Ingredients
- 1½ ounces tequila
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ ounce agave nectar
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Orange ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, orange liqueur, orange juice, agave nectar, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange ribbon.
Variations and Substitutions
The flavor of the orange margarita can be as over the top or approachable as you want it to be.
- To punch up the orange flavor, use orange tequila.
- Experiment with different types of tequila, including añejo or reposado.
- Mezcal adds a smokey flair to the orange margarita.
- Skip the orange liqueur in favor of adding an extra quarter ounce of agave.
- Swap lime juice for lemon juice for a brighter sour citrus flavor.
- Use honey or simple syrup if you don't have agave.
Garnishes
Don't feel limited by an orange ribbon garnish-- there's no reason you can't make your garnish extravagant, or you can go the traditional way if that makes sense for you.
- If you use mezcal, a playful way to add to the smokey flavor is by flaming an orange peel.
- Use an orange peel, twist, or coin instead of a ribbon.
- Use an orange wheel, wedge, or slice for a more prominent orange flavor.
- A sugar or salt rim adds a classic margarita touch. To do so rub the rim of the glass with a lime wedge. After adding a small amount of salt or sugar to a saucer, dip the rim into the salt or sugar. This can be the entire rim, half the rim, or just a small amount.
- Lemon adds a sharp citrus flavor with a wheel, wedge, or slice.
- Likewise, a lemon ribbon, twist, peel, or coin adds another layer of color and citrus notes.
- Consider a dehydrated citrus slice for a unique spin on the traditional garnish.
About the Orange Margarita
The margarita was rattling around in glasses nearly 100 years ago, thanks to tequila being a spirit easy to obtain when the United States was on a dry lockdown due to Prohibition. The floodgates opened fairly quickly and the popularity of the margarita surged in the 1940s until the modern-day when it continues to be a beloved cocktail.
It's a bit tougher to shake out the roots of the orange margarita, no matter how hard you squeeze. However it came to be, due to lack of necessary ingredients for a regular margarita or someone wanted an upgrade to a screwdriver, the orange margarita is a juicy cocktail.
Orange You Glad About Margaritas?
Citrus and margaritas go hand in hand, so it's of no surprise that the orange margarita is so tasty and appetizing. Whether you're mulling over the idea of a screwdriver or want to try out a new margarita flavor, the orange margarita will check all the boxes.
