Ready to take a trip down to Margaritaville? Us, too. With Cinco de Mayo approaching, it’s the ideal time to learn how to make the perfect margarita. After one icy sip, you’ll likely revisit this refreshing drink all summer long.
A margarita evokes visions of sun-drenched beaches and lively fiestas. While its vibe is carefree, though, its origin story is more complex. It’s linked to a drink made in honor of a Tijuana bartender’s favorite dancer; an Irish bartender who accidentally made a whiskey drink with tequila, much to the customer’s delight; a bartender who concocted the drink as a gift for his brother-in-law who was marrying someone named Margarita (talk about a signature cocktail!); or created by a socialite from Dallas.
Fortunately, it doesn’t matter because what we know for sure is that sipping a margarita is a passport to a tropical beach.
How to Make a Margarita
While there are a number of margarita recipes that include fruit and other ingredients, your most basic margarita ingredients are tequila, lime juice (fresh squeezed, please!), triple sec or orange liqueur, ice, salt for the rim of the glass and a lime wedge for garnish.
Here’s how to make those ingredients sing:
- Rub a lime wedge around the edge of the glass, then dip it into a shallow dish of salt.
- Fill the glass with ice to chill it.
- In a shaker, combine the tequila, lime juice, triple sec and a handful of ice.
- Shake well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
- Serve and enjoy responsibly.
You can serve your margarita in a classic margarita glass, with its wide rim and long stem that adds a touch of elegance; a double old-fashioned glass, which is a shorter, wider glass that offers plenty of room for ice (and also is less likely to tip over, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings or parties); or a mason jar for a rustic or casual twist on your presentation.
Variations on Classic Margarita Recipes
You might be thinking of the margarita as a blended drink, and you also mix all the ingredients with plenty of ice for a frozen concoction.
Other margarita recipes might call for blending in frozen fruit, such as strawberry, mango, watermelon, berries and sometimes cherries.
You could even sub out the salt for sugar for a sweet touch.
But may we suggest the best margarita recipe we’ve come upon yet?
CHILI LIME MARGARITA FLAVOUR ICE
What elevates this choice is that you’re creating margarita-flavoured ice that has an extra kick spiked with the citrusy heat of Cholula Chili Lime Hot Sauce.
You’ll mix classic tequila ingredients, plus the hot sauce for extra zing, into ice trays, and once it’s frozen, pop them into a blender, pulse until smooth and the fiesta is ready.
Pairing Margaritas with Delicious Dishes
It’s not a fiesta without some tasty food! For happy hour, choose a simple chips-and-salsa side or serve with Mexican street corn.
For a lively entrée, consider putting out all the fixings for a taco bar, or grill up some sizzling fajitas.
Whatever you choose to serve with your margarita, you’re sure to appreciate this beloved cocktail as a symbol of camaraderie and celebration. Look no farther than these flavourful recipes for even more inspiration.
