Margaritas Recipe

Prepare the glass

Chill a rocks or coupe glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the cocktail.

Rub the lime wedge around the rim of the chilled glass to wet it evenly. Pour the coarse salt or superfine sugar onto a small plate, then invert the glass and press the rim gently into the salt or sugar so it adheres. Shake off any excess. Set the glass aside.

Measure and pour

Add 2 oz 100% agave tequila, 1 oz orange liqueur, 1 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.5 oz agave syrup into a cocktail shaker.

Add ice

Fill the shaker with ice until roughly three-quarters full (about 1 cup).

Shake

Secure the shaker lid and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold and frosty. This chills, dilutes, and integrates the ingredients properly.

Strain

Discard the ice or water from your chilled glass. Using a fine or Hawthorne strainer, double-strain the cocktail into the prepared glass over fresh ice if serving on the rocks, or without ice for a straight-up presentation.

Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge on the rim. Offer salt or sugar rim as chosen if not already applied. Serve immediately.

Fruit-flavored margarita

If using fruit purée (about 0.75 oz) or flavored liqueur, add it to the shaker with the other ingredients before adding ice. You may reduce agave syrup to 0.25–0.5 oz depending on the sweetness of the fruit.

Margarita Fizz

After shaking and double-straining into a glass with ice, top gently with 2 oz club soda for a lighter, effervescent version. Do not shake with soda.

Adjusting sweetness and strength

Taste and adjust: increase agave syrup by 0.25–0.5 oz for sweeter profiles, or reduce tequila by 0.25–0.5 oz for a lighter drink. Fresh lime juice is essential—avoid bottled juice for best flavor.