Classic Margarita Recipe

Combine and chill

In a measuring cup or small pitcher, combine 1 cup fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (or 1/4 cup water if using bottled orange liqueur instead), and 1/4 cup agave syrup. Whisk until homogenous. Taste and adjust sweetness: add another tablespoon agave if you prefer less tartness. Chill the mix in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 days in a sealed container.

Place coarse sea salt on a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the outer rim of a chilled rocks or coupe glass (for a classic look, only rim half the glass). Dip the rim into the salt, twisting to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.

Shake

Fill a cocktail shaker with 1 cup ice. Add 2 oz blanco tequila, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, and 1.25 oz chilled margarita mix. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds, or until the shaker feels very cold and slightly frosted.

Strain and Serve

Double-strain the shaken cocktail into the prepared glass over fresh ice (if serving on the rocks) or without ice for a neat/coupe presentation. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge on the rim.

Batching note

This recipe scales easily. The margarita mix quantity listed yields roughly 6–7 servings when using 1.25 oz mix per cocktail. For larger batches, multiply tequila and orange liqueur by the number of servings and keep chilled. If batching, combine spirits and mix in a pitcher and stir with ice just before serving to avoid over-dilution.