Mexican · Drinks

Classic Margarita

Three ingredients in the right proportions, shaken hard and served over ice with a half-salted rim. No mixers, no syrups, no sour mix — just tequila, lime and Cointreau.

4.8(2,455)Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 2455 reviews 5 min total Serves 1 servings Easy
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Classic Margarita — mexican drinks recipe, served and ready to eat

Method

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  1. Spread the salt on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the outer half of the glass rim only — salting the inside means salt falls into the drink.

  2. Roll the outer rim in the salt and set the glass aside, adding fresh ice to chill it.

  3. Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds with ice.

  4. Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau and agave syrup if using.

  5. Shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds, until the shaker is painfully cold and thickly frosted.

  6. Strain over fresh ice in the prepared glass — never the ice you shook with, which has already broken down.

  7. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

Chef’s Tips

  • Squeeze the limes to order. Juice loses its aroma within about 20 minutes of squeezing.
  • 100% agave tequila only. Mixto tequila is half cane sugar and is the main reason margaritas cause headaches.
  • For a frozen version, blend everything with 200 g of ice and reduce the lime slightly, since cold mutes acidity.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Serve with tacos al pastor, ceviche or guacamole
  • A classic aperitivo before Mexican food
  • Follow with churros

Storage & Reheating

Mix to order. A pre-batched mix of tequila, lime and Cointreau keeps 1 day refrigerated — shake with ice when serving.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

224Calories
0gProtein
16gCarbs
0gFat
0gFibre
14gSugar
240mgSodium

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