Margarita Recipe (Individual and Pitcher Recipes Included)
Margarita is a wonderful classic cocktail that combines sweet, sour, and salty flavors in one. It's a simple mixture of homemade margarita mix, tequila, and orange liqueur. What makes this Margarita recipe the best is the homemade margarita mix and method of preparation. (Included recipes for single and for a pitcher!)
Classic Margarita is a simple combination of lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and simple syrup served in a salted rim glass. I’ve made hundreds of margaritas when I was bartending and learned a few tricks to make it the best. I found that other citrus flavors like lemon and orange are often added to enhance the flavors of citrus and add aroma.
My customers seemed to agree to I started making “my margaritas” for my regulars. It was definitely the favorite and I was always happy to share my way of making it with other bartenders, customers, and friends. Eventually, after starting this site, I was able to share my margaritas with thousands of readers!
Quick Overview:
- I make my own margarita mix that features not just fresh lime juice, but also an addition of lemon juice and a touch of orange juice.
- I recommend using reposado tequilas. Since this is aged tequila, it’s more aromatic and has a deeper and richer flavor.
- I also have a blending (or shaking vigorously) trick that makes a difference in the overall flavor.
Use Homemade Margarita Mix When Possible
- “Homemade is always the best.” We know it to be true about most foods and it’s just as true about a margarita mix.
- Homemade margarita mix is very easy to make and can be made ahead of time. Only 4 simple ingredients go into a margarita mix: lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice, simple syrup (aka sugar and water)/
- Freshly squeezed lime juice, lemon, juice and orange juice are the best, of course. I use a simple little juicer and it’s done in about 15 minutes. Once the juices are squeezed, combine it with simple syrup and refrigerate in a container with a lid for up to a week!
Tips For Making Margarita
- As I mentioned above, the best ingredients make the best margaritas. Try to get the best tequila and orange liqueur and make your own margarita mix. You can always make the margarita mix ahead of time and keep it in the fridge.
- To make the salted rim, rub the rim with a wedge of lime first and the dip it in coarse salt. Make sure to use coarse salt NOT table salt! You can also use tajin seasoning for a spice effect.
- Combine tequila, orange liqueur, and margarita mix in a cocktail shaker (or a blender) not in a glass! Close the shaker and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
- PRO TIP: There is an extra step you can take to make sure you have the best tasting margaritas. When I was bartering we, always took an extra step of mixing the ingredients with the milkshake blender. NOT blending them with ice, but just blending liquid ingredients together to thoroughly mix them (again, no ice).
- At home, you can combine the liquid ingredients together in a blender and pulse a few times to blend (no ice). If you don’t have a blender or just do not feel like taking that extra step, then just combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker and vigorously shake for 15-20 seconds.
Tips For Choosing Liquors For Margaritas
- There are a few things that can affect the taste of a margarita, like ingredients you use and method of preparation. Much like with everything you make, ingredients are very important. So if you opt for a lower grade of tequila and orange liqueur, it will taste accordingly. Try to get better tequila and orange liqueur for the best tasting cocktail.
- I prefer to use reposado tequila in a margarita because of the smooth and rich taste. (Save your Añejo and Extra Añejo for straight drinking, it is aged longer, more aromatic, and much better tasting!) Silver tequila is also good for mixing into cocktails like margaritas and Paloma but it’s not as rich in flavor and aroma.
- When it comes to orange liqueur, I prefer to use Cointreau. There are three most known orange liqueurs – Triple Sec, Cointreau, and Grand Marnier. (There are others as well though.) Cointreau has a strong and aromatic orange flavor but without being too sweet. Grand Marnier has a strong, full bodied orange flavor but it’s quite sweet. Triple Sec has the lesser orange taste and aroma.
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Margarita Recipe
Margarita is a wonderful classic cocktail that combines sweet, sour, and salty flavors in one. It's a simple mixture of homemade margarita mix, tequila, and orange liqueur. What makes this Margarita recipe the best is the homemade margarita mix and method of preparation. (Included recipes for single and for a pitcher!)
