How to Make a Margarita

There's no "perfect" margarita--we can't even pin down the origin of this popular drink! However, many a cocktail connoisseur will tell you that using a commercially prepared margarita mix and just throwing it in a glass with cheap tequila is not the way to go. There are many, many other ways to prepare this refreshing drink; this article will lay out the options so you can experiment and make the perfect margarita for you.

Edit Ingredients

1 part tequila

1 part fresh lime juice

1 part triple sec (e.g. Cointreau, floci)

coarse Kosher salt

lime for garnish

Tabasco sauce

Edit Steps

Edit The Basic Margarita

Put ice in a shaker.

Measure one part tequila and pour into the shaker.

Add one part triple sec, which is an orange-flavored liqueur made from the dried peel of oranges from the Caribbean. You can substitute blue curaçao (made from dried peels of the laraha citrus fruit, similar to the orange in flavor) to make a blue margarita.

Add one part fresh lime juice. For an authentic Mexican flavor, use key limes, which are more tart and bitter than the larger Persian limes. Alternatively, use fresh lemon juice (try sweet Meyer lemons!) for a softer taste.

Shake vigorously.

Take a slice of lime and run it around the rim of the glass. Make sure to get the outer edge of the glass - that is where you want the salt to stick.

Pour some coarse salt onto a plate, flip the glass with the wet lime juice rim upside down, and swirl it in the salt on the plate. Alternatively, you can use sugar instead of salt to rim the glass.

Fill the glasses with some ice and strain the drink from the shaker and into the glass.

Garnish with a lime and splash of Tabasco on top and enjoy!

Finished. If the 1:1:1 ratio above doesn't satisfy, try these:

tequila:Triple Sec:lime juice

- 2:1:1
- 3:2:1
- 3:1:1
- 7:4:3
- 8:1.5:3 - If you think there's too much Triple Sec in the above ratios

Edit Corona Alternative

Look for a lighter tasting beer, Corona is actually a good choice. If using 1 cup Tequila, then 1/2 - 3/4 cup beer will suffice.

Use a gold tequila as the white versions don’t mix well with the beer

Stay with a Cointreau orange liquor (with a splash of triple sec if wished), the sweeter the better.

Lime Juice: Try squeezing a half lime if you like a more sour taste

Add a tablespoon sugar: mix well

A splash of carbonated mineral water also adds a little “effervescence” touch

Use chipped ice and stir well, serve the ice with the drink (Tip: don’t use a shaker as the beer and mineral water are carbonated.)

Edit Baja Margarita

5 oz. Reposado tequila

2.5 oz. Damiana (traditional Baja California liqueur)
- amount may need adjusting depending on the tartness/sweetness of your limes and lemon

7 large limes reamed, depulped
- Persian/Bearss limes are recommended; Mexican/key limes are too much work for too little juice, though tasty.

1 lemon reamed, depulped
- Meyer or Improved Meyer give the Margarita sweetness w/out adding sugar.

Edit Easy Limeade Frozen Margarita Recipe

A great, easy recipe for large batches of delicious frozen margaritas! No blenders or ice required for this recipe!

Mix all of the following ingredients in a plastic bag or tupperware, then place in freezer.
- 2 Lime-Ade Cans
- 6 cans Water
- 2 cans Tequila
- 1 can Triple Sec
- Note: Typically this is made using 6 oz cans, but as long as you use limeade can proportions it should come out perfectly!