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.

A margarita in a clear glass with a salted rim.

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.

Ingredients for a homemade margarita displayed on a white wood board.

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.

Ingredients for a margarita displayed, with an empty margarita glass with a salt rim in the front.

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!

A close up picture of a margarita with a blue, salted rim, a lime wedge floating in it with a black straw.

If you need some great food to go with those margaritas?

Rather have appetizer?

📖 Recipe