Classics are considered classics for a reason. The classic margarita is straightforward, simple, and decidedly delicious.
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in fancy ingredients and changing things up that we forget about the classics. But classics are classics for a reason, right?
Take the classic margarita. Just a few simple ingredients and we have a smooth, tart cocktail that goes down easy.
While a margarita may be simple, you need to choose your ingredients wisely. What takes a margarita from blah to YUM is selecting the right tequila. Here’s a little tequila cheat sheet:
Tequila 101
Blanco (Silver): Tequila blanco is bottled right after it is distilled and the flavor of the agave is most pronounced. It’s perfect for margaritas and other bright, citrus flavored cocktails.
Reposado: This tequila is aged in oak barrels for a year or less. It is golden in color and its flavor is more mellow than tequila blanco with notes of oak and vanilla.
Anejo: This tequila is aged for at least a year and is deep amber in color. The oak is more pronounced and the flavor is smooth and rich which makes it ideal for sipping.
Tips for success
- When your cocktail recipe has only a few ingredients, make sure you use the best quality ones. Choose a tequila that you would sip on its own, squeeze your own limes instead of buying bottled lime juice, and select a top shelf orange liqueur.
- While you don’t need a cocktail shaker, shaking your margarita well over ice allows the flavors to blend well instead of simply stirring it in the glass.
- Rub a lime wedge along the rim of the glass before dipping in salt. It adds a little pop of lime flavor as you sip.
More Margarita Magic
Classics are considered classics for a reason. The classic margarita is straightforward, simple, and decidedly delicious.
- 4 oz tequila blanco
- 2 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau)
- 2 oz lime juice
- kosher salt and lime slices for garnish
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Shake well.
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Rub a lime wedge on the rim of a glass and dip in kosher salt. Fill two glasses with ice and divide the cocktails between the two glasses. Garnish with lime wedges.
- When your cocktail recipe has only a few ingredients, make sure you use the best quality ones. Choose a tequila that you would sip on its own, squeeze your own limes instead of buying bottled lime juice, and select a top shelf orange liqueur.
- While you don't need a cocktail shaker, shaking your margarita well over ice allows the flavors to blend well instead of simply stirring it in the glass.
- Rub a lime wedge along the rim of the glass before dipping in salt. It adds a little pop of lime flavor as you sip.
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