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Classic Margarita

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This Classic Margarita Recipe tastes great and is easy to make from scratch. There is no mix needed to make this simple cocktail on the rocks with tequila, fresh lime juice, Cointreau, and simple syrup.

A margarita in a small glass with two lime wedges and two black straws on a wooden board with two lime wedges in the background.

Do you have a “Tequila” story to tell? I actually do not, as strange as they may seem to some of you. Everyone in college seemed to roll their eyes and start into some bizarre tale of wild nights and harsh mornings whenever they heard Tequila mentioned! I decided at that point, that I never wanted to have a “Tequila” story of my own. So I completely avoided tequila!

Looking down on two classic margaritas on the rocks with lime wedges and black straws on a wooden background.

Margarita Ingredients

  • Tequila – silver or reposado is the best tequila for margaritas, but any kind of tequila will work. Just choose one that is high-quality.
  • Freshly squeezed lime juice – Lime juice is also important in this drink. You really do need to squeeze fresh limes for the best tasting cocktail. Do not use the little green plastic lime juice from the grocery store! They are filled with preservatives and will make your drink very bitter!
  • Orange Liqueur – my favorite is Cointreau, but you can also use triple sec or Grand Marnier.
  • Sweetener – simple syrup adds a bit of sweetness if needed. You could also use agave syrup or very-fine granulated sugar.
  • Coarse salt, like a Kosher salt to rim your glasses.
  • Lime wedges to garnish.

How do you make a classic margarita?

Fill a cocktail shaker with .75 cup of ice and a good quality tequila, Cointreau, or triple sec, and fresh squeezed lime juice.

Ingredients to make a margarita in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and two salt rimmed glasses with ice in the background.

I mixed two at one time, but you can make them individually if you prefer. If you would like a touch of sweetness to offset some of the lime’s tartness, add a teaspoon of simple syrup.

Put the lid on top and shake to combine. Pour into an ice filled cocktail glass, with a rim that has been rubbed with lime juice and dipped into course salt.

Classic Margarita on the rocks with lime wedges and black straws on a wooden backdrop in front of a black background.

Garnish with lime wedges and serve with a straw, if desired. I desire, I love my straws!

Recipe Notes:

  • Tequila is the star of this drink, so you want to choose a good quality silver/clear tequila over a cheap one. I love Cabo Wabo, some people swear by Patron, and at $100 a bottle I would hope that is amazing! Trust me, you don’t want anything cheaper than Jose’ Cuervo.

What to serve with this Margarita Recipe:

More margarita recipes:

If you love this recipe, please rate it five stars and help me share on facebook and to help other readers in our community!

Enjoy!!

classic margarita in a small glass with two lime wedges and two black straws on a wooden board with two lime wedges in the background

Classic Margarita

This Classic Margarita Recipe tastes great and is easy to make from scratch. There is no mix needed to make this simple cocktail on the rocks with tequila, fresh lime juice, Cointreau, and simple syrup.
3.80 from 5 votes
Print Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: lime, tequila, orange, liqueur, ice, recipe, salt
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 Serving
Calories: 167kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounce good quality silver tequila
  • .5 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
  • 1 ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon simple syrup optional
  • course salt to garnish
  • lime wedges to garnish

Instructions

  • Place .75 cup of ice in a cocktail shaker.
  • Add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup {if using}.
  • Cover and shake to combine.
  • Rub lime juice around the rim of cocktail glass. Dip in course salt.
  • Pour margarita into prepared glass and garnish with lime wedges and a straw.

Notes

  • Tequila is the star of this drink, so you want to choose a good quality silver/clear tequila over a cheap one. I love Cabo Wabo, some people swear by Patron, and at $100 a bottle I would hope that is amazing! Trust me, you don’t want anything cheaper than Jose’ Cuervo.
  • Lime juice is also important in this drink. You really do need to squeeze fresh limes for the best tasting cocktail. Do not use the little green plastic lime juice from the grocery store! They are filled with preservatives and will make your drink very bitter! 

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Sodium: 6mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin C: 8.5mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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17 Comments

  1. MMmmmm. I love a good margarita!! Making them at home might get a little dangerous for us. haha. Thursty Thursday is going on now on my blog if you would like to stop by and link this up! hopelesslyeverafter.blogspot.com

  2. Yum! Your Classic Margarita looks and sounds DELICIOUS. I enjoy flavored margaritas just fine but my very favorite is a classic. Sometimes on the rocks, sometimes frozen. Here from the Weekend re-Treat ~ Have a fab day!

  3. You can’t beat a classic margarita and this looks delicious. I don’t have a tequila story because growing up in England I didn’t even know what it was, but now that I’m in SoCal I do. Great recipe.

  4. This is my favorite margarita …. and trust me, plenty of them will be consumed this Summer! 😀 If you ever make it out to Phoenix, we’ll have to have a few!

  5. Margaritas are a must have drink in the summer here in the deep south!! I really only had them frozen till recently. I have come to love the good ol classic on the rocks. Although I do love a good prickly pear margarita! They can be very sweet, so if you don’t like real sweet drinks, then shy away from it, but man oh man are they amazing. And with that being said, I’m going to get my tequila out of the freezer from getting cold and making myself one!

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