How to make the perfect Margarita in 4 steps

If I could only drink one cocktail for the rest of my life, it would be a margarita. They’re fresh, flavoursome and if I have 3 or less, I find I manage to stay hangover free. There are so many versions of this cocktail, but my order is always a classic lime margarita with a salt rim. I recently invited top Mixologists at The Mixer to contribute a special guest post for me, all about  how to make the perfect margarita with their classic margarita recipe. My gift from one margarita-loving human to another. Cheers! 

Easy step-by-step Classic Margarita recipe

An Intro to Margaritas 

There’s a reason the classic Margarita is one of the most popular cocktails in the world; its enduring popularity lies in its flexibility. In its original form it’s a classic sour made with tequila, lime, and orange liqueur, and often finished with a salt rim. However, these ingredients can also be swapped out to create new flavour profiles – offering plenty of opportunities to get creative. The Margarita is like an iconic celebrity; constantly experimenting with different looks yet always remaining true to its core. 

There’s nothing subtle about the classic Lime Margarita, the delicious combination of the following elements makes it hard to resist:

• Strong – traditionally, tequila is used to give the Margarita its kick, but other agave distillates can give your drink a smoky twist.
• Sour – lemon or lime juice, the most popular sour agents, are what bring the acidity. Lime juice is tart, bright, and the perfect pairing for the spice and citrus notes of tequilas and mezcal.
• Sweet – the Margarita is a sour that’s sweetened with a liqueur, orange liqueur specifically, though many popular variations include other sweeteners.
• Salty – often a salt rim helps to enhance the taste and elevate the flavours of a Margarita, but it can also be mixed in the drink or sprinkled on top. There are many different kinds of salt and they all bring something different to your drink: coarse sea salt (avoid fine salt for drinks), kosher salt, volcanic black salt, Himalayan pink salt, chilli salt etc.

Easy step-by-step Classic Margarita recipe

Ingredients (for 4 people)

• 8 Oz Blanco Tequila – ideally choose a Blanco tequila made from 100% Blue Weber agave as this will deliver a balanced taste.
• 4 Tablespoons Grand Marnier – this is our favourite orange liqueur; the blend of Cognac, candied bitter green oranges, caramelized sugar and vanilla work so well with the other flavours.
• 4 Oz Lime juice, freshly squeezed  
• 4 Tablespoons Agave syrup  
• Lime wedges and salt to garnish   
• Ice 

Method

1. Choose your glass – you can serve your Margarita in a rocks glass or a classic double-bowl margarita glass, which has the benefit of a nice sturdy lip, making it easier to add the salt rim. Top tip: 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.   
2. Make your salt rim – pour your chosen salt onto a plate, rub the side of a lime wedge against the outside lip of your glass and gently roll the edge against the salt on the plate. Try to keep the salt on the outside edge of the glass so it doesn’t fall in your drink. Top tip: Add a little lime zest to the salt; it looks very pretty and adds a little zing to your serve.  
3. Mix it up – add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until well chilled. 
4. Serve – strain into your glasses over fresh ice, then garnish each with a lime wedge.

Top tip: For larger groups, you could serve your Margaritas in a pitcher, it’s one of the best cocktails to be enjoyed with a group. This recipe can be pre-prepared in a pitcher for a group serve and kept in the fridge. Remember to add lots of ice for proper dilution.

Read more lifestyle posts from The Travelista; 

• 3 morning rituals to improve your mental health 
• How to make your bedroom feel like a 5 star hotel 
• My 5 Step evening ritual for a great night’s sleep 

For more drinkspiration please visit https://www.themixer.com/en-uk/