Classic Margarita
This Classic Margarita recipe uses freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, organic simple syrup, Blanco tequila, and your orange liquor of choice. Each ingredient is selected with care and quality in mind to result in a simple and refreshing summer beverage, hitting that perfect balance between tart and sweet.
Before making margaritas from scratch, I always turned to pre-made mixes. They were convenient, and it never even crossed my mind to make one from scratch. When I had my first fresh homemade margarita, lights went off in my brain and there was no going back!
In my mind, the essence of summer is kicking back on a hot summer day with one of these in my hand. The flavor starts out lightly sweet and then is cut with a punch of citrus followed by a kick of booze at the end. The ingredients are in absolute harmony, and I’ve noticed that it doesn’t leave me feeling bloated and sick afterwards the way some artificial cocktails can (unless we indulge in too many!)
A fresh margarita from scratch is much simpler to make than you would imagine, and anything just found on a shelf cannot compare to the quality difference in taste.
Classic Margarita Ingredients
A classic margarita recipe doesn’t have many variations when it comes to ingredients and proportions, so the steps I have taken have been carefully accounted for to elevate the flavor and quality of an already amazing drink. Continue to see which ingredients I use and why!
Simple syrup is easy to make. It is simply a 1 to 1 ratio of water and sugar- basically sugar water. I like to add a small amount of simple syrup to my margaritas because it adds a touch of sweetness and cuts the sourness of the citrus
Use organic sugar when making simple syrup because it has a depth and richness that conventional sugar lacks. You don’t want to skimp on this step as it makes a huge difference!
Lemon and lime juice should always be freshly squeezed and strained. Now I know the grocery store sells little squeeze bottles of citrus juice and at first glance they can be appealing because they save a few seconds of cutting and squeezing. Do not fall for this. Listen to me as your trusted friend trying to guide you towards the best margarita of your life. Those squeeze bottles contain juices that are re-hydrated from concentrate and contain chemicals to extend their shelf life, and the difference in taste will pollute the entire cocktail.
Some margarita recipes call for just lime juice in their drinks, but I like to use equal parts lime and lemon juice to sweeten it up and added complexity
Tequila is an obvious and very necessary ingredient. In this recipe I like to use Blanco tequila for its more subtle taste. If you want your margarita to have a more forward tequila flavor, you can go with rapasado. It’s really up to you!
Orange Liqueur is a hotly debated topic and requires a little bit of a breakdown. There is a lot of confusion about an orange liqueur and which brand is the best to use in a margarita. As with most things, it will boil down to personal preference, but if you want a simple answer, look for something high-quality and be willing to spend around 20 dollars on a bottle. Steer clear of the cheap Triple Sec varieties. They taste artificial and have no complexity. Here is a more detailed explanation of each if you are interested:
Triple Sec is a drier style of orange liqueur and is often used as a generic term for any orange liqueur. If using a triple sec or generic orange liqueur, look for something high-quality and not a low-grade knock-off.
Cointreau is a high-quality triple sec, orange liqueur. It uses sweet and bitter orange peels, sugar, and beet alcohol. If using Cointreau in a margarita, it will have more of a bright and strong, orange flavor.
Grand Mariner is an orange-flavored liqueur that comes from orange essence and Cognac brandy. It has a deeper flavor than other orange liqueurs with vanilla notes. It is my favorite orange liqueur to use in margaritas. I love how the warmer flavors compliment and mellow out the citrus in the drink.
Optional salt on the rim. Pour some sea salt onto a saucer and rub a lime wedge around the glass rim (the moisture helps the salt to stick better). Then turn your glass upside down on the saucer and turn the rim in the salt to coat it to your preference.
How to Make a Margarita from Scratch
Now that you understand the nuances of each ingredient necessary to make this Classic Margarita recipe, we are ready to make our cocktail!
First, you will need some common bar supplies- a cocktail shaker, a metal springed strainer, a jigger, and a citrus juicer.
Start by preparing some simple syrup. I like to make 1 cup worth of simple syrup at a time and keep it in a jar in the fridge to have on hand.The first step to make simple syrup is to warm up some water. I have a handy electric kettle that is perfect for this job, but you can always use a microwave or warm it up on the stove.
Measure out ½ a cup of the warm water and ½ a cup of organic sugar. Mix until the sugar is completely dissolved and set aside for later.
Next, time to squeeze some lemons and limes! I like to use equal parts lemon and lime juice. For an individual serving, squeeze a few lemon and lime slices until you have ½ an ounce of each. If you will be making multiple cocktails, go ahead and squeeze the lemon and lime juice in a glass measuring cup, and squeeze equal parts lemon and lime juice to make a sour mix. Stir it and strain. When measuring out your drink, use 1 ounce of the mix instead of ½ of each citrus for ease.
Once you have your simple syrup and citrus prepped, we are ready to make our Margarita! Add the cheaper ingredients first. To make one drink, pour into a glass ½ oz simple syrup, ½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 ½ oz silver tequila, and finally ½ oz orange liqueur.
Add ice to the cocktail shaker and pour drink contents over the ice. Cover and shake until the outside is frosted. Strain into a cup over ice or not, with or without a salt rim!
Cheers to summer! I hope you feel inspired to take a crack at making a Classic Margarita at your home bar. I promise you the efforts will be worth the reward. There truly is nothing like sipping on a freshly made margarita where each ingredient has been selected intentionally for balance, flavor, and depth. Say farewell to those horrible mixes. I hope you too, never go back!
Classic Margarita
Ingredients
- ½ ounce simple syrup*
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice*
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice*
- 1 ½ ounce blanco tequila
- ½ ounce orange liqueur*
- Ice
- Sea Salt
- Lime wedges
- ½ cup organic cane sugar*
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Add boiling water and sugar to a glass jar and stir until sugar dissolves completely. Let cool slightly before using and store extra refrigerated for a week.
- If having a salt rim, add sea salt to a plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a double old-fashioned glass and dip the glass in the salt to coat.
- Pour simple syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, Blanco tequila, and orange liqueur into a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until the outside becomes frosted about 30 seconds
- Strain onto fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy!
Notes:
Ingredients: High-quality ingredients result in a more complex and tasty drink. Make sure to organic sugar in your simple syrup, freshly squeezed and strained lemon and lime juice, and a high-quality orange liqueur. I recommend Cointreau or Grand Marnier, or a high-quality triple sec for best results.
Make ahead: If making more than a single serving, I find it easier to batch prep the lemon and lime juice. Measure out 1/2 a cup lemon juice and 1/2 a cup lime juice. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, and store in a glass jar refrigerated for a week. You can also do the same for the simple syrup!
