PREP TIME 5 min
There are so many different versions of the Margarita cocktail around these days that you’d be forgiven for not realizing that the deceptively humble Lime Margarita is actually the OG drink that started the whole craze…
Here is our super-simple margarita recipe with lime juice. It’s so fresh and zesty, and wonderfully easy to make at home. Enjoy!
Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until well chilled
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
Place the salt in a saucer, wet the rim of the glass, and dip it to salt the rim
Garnish with a lime wheel, and serve
As with most stories worth telling, the exact origins of this singular marriage of tequila and lime has grown a little murky over time.
Some folks believe the lime juice Margarita recipe was dreamt up by a Mexican restaurant owner who was smitten with a striking Ziegfeld showgirl Marjorie King, who would only ever drink tequila shots due to allergies. So, Carlos (Danny) Herrera came to the rescue and created a zingy drink that she could sip slowly rather than shoot.
The other story goes that famous Texas socialite Margaret Sames (also called Margarita) poured the first version of this on the rocks cocktail at a house party in Mexico in the 1940s. Or perhaps it was a first shaken up for actress Rita Hayworth (whose real name was Margaret) when she visited Tijuana in the same decade.
Most drinks historians will also tell you that the Lime Margarita is actually a refreshing take on a cocktail that went before – The Daisy. This beloved drink combined a spirit base with citrus juice and grenadine over shaved ice. So, you can see how the Margarita would be a fun spin on this particular cocktail template.
Whatever the case may be, the Lime Margarita remains a classic that pairs well with all sorts of tasty canapes and main meals. As such, it’s a great trick to have up your hosting sleeve.
Which one should you use? Cointreau is a brand name, whereas Triple Sec is a family of dry orange liqueurs. As such, Cointreau is actually a type of Triple Sec. Triple sec literally means triple dry. Slightly more expensive Triple Sec brands tend to have a stronger, smoother and more complex flavour profile, so the recommendation is to choose the best citrusy workhorse that suits your budget. Our favourite is Grand Marnier, a blend of Cognac, candied bitter green oranges caramelized sugar and vanilla. The deep citrusy notes are a beaut with our zesty Lime Margarita.
Want to know the trick to the best Margarita cocktail recipe? Here are three insider tips:
Choose your glass: This recipe calls for a rocks glass, but you can also serve a Lime Margarita in a classic double-bowl margarita glass of course. These glasses have a nice sturdy lip that makes it easy to add the salt rim.
Choose a really great tequila. Ideally you want to look out for a Blanco tequila made from 100% Blue Weber agave that delivers a perfectly balanced taste that is smooth enough to enjoy neat.
Ice your glasses. A perfectly frosty shaken Lime Margarita is a thing of beauty. Pop your glasses in the freezer about ten minutes before serving up your cocktails.
Zest the salt. Feeling a little fancy? Add a little lime zest to the salt you use to rim your serving glasses. It looks very pretty and also adds a little zing to your serve.
Top tips from Tris
Tristram Fini, our friend from the Campari Academy UK, has shared a few valuable tips for folks who want to understand more about mixing and pairing tequila to perfection:
Tips for pairing tequila cocktails with food
If food and drinks have grown together regionally, they will automatically pair well. With tequila, you can explore options like aguachile, which is a ceviche-style dish. You can also consider different styles of tacos, such as al pastor or tacos de birria, which are vibrant regional dishes coming from Oaxaca and Puebla specifically.
Tequila usually has an element of acidity, freshness, and potentially spice. Nicely cured seafood and grilled prawns work great, but steer clear of dishes that are too dairy-heavy. Those don’t really pair naturally with tequila. Focus on vibrant, fresh flavors that aren’t too subtle.
Interestingly, tequila and margaritas pair wonderfully with oysters. Oysters are fatty and briny, giving them a salty characteristic. Margaritas pair well with that saltiness because salt and tequila are always going to work well together.
Unusual ingredients to enhance Margaritas
When crafting margaritas, consider flavors that complement tequila, particularly those representatives of its region of origin. Mexico’s diverse food scene offers a wealth of ingredients, including mangoes, pineapples, and tomatillos, which can enhance the cocktail.
For a spicy twist, adding a mango habanero hot sauce can elevate a margarita, infusing it with tropical nuances. Coconut is another intriguing flavor that pairs well with tequila, although it’s often underutilized.
Add a few dashes of coconut to a Tommy’s Margarita to allow the pineapple flavor to shine. Another suggested recipe includes 2 oz of tequila, 1 oz of lime juice, 0.5 oz of agave syrup, and your desired amount of hot sauce. Shake well, and you’re ready to enjoy a uniquely flavored Margarita!
