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These classic margaritas will have you coming back for more. They’re super easy to make, require just a few ingredients, and are, most importantly, delicious!
My mom has been in town for a few weeks, and she has been making margaritas for everyone. We can’t get enough of ’em! I’ve had my fair share of margaritas, but I am not kidding when I say these are the best I’ve ever had.
Here’s What You Need To Make These Classic Margaritas
- Lime Juice: We recommend fresh squeezing limes instead of using pre-squeezed lime juice. To help get *all* of the juice out of the limes, my mom likes to microwave them for a few seconds to loosen them up. You can also roll the limes on the counter against your palm to loosen them up.
- Tequila: For the perfect margarita, tequila blanco is recommended. You can use Don Julio, Espolòn, Silver Patron, or any other tequila blanco you can get your hands on.
- Orange liqueur: There are a few options when it comes to which orange liqueur to use. We recommend using Cointreau, but it can get a little pricy if you only plan on making these margaritas a few times.
- Agave: This is optional, but agave adds a perfect touch of sweetness. If you don’t have agave, you can also make a simple syrup using this easy recipe.
- Salt: When preparing your glasses, a nice touch is to run a squeeze of lime around the rim and then dip the glass in coarse kosher salt. You can dip the entire rim, half of it, or omit this step entirely, but it does add a nice touch.
The History of Margaritas + Some Fun Facts
- The actual origin of the margarita has been debated for years. Some say that the drink was first created in 1938 when Carlos (Danny) Herrera made it for a showgirl named Marjorie King, while others say that Margaret Sames, also known as Margarita, mixed the first cocktail in Mexico during a house party in 1948 (source: Wine Enthusiast). There are a handful of other tales of how the margarita came to be, but nobody is sure which is correct.
- The word Margarita actually means Daisy flower in Spanish.
- Margaritas are the most popular cocktail in America–and for good reason, they are delicious!
- The salt in the drink actually helps bring out the sweetness.
The Options Are Endless
We are keeping it classic with these margaritas, but the options for margarita mash-ups are endless.
- You can serve your margaritas blended, on the rocks, or straight up.
- Instead of salting the rim, you can use sugar, Tajin, or even garnish with sage or cilantro.
- You can mix in different flavors, like pineapple, watermelon, jalapeño, peaches, or mangos.
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Classic Margaritas
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Description
This classic margarita recipe is one you will want to make again and again. It’s super easy to make, requires just a few ingredients, and tastes so dang delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce Cointreau* (see notes)
- 1.5 ounce tequila blanco
- Agave*, to taste
- Coarse salt, for rim
- Lime wedges, for rim and garnish
Instructions
- Pour coarse salt into a plate that is larger than the glass you are using.
- Prepare your glasses by running a lime around the rim of the glass. Dip your glass into the plate of salt and spin it a couple of times until the rim is covered with salt. Set aside.
- Fill a shaker with ice, add in the lime juice, Cointreau, tequila blanco, and agave. Shake it well.
- Add ice to your glass and pour in the contents from the shaker.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy!
Notes
- You can replace Cointreau with another orange liqueur of your choice. Other options would be Triple Sec or Grand Mariner.
- Instead of agave, you can use simple syrup. Check out this recipe to learn how to make it at home.
- We recommend using coarse salt vs. fine salt. To spice things up, you could even add something like Tajin to the rim!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
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This looks absolutely fabulous! I can’t wait to try out your classic margarita recipe this summer 🙂