Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass 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, orange juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime slice.
Variations and Substitutions
The Texas margarita relies on orange juice for its signature flavor, but you can still make a few tweaks.
- Instead of silver tequila, try out añejo or mezcal. The añejo makes for a smoother margarita, and the mezcal will give it a smokey feel.
- Add up to an extra half ounce of orange juice.
- Go ahead and up the amount of lime juice for a tarter margarita.
- Simple syrup or honey can be used instead of agave if you don't have any on hand.
Garnishes
The lime slice and salt rim are fairly standard margarita garnishes. However, you can use a sugar rim or tajin rim to customize your Texas margarita better. Another option is using an orange wheel or ribbon for your margarita. Also, consider using some together, such as a lime ribbon or slice with an orange wheel.
About the Texas Margarita
The orange juice sets the Texas margarita apart from the classic margarita. Unlike the traditional margarita, which doesn't call for freshly squeezed orange juice, the Texas margarita relies on orange juice for a juicy, citrusy touch. However, keep in mind that going over an ounce and a half of orange juice will kick it into an orange margarita. With that in mind, an orange-infused tequila won't give you a Texas margarita, so stick to using freshly squeezed orange juice.
There's no clear-cut answer about when Texas margaritas first started to pop up or who even made the first one. It could be that it's easier to make in large batches with orange juice or make the argument that it now qualifies as a brunch drink. Whatever the reason, it's a refreshing spin on the classic without losing the margarita flavor.
A Margarita to Shake a Stick At
The Texas margarita is a beautifully well-balanced tequila sour that needs no improvement, but that doesn't mean it can't be twisted and turned to make it perfect for any occasion. Whether you have some extra orange juice on hand or you need to get some extra vitamin C, the Texas margarita is a great margarita riff to try.
