How to make a Margarita: the delicious fresh drink

A simple, festive and classic margarita recipe perfect for sipping during the warm summer months.

Make a big batch of this easy margarita recipe to share with friends at your next outdoor gathering. The drinks are bright, festive and come together in no time. Plus, they’re perfect to pair with other fresh summery foods!

Margarita Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for a classic margarita recipe:

Tequila

Triple Sec liqueur

Fresh lime juice

For serving, you’ll want ice cubes, salt to rim the glasses and a few extra lime wedges for garnish. You can also add your own fun garnishes, like umbrellas or even edible flowers for an elevated look.

How to you make a margarita from scratch

It’s easier than you think to make perfect frosty margarita cocktails from scratch. Here’s how to do it:

First, prepare your serving glasses by running a lime wedge around the rim of the glass. Invert the glasses onto a plate of kosher salt to coat the wet rim with salt. Fill each glass with ice cubes to chill while you prepare the drinks. In a large measuring glass, pitcher or cocktail shaker, stir together the tequila, triple sec liqueur, and lime juice until well mixed. Pour your margarita mixture over the ice and enjoy.

What kind of tequila do you use?

Any of your favorite tequila brands will work for a margarita. If you want to really let the lime flavor shine, opt for white tequila. Darker liquors will bring their own caramel flavor to the cocktail that can drown out the lime juice.

What is the ratio of tequila to margarita mix?

This homemade margarita recipe is 100% from scratch, so there’s no margarita mix necessary. The classic ratio is one part each lime juice and triple sec to 2 parts tequila.

What is the best Margarita mix?

You can find high-quality margarita mixes at specialty liquor stores. In general, the less sugar they contain, the higher quality the mix. Plus, avoiding a lot of added sugar in your drinks can help you skip the hangover the next day!

Is Triple Sec necessary for Margaritas?

Triple Sec is the classic ingredient in most margarita recipes. It’s an orange liquor that’s easy to find at most liquor stores. However, if you’re not a fan, there are other orange-flavored liquors that will also work to replace triple sec. Try cointreau or grand marnier as a substitution for triple sec in your cocktails.

What Triple Sec is best for Margarita?

You’ll only use a small amount of triple sec in this recipe, so the kind you choose isn’t as important as the kind of tequila you select. Look for one that’s not too expensive but suits your taste buds.

What kind of salt do you use for Margarita?

Kosher salt, which has nice medium-sized crystals, is a great choice for salting the rim of your margarita glasses. You want to avoid large salt crystals, which can overpower your drink. At the same time, table salt is much saltier tasting than kosher, and it will leave you thirsty rather than refreshed.

How to rim a cocktail glass for Margarita?

Making an expert salt rim for yoru margarita is easy. Simply place some salt on a small dish or plate. Run a lime wedge all the way around the rim of your cocktail glasses to moisten. Then invert the glass, dipping the rim into the salt to coat fully. Voila: an even salt rim perfect to enjoy your homemade cocktail from.

What to serve with a margarita?

Because a margarita is a classic Mexican cocktail, why not serve your drinks with other Mexican favorites? Carne asada, tacos, salsa, guacamole, and other fresh and vibrant mexican foods pair perfectly with homemade margaritas.

How to make margarita

Wet the rims of 2 rocks glasses with a wedge of fresh lime.

Dip the glasses into the salt to coat the rims.

Fill the glasses with ice cubes.

Stir the lime juice, triple sec, and tequila together, and pour over ice.

Notes

This recipe serves two, but you can easily double, triple or even quadruple the ingredients to feed a thirsty crowd! Make the mix ahead of time and store it in the fridge, then give it one last stir before serving.