Classic Margarita Recipe

A Margarita is a simple tequila cocktail made with tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. It is usually served chilled, often with salt around the rim of the glass. The combination gives it a bright balance of citrus, sweetness, tequila, and salt. 

What Is a Margarita?

The classic Margarita is a type of sour cocktail. Its three main ingredients are 100% agave tequila, triple sec, and freshly squeezed lime juice. A salted rim is a traditional part of the drink, although the International Bartenders Association lists the half-salt rim as optional.

Unlike some modern versions, a classic Margarita does not need fruit puree, soda, or a large amount of sweetener. The orange liqueur provides sweetness while fresh lime brings acidity and tequila gives the drink its main character.

A Short History of the Margarita

The exact origin of the Margarita is still uncertain. Several people and places have been credited with creating it, so there is no single proven inventor.

One well-known story says bartender Carlos “Danny” Herrera created the drink around 1938 at Rancho La Gloria near Tijuana for a customer named Marjorie King. Another famous claim comes from Margarita Sames, who said she created the cocktail at her Acapulco home in 1948. However, evidence shows that the name Margarita was already being used for the drink in the United States by 1945.

What is better documented is the drink's rise in popularity. The Smithsonian notes that Margaritas were being mixed in bars along the California-Mexico border during the 1940s and became a standard drink in Mexican American restaurants.

The frozen Margarita came later. In 1971, Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez adapted a soft-serve ice cream machine to make frozen Margaritas more consistently. His invention is now part of the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Classic Margarita Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1
Method: Shaken
Glass: Chilled cocktail glass

Ingredients

• 50 ml 100% agave tequila
• 20 ml triple sec
• 15 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• Tawang Classic Margarita Salt from Mumm Products, for the rim
• 1 lime wedge or wheel, for garnish
• Ice

These measurements follow the International Bartenders Association's current Margarita specification.

How to Make It

1. Prepare the rim
Run a lime wedge around the outside edge of a chilled cocktail glass. Dip the rim into Classic Margarita Salt, coating the rim evenly. A half-salted rim works especially well because it lets you choose between salted and unsalted sips.

2. Add the ingredients
Pour the tequila, triple sec, and freshly squeezed lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

3. Shake
Shake well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.

4. Strain
Strain the Margarita into the prepared chilled glass.

5. Garnish
Add a fresh lime wedge or lime wheel and serve immediately.

Quick Tip

Use fresh lime juice. It makes a noticeable difference in a Margarita because lime provides most of the drink's acidity and freshness. Also, prepare the salted rim before shaking the cocktail so you can serve the drink as soon as it is strained.

For a traditional presentation, salt only half of the rim rather than covering the entire glas