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Video
Rate
Servings: 1
Calories: 318kcal
Ingredients
- 2 oz silver or reposado tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur: triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier
- 3-4 oz margarita mix
- coarse salt for rim
- limes for garnish
- ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Combine margarita mix, tequila, and orange liqueur in a blender (no ice) and pulse a few times. ORCombine margarita mix and liquors in a cocktail shaker, add some ice, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
- Spread some coarse salt in a shallow, wide bowl.
- Rub the glass rim with a lime and dip the rim into coarse salt, to coat the rim all around.
- Pour margarita into the glass (with or without the ice) and garnish with a slice of lime.
Video
Notes
- Remember, the best ingredients make the best margaritas. Try to get the best tequila and orange liqueur and make your own margarita mix. You can always make the margarita mix ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Silver Tequila vs. Reposado: Silver tequila is a very young tequila, it is not aged at all. This tequila is bottled right after the distillation process.
- “Reposado” tequila is rested/aged anywhere from two months to a year before it’s bottled. The golden color of this tequila comes from the barrels where it’s rested, and it also really takes in that flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 83mg | Sugar: 33g
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles or tag #willcookforsmiles!
Margarita Pitcher Recipe
It’s a simple mixture of homemade margarita mix, tequila, and orange liqueur. What makes this Margarita recipe the best is the homemade margarita mix and method of preparation.
Print
Pin
Rate
Servings: 8
Calories: 324kcal
Ingredients
Margarita Mix:
- 16 oz lime juice (about 8 limes)
- 8 oz lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 4 oz orange juice (about 1 large orange)
- 8 oz simple syrup 1 cup of hot water mixed with 1 cup of sugar
Margarita:
- 16 oz silver tequila
- 8 oz orange liqueur: triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier
- margarita mix from above
- Coarse salt for glass rims
- Lime slices for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
Margarita mix:
- TIP: When picking out lemons and limes, make sure to choose ripe fruit that are soft. If fruit is not ripe enough, it won’t yield much juice.
- Squeeze juice from lemons, limes, and oranges. (If you use a juicer, you will get more juice out of each fruit.)
- Heat up a cup of water and stir in sugar until dissolved to get simple syrup.
- Combine simple syrup and juices and mix well. Pour into a jar with a lid and refrigerate for about 2 hours to cool down.
Margarita:
- Combine margarita mix, tequila, and orange liqueur in a blender (no ice) and pulse a few times.
- Spread some coarse salt in a shallow, wide bowl.
- Rub each glass rim with a lime and dip the rim into coarse salt.
- Add some ice to each glass and pour margarita mixture over it. Garnish with a lime and enjoy!
Notes
- Make Ahead: you can make a pitcher of margaritas a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container.
- Like it sweeter? You can increase the amount of sugar in a simple syrup by 1/4 cup or add 1/4 of agave nectar.
- Storing Leftover: If you have margaritas leftover in the pitcher, make sure to store it in the refrigerator, in an air-tight pitcher or glass jar with a lid. Store it for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze leftover margaritas in individual freezer-safe containers. Make sure to only fill the containers 3/4 full and close them air-tight.
Nutrition
Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 34.6mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles or tag #willcookforsmiles!
More Margarita Recipes To Try
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
If you combine a cup of hot water with a cup of sugar, the result is more than 8 oz of simple syrup!
Do you use the whole amount made or just 8!oz of it? Thanks!
The sugar will dissolve into the hot water so it won’t be a lot more maybe 1/2 a cup but I used the whole thing.
Made a pitcher for my daughter’s birthday. It was a hit! Tasted so fresh and delicious!
I am so happy they were a hit, Joy! Thanks for taking time to stop by and let me know! 🙂
So good!!
Thank you!
I found that i would need double the amount of fruit to get the appropriate amount needed. Other than that these were delicious!
This was my first time attempting to make margaritas at home and OH MY GOODNESS these are amazing. I have a hand juicer and it was worth the work of squeezing all that fruit. So very yummy.
Hi Jen, I agree fresh squeezed is so much better! I am so glad you liked them!
Exquisite! My boyfriend surprised me with these bad boys last night and oh boy did I need it. I like my margs sour and this was just right for me. The ratio of alcohol and flavor was also very well balanced.
I am so glad you enjoyed them!
I love how fresh everything tastes! No more bottled mix for me!
Thank you, Donna!
This are so good! Thanks!
Thanks, Rachel!