Margarita cocktail in a rocks glass or coupe

Margarita Recipe

Tequila, lime and orange liqueur, with or without a salt rim.

Tequila
Base Spirit
~20%
Approx ABV
Easy
Difficulty
4 min
Prep Time
🥂 Rocks glass or coupe 🧊 Cubed or served up Tart, salty, citrusy

A good margarita is tequila, lime and orange liqueur in the right balance. Skip bottled sour mix and use fresh lime.

Ingredients

Makes
  • 50 ml Tequila blanco
  • 20 ml Triple sec
  • 15 ml Fresh lime juice
  • 1 pinch Salt (optional) For the rim

Garnish: Lime wheel and salt rim

How to Make a Margarita

  1. Rub a lime wedge around the rim and dip in salt, if wanted.
  2. Add tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice to a shaker with ice.
  3. Shake hard for 10 seconds.
  4. Strain into the glass over fresh ice, or serve up in a coupe.
  5. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Tips for a Better Margarita

  • Salt only half the rim so guests can choose.
  • Use real tequila labelled 100 percent agave if available. Mixto tequila gives a harsher drink.

About the Margarita

Nobody knows for certain who invented the Margarita. The most repeated claims are those of Carlos "Danny" Herrera, who said he made it at his restaurant Rancho La Gloria near Tijuana in 1938, and the Dallas socialite Margarita Sames, who said she mixed it for guests in Acapulco in 1948.

The most likely explanation is simpler. "Margarita" is Spanish for daisy, and the Daisy was a well-known American cocktail of spirit, citrus and orange liqueur. A Tequila Daisy was being served along the border between the United States and Mexico by the 1930s. The first known printed recipe under the name Margarita appeared in Esquire magazine in December 1953.

Today it is the most popular cocktail in the United States and, by several industry surveys, the most ordered cocktail in the world. The frozen margarita machine, invented in Dallas in 1971 by Mariano Martinez, helped put it on every Tex-Mex menu.

Margarita Variations

  • Tommy's Margarita: agave syrup in place of orange liqueur.
  • Spicy Margarita: muddled jalapeño and a chilli-salt rim.
  • Frozen Margarita: blend with a cup of ice.
  • Mezcal Margarita: swap half or all of the tequila for mezcal.
  • Cadillac Margarita: reposado tequila with a float of Grand Marnier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Margarita?

A Margarita is made with 50ml (1.75 oz) tequila blanco, 20ml (0.75 oz) triple sec and 15ml (0.5 oz) fresh lime juice. It is served in a rocks glass or coupe.

How strong is a Margarita?

Made to this recipe, a Margarita is about 20% ABV and contains roughly 22 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.6 US standard drinks, 2.2 Australian standard drinks or 2.8 UK units. It has around 180 calories per serving.

What is the Margarita ratio?

This recipe uses 50ml tequila blanco, 20ml triple sec and 15ml fresh lime juice. Many bartenders use 2:1:1, which is tarter. Adjust the lime to taste.

What is the best tequila for a Margarita?

A 100% agave blanco tequila. It tastes of cooked agave and pepper, without the harsh sweetness of a mixto. Reposado gives a rounder, oakier Margarita.

Is Cointreau better than triple sec in a Margarita?

Cointreau is a premium triple sec bottled at 40% ABV with a cleaner orange flavour. Cheaper triple secs are sweeter and weaker, so the drink tastes softer.

How do you salt the rim of a Margarita glass?

Rub a lime wedge around the outside of the rim and roll it in flaky salt. Salt only half the rim so that each sip is a choice.
Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma
Shivam Sharma
I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.
Last updated: October 2026

Quick Facts

Type Classic
Base spirit Tequila
Glass Rocks glass or coupe
Ice Cubed or served up
Garnish Lime wheel and salt rim
Approx ABV ~20%
Calories ~180 kcal
Difficulty Easy
Prep time 4 min

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