This homemade margarita is our absolute favorite. With just a handful of ingredients you’ll be on your way to Happy Hour! In this margarita recipe we make our own delicious mix using lemon and lime juice and a simple syrup.
What’s in a Margarita?
A margarita is a combination of tequila, orange-flavored liquor and lime juice served in a glass with a salted rim over ice.
Now, those are the basic ingredients, for a sweeter take (which I prefer) use simple syrup combined with the lemon/lime juice to make a margarita mix.
This margarita recipe is simple to make. Tequila, orange liquor and a simple syrup lemon-lime mix is all it takes. A salt rimmed glass and lots of ice finish off this classic cocktail!
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How to make homemade margarita mix
Let’s start with the mix. Forget the store-bought stuff. Making a margarita mix is really easy and doesn’t take very long at all. A margarita mix is essentially a sweet and sour mix.
Simple syrup combined with lime juice, lemon juice, or both. Here we go for both. I like the sweetness that lemons bring to the party!
Ingredients
- 3 cups Water
- 1 cup Sugar
- ½ cup Fresh Lemon Juice, about 3-5 lemons, depending on how large and juicy they are
- ½ cup Fresh Lime Juice, about 4-6 limes, depending on how large and juicy they are
Make a simple syrup.
- Heat the water and the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Keep warming the water until the sugar dissolves and the water looks clear.
- Use a whisk and stir the mixture occasionally. This will take just a few minutes.
- Take the saucepan off the heat and let the simple syrup cool a bit. While it cools, juice the lemons and limes
- Use a strainer to catch any seeds. Combine the lemon and lime juice with the simple syrup and stir well.
- Place the margarita mix in a sealable container and refrigerate until cold. I like to use a couple of canning jars to store the mix. They don’t take up a lot of room in the refrigerator and you can shake them without worrying about spills.
- The margarita mix will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days. This recipe will yield about 4 cups of margarita mix.
What glass to use for Margaritas?
Margarita glasses are lovely. I think the glass is part of the appeal of this classic drink. If you don’t have margarita glasses, don’t let that stop you! Just use a tall (roughly 12 ounce) glass instead.
How to Make a Margarita
Alright, now that we have our mix ready, time to make a margarita! In this recipe we go with Cuervo Gold for the tequila. It’s what we drink, so it’s what we have in stock. Oh, but I know tequila is a very personal choice, so use your favorite brand.
For the orange-flavored liqueur we go with Grand Marnier, which is a cognac and orange liqueur. Cointreau and Triple Sec are also two popular orange-flavored liqueurs commonly used in margaritas.
Margarita ingredients
- Ice
- 1½ ounces Tequila
- 1 ounce Grand Marnier (or other orange-flavored liqueur)
- 4 ounces Margarita Mix
- 1 Lime Wedge, plus more for garnish, if desired
- Coarse Salt for the Glass Rim
You will also need
A cocktail shaker with a strainer
Make the homemade margarita
- Add the coarse salt to a small plate. A salad plate works well.
- Run the lime wedge around the rim of the glass to moisten.
- Place the glass in the salt and press it gently. The salt will adhere to the rim.
- Fill the margarita glass with ice. Then, half fill the cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the tequila, orange liqueur and the margarita mix to the cocktail shaker. Cover the shaker tightly and shake, shake, shake.
- Strain the margarita into your prepared glass, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy! Or, make one for your partner then enjoy!
If you need some great food to go with those margaritas?
Rather have appetizer?
Homemade Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 Lime Wedge plus more for garnish if desired
- Coarse Salt for the Glass Rim
- Ice
- 1½ ounces Tequila
- 1 ounce Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur
- 4 ounces Margarita Mix
Instructions
- Add the coarse salt to a small plate.
- Run the lime wedge around the rim of the glass to moisten.
- Place the glass in the salt and press it gently. The salt will adhere to the rim.
- Fill the glass with ice
- Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add the tequila, orange liqueur and the margarita mix to the cocktail shaker. Cover the shaker tightly and shake well.
- Strain the margarita into your prepared glass, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!
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