Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Variations and Substitutions
The Mexican margarita cocktail can withstand several changes without losing its spirit.
- You have different styles of tequila to choose from if silver isn't your favorite. Using añejo makes for a smoother, slightly caramel margarita, and mezcal will make your Mexican margarita smokey and savory.
- Experiment with different amounts of lime juice, using more for a tarter margarita or less, so it isn't quite as sour. You can even add lime juice for a bright flavor.
- Muddle a jalapeño coin or two, erring on the side of less spicy, to give your margarita some heat.
- Double, triple, or quadruple (or more!) the recipe to make a pitcher of margaritas.
- Replace the simple syrup with banana liqueur for a banana margarita.
Garnishes
The classic margarita's staple garnish is a salt rim with a lime wedge or wheel garnish. Other ideas for a traditional look include a sugar rim instead of salt or a tajin rim for a spicy kick. If you're looking for something a little more nontraditional, you can use an orange or lemon wheel or wedge in place of the lime. For a colorful pop, you can use several citrus garnishes together.
About the Mexican Margarita
Although most recipes call for simple syrup instead of agave, the Mexican margarita follows a fairly traditional margarita recipe. Making your own simple syrup couldn't be easier; you can even add flavors as you go to change the profile of your margarita further.
The ratio for simple syrup is remarkably easy: 1:1 of sugar and water. Add a cup of water and a cup of sugar to a medium saucepan and turn the heat up to high, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar dissolves, you can remove the pan from the heat. Allow it to cool fully before pouring into resealable glass containers. Store those in a cool dry place. A great place to start for a classic margarita is using agave instead of sugar. Now you have the best of both worlds!
A Garden of Margaritas
The beloved and comforting flavors of a Mexican margarita can be like seeing an old friend. It's a reminder of warm weather, celebrations, and easy days, and no other cocktail perfectly captures that feeling of joy.
