Classic Margarita Recipe

Rim the glass

Pour coarse salt onto a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each serving glass, then dip the rim into the salt to coat. Set glasses aside.

Choose service style

Decide whether to serve on the rocks (shaken with ice) or blended (frozen). The recipe below gives both methods.

Combine ingredients

In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, and 0.25 oz agave syrup for a single cocktail. If making a batch, scale to the amounts in the ingredients section. If adding an optional flavor, add 0.5–1 oz puree or 3–4 muddled cucumber slices now.

Add ice and shake

Fill the shaker 2/3 with ice. Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well chilled (shaker becomes frosty).

Strain and serve

Fill the salted-rim glass with fresh ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

Combine in blender

Add 2 oz blanco tequila, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, 0.25 oz agave syrup, and about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ice to a blender for a single frozen serving. For flavored versions, add 0.5–1 oz fruit puree or 3–4 cucumber slices. For batches, scale to ingredient quantities above.

Blend

Blend on high until smooth and slushy, about 20–40 seconds depending on blender and ice amount. Pause and check consistency; add a splash of cold water or a bit more ice to adjust texture as needed.

Serve

Pour into a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or fruit appropriate to the added flavor (strawberry, mango slice, cucumber ribbon).

To make a pitcher: combine 8 oz tequila, 4 oz fresh lime juice, 2 oz orange liqueur, and 1 oz agave syrup in a pitcher. Refrigerate until cold. When ready to serve on the rocks, fill glasses with ice and pour. For frozen, portion into a blender with ice and blend in batches. Adjust sweetness to taste; add more agave syrup if you prefer sweeter margaritas.