita, you can swap the salt rim for a sugar rim. This works especially well for fruit-flavored margaritas. You can use granulated sugar, superfine sugar or even colored sugar for some fun. To make a sugar rim, follow the same steps as for a salt rim, but use sugar instead.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs can add some aroma and freshness to your margarita. You can use mint leaves, basil leaves, cilantro sprigs or even rosemary sprigs as garnishes. You can either place them on top of the drink, slap them between your palms to release their oils and rub them on the rim of the glass, or muddle them with the agave syrup for more flavor.
- Fruits: Fruits are another way to add some color and flavor to your margarita. You can use slices of lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, strawberry or any other fruit that matches your margarita. You can either place them on the rim of the glass, skewer them on a cocktail pick or blend them with the ice for frozen margaritas.

I hope this helps you make your perfect margarita. Cheers! 🍹
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