The Best Margarita Recipe! - Isabel Eats (2024)

FAQs

What makes restaurant margaritas so good? ›

Just as important as the style of tequila is the use of a high-quality orange liqueur. Part of the Daisy category of co*cktails, the Margarita calls for triple sec such as Cointreau for sweetness and balance. Though some may opt for agave nectar instead, the addition of the liqueur is what makes a true Margarita.

In addition to powdered mixes, which are more affordable, restaurants also use liquid mixes they can purchase from their alcohol supplier -similar to the concentrate above. The two most popular mixes that restaurants use for margaritas are Zing Zang Margarita Mix and Jose Cuervo Classic Lime Original Margarita Mix.

In the end, a good Margarita is a question of proportions. It is a simple formula: 2 – 1 – ½ . 2 parts tequila, 1 part lime juice, ½ part cointreau. I like to measure in ounces, because the correct proportions, measured as 2 ounces, 1 ounce, ½ ounces make the perfect sized drink for the glasses I like to use.

“Triple sec is the more approachable version when it comes to price point, so it's good to use if you want to keep costs low,” he said. “But Cointreau is worth the investment as it has a roundness that helps in building co*cktails and stands up to more flavors for great Margaritas and more.”

Blanco tequila is the go-to for Margaritas. It's a clear, usually unaged spirit (it's allowed to rest in barrels for no more than 60 days) that highlights the pure expression of distilled agave.

Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita. Popular labels include Cointreau, Combier, Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, and Grand Marnier.

To balance the co*cktail's acidity, triple sec is absolutely necessary for traditional Margaritas, according to Bailon. “Without triple sec, we fall into a different co*cktail category, which is the sour,” she explains.

“Cointreau is always my first choice,” says Stanislav Harcinik of Mirror Bar in Bratislava. “It brings citrusy-zesty aromatics to a Margarita's flavor profile, and makes the drink even lighter, with its aromatic floral notes that always make me smell it one more time and, of course, [take] another sip.”

Can they replace Triple Sec? Both Grand Marnier and Cointreau are excellent replacements for Triple Sec when making a Margarita. In fact, both of these are significantly more expensive and are considered to be better than inexpensive Triple Sec both in quality and taste.

Reposado tequila is typically the go-to for margaritas, but you can use blanco, reposado, or añejo varieties. It's all personal preference! In these photos, I used a really good añejo tequila that I had in the cupboard because I was craving something with a bit more complexity and sweetness.

What can I add to my margarita mix to make it better? ›

A splash of fruit juice can also add some more flavor to your margaritas. Grapefruit juice will give a tart, slightly sour flavor, while pineapple juice creates a more tropical-tasting drink. "Citrus-based juices are essential for balancing out the sweetness of a margarita," David Alan told Insider.

If you appreciate a more complex palate, Grand Marnier is the best option. For a lighter drink, go with Cointreau. For those who are always looking to save a buck, Cointreau is less expensive. Either way, you will have a great orange liqueur that will help you mix up some delicious drinks and treat your guests.

The traditional margarita recipe is made with a ratio of 2:1:1, which means: 2 parts tequila or 2 oz. 1 part triple sec or 1 oz. 1 part lime juice or 1 oz.

Truly says the Margarita-style seltzers are made with real ingredients found in the co*cktail, including lime juice concentrate, agave nectar, and sea salt.

A Margarita is said to have all five main tasting notes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami, making it a perfectly balanced drink. It has a strong citrus flavour from the presence of lime juice and triple sec - an orange-flavoured liqueur.

Each marg definitely has at least 3 ounces of booze – that means if you have 3 of any of our margaritas, you are having about 9 shots of hard alcohol!

Instead of using sweet and sour in your marg, you'll get Grand Marnier Gala. Both are a citrus based liqueur that add just a hint of a higher alcohol percentage to your drink. Not only is the liqueur itself higher quality than sweet and sour but it makes your drink stronger too.