Margarita Well Recipe

Prepare glass

Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks or coupe glass. Dip the wet rim into a small plate of coarse salt to coat. Set glass aside.

Add ingredients to shaker

Fill a cocktail shaker with about 1 cup of ice. Add 2 oz tequila, 1 oz triple sec, 1 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.5 oz simple syrup (or agave).

Shake

Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is cold and you hear the liquid sloshing briskly.

Strain

Double-strain the mix into the prepared glass over fresh ice (for a rocks-style margarita) or without ice into a chilled coupe for a neat presentation.

Garnish

Garnish with the reserved lime wedge on the rim or floated in the drink. Serve immediately.

Combine batch ingredients

In a clean, large container or bottle, combine 16 oz tequila, 8 oz triple sec, 8 oz fresh lime juice and 4 oz simple syrup (or agave). Stir gently to combine.

Chill

Refrigerate the batch for at least 1 hour to chill and let flavors marry. Keep chilled until ready to serve. If transporting to a bar well keep refrigerated or on ice.

Serve from well

When serving from the well, pour approximately 3.5 oz (a standard pour from the batch equals one serving) over fresh ice into a salted-rim glass and garnish with a lime wedge. If needed, add a small squeeze of fresh lime to brighten each pour.

Maintain consistency

Stir the batch briefly before each shift or every 30–60 minutes to re-incorporate settled components. Replace batch after 24–48 hours for best freshness; discard earlier if juice smells off.

To make 1:1 simple syrup: combine equal parts granulated sugar and water (for example 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water) in a small saucepan. Heat gently while stirring until sugar fully dissolves. Cool to room temperature before measuring for cocktails; refrigerate remaining syrup up to 2 weeks.

Adjust sweetness: increase or decrease simple syrup/agave to taste. For a brighter, tarter margarita, reduce syrup or add an extra 0.25 oz lime juice per drink. Use high-quality fresh lime juice for best flavor.

Salt alternatives: use smoked or flavored salts for a twist. Rimming tip: dip rim in lime juice then in salt on a flat plate to get an even coating.

Alcohol substitutions: for a lighter, lower-ABV well, substitute half the tequila with reposado or use a lower-proof tequila; to make an RN-friendly version, replace tequila with nonalcoholic tequila alternative in same volumes.