It’s no secret: We can’t get enough of margaritas. Though we’ve done our fair share of experimenting with different flavors—like in our sweet peach, spicy jalapeño, or mimosa margaritas—when we’re craving a simple, no frills, refreshing cocktail, this classic recipe is the one we turn to. All you need are 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make one for yourself—let happy hour begin!
History of the margarita:
Now one of the most popular cocktails in the world, the margarita is thought to have started out as the variation on another prohibition-era drink called the "Daisy." Spanish for "daisy," the marg swapped in tequila for the requisite brandy and lime juice for lemon juice, and a classic was born.
Ingredients for a classic margarita:
— Tequila. If you’re searching for the perfect tequila for your margarita, there’s no shortage of options. Unsure about what type of tequila to use? Blanco tequila is always a solid option, but a good reposado would also be an excellent choice (especially if you’re looking for a smooth, almost caramel-like flavor to turn into a Cadillac margarita). More of a mezcal lover? Feel free to swap it out for a smoky, earthy mezcal margarita.
— Triple sec. We used simple & reliable triple sec in these margaritas, but if you have a preferred Cointreau you’d like to use, feel free to swap it out! Craving something a little less sticky sweet? Try our skinny margarita, which swaps the orange liquor for OJ and agave.
— Lime. While we love all our over the top margarita alternatives, when it comes to the classic, all you need is some lime juice (freshly squeezed please!).
How to serve:
While we love a good pitcher moment, we went classic with these margs by serving them in individual glasses with a salt rim and lime garnishes. You can use kosher salt or coarse sea salt for your rim—whatever you prefer/have on hand will work. Need to serve a crowd? You can easily double (or triple) this recipe too.
Made these? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
kosher salt or coarse sea salt
Lime wedges, for glasses and serving
blanco tequila
triple sec
fresh lime juice
Ice
Lena Abraham is a freelance contributor with Delish, and was formerly Senior Food Editor, where she developed and styled recipes for video and photo, and also stayed on top of current food trends. She’s been working in the food industry for over 10 years, and will argue that the best fish tacos in the world are made in New York. Don’t @ her.
