The Best Advice (And Recipes) for How to Make a Margarita

Ready to take a trip down to Margaritaville? Us, too. With Cinco de Mayo approaching, it’s the ideal time to learn how to make the perfect margarita. After one icy sip, you’ll likely revisit this refreshing drink all summer long.

A margarita evokes visions of sun-drenched beaches and lively fiestas. While its vibe is carefree, though, its origin story is more complex. It’s linked to a drink made in honor of a Tijuana bartender’s favorite dancer; an Irish bartender who accidentally made a whiskey drink with tequila, much to the customer’s delight; a bartender who concocted the drink as a gift for his brother-in-law who was marrying someone named Margarita (talk about a signature cocktail!); or created by a socialite from Dallas.

Fortunately, it doesn’t matter because what we know for sure is that sipping a margarita is a passport to a tropical beach.

How to Make a Margarita

While there are a number of margarita recipes that include fruit and other ingredients, your most basic margarita ingredients are tequila, lime juice (fresh squeezed, please!), triple sec or orange liqueur, ice, salt for the rim of the glass and a lime wedge for garnish.

Here’s how to make those ingredients sing:

• Rub a lime wedge around the edge of the glass, then dip it into a shallow dish of salt.
• Fill the glass with ice to chill it.
• In a shaker, combine the tequila, lime juice, triple sec and a handful of ice.
• Shake well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
• Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
• Garnish with a lime wedge.
• Serve and enjoy responsibly.

You can serve your margarita in a classic margarita glass, with its wide rim and long stem that adds a touch of elegance; a double old-fashioned glass, which is a shorter, wider glass that offers plenty of room for ice (and also is less likely to tip over, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings or parties); or a mason jar for a rustic or casual twist on your presentation.

Variations on Classic Margarita Recipes

You might be thinking of the margarita as a blended drink, and you also mix all the ingredients with plenty of ice for a frozen concoction.

Other margarita recipes might call for blending in frozen fruit, such as strawberry, mango, watermelon, berries and sometimes cherries.

You could even sub out the salt for sugar for a sweet touch.

But may we suggest the best margarita recipe we’ve come upon yet?

Delicious Margarita Recipes

• Easy Smoky Margarita

• Ancho Mezcal Margarita
  

• Spicy Pineapple Mezcal Margarita

CHILI LIME MARGARITA FLAVORED ICE

What elevates this choice is that you’re creating margarita-flavored ice that has an extra kick spiked with the citrusy heat of Cholula Chili Lime Hot Sauce.

Mix all ingredients below in non-reactive bowl (stainless steel, glass, or ceramic) to dissolve the sugar. Pour mixture into two ice cube trays and freeze about 2 1/2 hours or until firm. Place the frozen Margarita mixture in food processor or blender. Cover and pulse until smooth and the fiesta is ready and serve immediately.

• 2 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons 1800® Tequila
• 2 tablespoons Cholula® Chili Lime Hot Sauce

Pairing Margaritas with Delicious Dishes

It’s not a fiesta without some tasty food! For happy hour, choose a simple chips and homemade salsa side or serve with esquites.

For a lively entrée, consider putting out all the fixings for a taco bar, or grill up some sizzling fajitas.

Whatever you choose to serve with your margarita, you’re sure to appreciate this beloved cocktail as a symbol of camaraderie and celebration.