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The perfect Margarita has high-quality tequila, triple sec, and the freshest citrus juice. As a classically-trained chef with plenty of cocktail-making experience under my belt, I’ve perfected this Margarita recipe so you don’t have to experiment.
The secret to your most perfect Margarita is to use a blend of freshly-squeezed lemon and lime juices, and then to sweeten to taste with simple syrup. I use simple syrup instead of sugar so you get the sweetness without any graininess.
I’ll also cover several close variations so you can really “mix it up.” Shake on the rocks or blended until smooth, there are so many ways you can take this drink. If you need a signature cocktail for your next party, Margaritas are a great choice in warm weather and always a crowd-favorite.
Table of Contents
Classic Margarita Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Margarita Ingredient Notes
- Tequila: Tequila blanco is lighter in body and perfect for making cocktails like this one. Tequila reposado (which means “rested” and is aged in oak for at least 2 months) is ideal for sipping.
- Triple sec: Or any orange-flavored liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
- Margarita salt: Homemade margarita salt is fun to make when you’re feeling extra. Or, use kosher salt or even sugar.
How to Make Margarita with Triple Sec
- In a small pitcher, add tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, lime juice, water, and simple syrup. Stir to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- In a shallow dish as wide as your serving glass, add Margarita salt (or kosher salt) to 1/4-inch deep. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass, then dip the top of the glass upside-down into the salt and turn to coat.
- Fill each rimmed glass about half full with ice and add margarita mixture.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Classic Margarita Tips and Variations
- Yield: This recipe makes a batch of 4 cocktails, 8 ounces each.
- Glassware: A Margarita glass is the classic choice, but I love how approachable a lowball glass is for happy hour.
- Bigger batch: To make a larger batch of 8 cocktails, combine 16 ounces (2 cups) tequila, 16 ounces (2 cups) triple sec, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) lemon juice, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) lime juice, 8 ounces (1 cup) water, and 4 ounces (½ cup) simple syrup in a pitcher. Have ice, glassware, a salt-rimming station, and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Frozen margarita: Add ice to your blender to taste and blend until slushy (I like about 5 cups of ice). Double or triple the mix for use in your margarita machine.
- Margarita slush: The ultimate big-batch frozen(ish) Margarita is made in an ice cream pail.
- Blue margarita: Substitute Blue Curaçao for the triple sec.
- Cadillac margarita: Substitute Grand Marnier for the triple sec.
- Kamikaze: Substitute vodka for tequila.
- Skinny margarita: Omit the triple sec and simple syrup.
- Strawberry margarita: An icy blended margarita with a bright red hue.
- Virgin margarita: This Virgin Margarita has all the best flavors, and none of the alcohol, of a regular Margarita.
Triple Sec Margarita Recipe FAQs
Tequila blanco (sometimes called “silver” tequila) is great for cocktails because it has a light, crisp taste.
For your best shot at skipping a hangover from tequila, choose a bottle that says “100% Blue Agave Tequila.” Anything else is a mixture of different agave plants and may also add sugar during processing.
If you want to make frozen margaritas for a crowd frequently, a margarita machine would be helpful! It takes up a bit of space, but I love my Margaritaville Bahamas Frozen Concoction Maker because the frozen slush it creates is far superior to that of a traditional blender. If you have the room and love margaritas as much as I do, you can get it at Amazon for $210, and check out our roundup of the best margarita machines.
More tequila cocktails to try
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Charro Negro
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Cantarito
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Paloma Cocktail
Cocktail Recipes
Long Island Iced Tea
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Triple Sec Margarita
Ingredients
- 8 ounces tequila (1 cup, see note 1)
- 8 ounces triple sec (1 cup, see note 2)
- 6 ounces lemon juice from about 4 lemons (¾ cup)
- 6 ounces lime juice from about 6 limes (¾ cup)
- 4 ounces water (½ cup)
- 2 ounces simple syrup optional (¼ cup, see note 3)
- ½ cup Margarita salt or kosher salt (see note 4)
- 4 Lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
- In a small pitcher, add tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, lime juice, water, and simple syrup. Stir to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- In a shallow dish as wide as your serving glass, add Margarita salt (or kosher salt) to 1/4-inch deep. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass, then dip the top of the glass upside-down into the salt and turn to coat.
- Fill each rimmed glass about half full with ice. Add margarita mixture, garnish with a lime wedge, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Tequila: Tequila blanco is lighter in body and perfect for making cocktails like this one. Tequila reposado (which means “rested” and is aged in oak for at least 2 months) is ideal for sipping.
- Triple sec: Or any orange-flavored liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
- Margarita salt: Homemade margarita salt is fun to make when you’re feeling extra. Or, use kosher salt or even sugar.
- Yield: This recipe makes a batch of 4 cocktails, 8 ounces each.
- Glassware: A Margarita glass is the classic choice, but I love how approachable a lowball glass is for happy hour.
- Bigger batch: To make a larger batch of 8 cocktails, combine 16 ounces (2 cups) tequila, 16 ounces (2 cups) triple sec, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) lemon juice, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) lime juice, 8 ounces (1 cup) water, and 4 ounces (½ cup) simple syrup in a pitcher. Have ice, glassware, a salt-rimming station, and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Frozen margarita: Add ice to your blender to taste and blend until slushy (I like about 5 cups of ice).
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.