This classic margarita is tangy, tart, and refreshing with lime juice, Cointreau, and tequila. Serve on the rocks or frozen!
When it comes to the perfect cocktail, a classic margarita is hard to beat!
This refreshing, classic margarita is a perfect balance of tangy lime juice, sweet simple syrup, orange liqueur, and tequila, all served up in a salt-rimmed glass.
Frozen or on the rocks, it’s up to you!
It’s a versatile drink that has so many variations with different fruit flavors, that take no extra time at all to prepare, it makes the classic margarita the ultimate crowd-pleaser cocktail!
Trust me, the next time you’re in the mood for a refreshing cocktail, you’ll be making a classic margarita!
Want to jazz things up for the holiday season? Try this holiday margarita with pomegranate popsicle!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for a classic margarita
- Tequila – Tequila is peppery and clean, the perfect backdrop for our cocktail.
- Lime juice – Lime juice will add a bright and fresh citrus flavor!
- Cointreau – Cointreau is an orange-flavored liqueur.
- Simple syrup – This will help add the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Ice – Ice will keep the drink cold!
- Kosher salt – This is traditional for the rim of the glass on any margarita.
What is simple syrup?
It’s in the name – simple!
It’s equal parts water and granulated sugar (here I’ve used ½ cup of each) put into a pot on the stove at medium-low heat, and heat until the sugar has completely dissolved and the resulting liquid is clear.
Make sure to cool it completely before adding it to a jar or squeeze bottle!
Frozen, or on the rocks?
There’s no wrong way to drink a classic margarita!
To make a frozen margarita, bust out the old blender, add everything inside, and blend it up! You can adjust the recipe and make several at the same time.
For on the rocks, simply add the ingredients to a shaker, shake until the outside of the shaker is icy cold, and strain over fresh ice in a glass.
Fruit variations
There are so many delicious ways to flavor a classic margarita. The easiest way is to use frozen fruit!
Frozen fruit was picked at the peak of ripeness and flash-frozen to maintain its sweetness.
The best way to add fruit to a margarita is via the blender, in a frozen slushie form.
Simply add all of the ingredients of a classic margarita to the blender, and add a ⅓ cup of your favorite frozen fruit, and blend away!
Some of my favorites are:
- Mango
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Pineapple
If you find that the mixture is too thick, add a little splash of Cointreau or Tequila to thin it out and help the blender along.
What is Cointreau?
Cointreau is an orange-flavored liqueur.
You may have heard of others, like Triple Sec, Curaçao, and Grand Marnier.
These all have slightly different levels of bitterness, sweetness, and alcohol content.
But feel free to use what you have (noting that Curaçao is typically blue, so your drink will have a blue hue).
Storage and leftovers
Classic margaritas are best consumed as soon as they’re made, so unfortunately, no leftovers here!
More drink recipes
- Looking for a refreshing cocktail for summer? Try my Strawberry Basil Gin Rickey.
- Craving something sweet? Try my Apple Cider Mojito.
- Need something spicy? Try my Jalapeno Mango Margarita.
- Want a tropical drink? Try my Pineapple Rum Punch.
Classic Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 cups of ice
- 4 ounces gold tequila
- 4 ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounce Cointreau
- 2 ounces simple syrup
Instructions
- Place your kosher salt onto a flat small plate.
- Use your wedge of lime to moisten the rim of your glasses.
- Dip the edges of the rim of the glass onto the salt plate.
- Set the glass aside.
- Place your lime juice, Tequila, Cointreau, simple syrup, and ice in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately and garnish with mint or extra lime slices.
Nutrition
