This classic margarita is crisp, tart, and spirit-forward, with blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and orange liqueur shaken until icy cold. The simple 2:1:1 ratio gives the tequila plenty of presence while the lime adds brightness and the orange liqueur balances the drink without added sugar.
It takes about five minutes to make and can be served over fresh ice with an optional salt rim. Accurate measurements, fresh lime juice, and a short, vigorous shake are what make the biggest difference in a cocktail this simple.
This recipe contains alcohol and is for adults of legal drinking age.
The 2:1:1 Margarita Ratio
Use 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of orange liqueur, and 1 ounce of fresh lime juice. The tequila leads, the lime supplies the acidity, and the liqueur is the only sweetener, so the drink lands tart and spirit-forward rather than sugary.
Margarita ratios do vary. Cointreau’s own original recipe leans sweeter, at 50 ml tequila, 30 ml Cointreau, and 20 ml lime juice, and many home recipes add a little agave. The 2:1:1 split is easy to remember and tastes crisp without extra sweetener, and it’s simple to adjust once you’ve tasted it (see the fixes below).
Choosing Your Ingredients
Only a few things go into this drink, so each choice shows up in the glass.
| Ingredient | Best choice | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tequila | Blanco, 100% agave | It’s the least aged, so the agave flavor stays bright next to lime. Reposado adds oak and a rounder finish. Mezcal can replace half or all of the tequila for a smoky version. |
| Orange liqueur | Cointreau or a good triple sec | Cointreau tastes clean and dry. Grand Marnier is cognac-based and gives a deeper, heavier flavor. Taste before adding more of any sweeter liqueur. |
| Lime juice | Fresh, squeezed just before mixing | One medium lime usually gives 3/4 to 1 ounce, so keep a second lime handy. Bottled juice tastes flatter in a drink with nothing to hide behind. |
| Salt | Coarse kosher or sea salt | It clings to the rim and adds crunch. Fine table salt dissolves quickly and tastes harsher. |
| Ice | Fresh, solid cubes | You use ice twice: in the shaker, then new ice in the glass. |
You’ll also need a cocktail shaker, a jigger marked in ounces, a rocks glass, and a juicer. A fine-mesh strainer is optional but catches pulp and ice chips. No shaker? A jar with a tight lid works.
Technique Notes Before You Start
Salt only the outside of the rim
Run the lime wedge along the outer edge, then roll the rim in the salt. Salt that lands inside the glass slides into the drink and makes it taste too salty. Rim the glass while it’s empty, and salt only half if you want both salty and plain sips.
Shake until the shaker is frosty
Fifteen to twenty seconds is enough. Shaking chills the drink and adds a little water, which softens the alcohol and the lime. Stop once the outside feels very cold; much longer mostly waters it down.
Strain over fresh ice
The ice in the shaker has already started to break down. New ice keeps the drink cold without adding extra meltwater.
Classic Margarita Recipe
A shaken 2:1:1 margarita with blanco tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice, served on fresh ice
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Ingredient quantities change with servings. Metric amounts appear when an equivalent is available. Cooking times, temperatures and method steps do not scale automatically.
Ingredients
Measurement help for this recipe
Metric equivalents use the values entered for this recipe or GUSTANA conversion data when available. Ingredients without an equivalent remain in their original units.
| 2 fluid ounces blanco tequila (100% agave) | 60 mL |
| 1 fluid ounce orange liqueur | 30 mL |
| 1 fluid ounce freshly squeezed lime juice | 30 mL |
| 1 medium lime | 1 medium |
| 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt | 10 mL |
| 2 cups ice cubes | 475 mL |
Instructions
- Cut a lime wedge and a thin wheel from one medium lime. Juice 1 to 2 limes until you have 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of juice, and strain out any seeds.
- Spread the salt on a small plate. Run the lime wedge along the outside edge of a rocks glass, then roll the outer rim in the salt and wipe off any salt on the inside. Fill the glass with fresh ice. To skip the salt, just fill the glass with ice.
Salt only half the rim if you want both salty and plain sips.
- Pour 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of orange liqueur, and 1 ounce of lime juice into a cocktail shaker, measuring each with a jigger.
- Fill the shaker about halfway with fresh ice, seal it, and shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds, until the outside is frosty.
Shaking much longer mostly adds water.
- Strain the margarita into the prepared glass over the fresh ice, using a fine-mesh strainer if you have one.
- Garnish with the lime wheel and serve right away.
Taste once. If it's too tart for you, stir in 1/4 ounce of agave nectar.
Recipe Notes
- One medium lime usually gives 3/4 to 1 ounce of juice, so keep a second lime ready.
- No cocktail shaker? Use a jar with a tight-fitting lid, or stir the ingredients with ice in a glass.
- Blanco tequila gives a bright agave flavor. Reposado tequila adds a rounder finish with light oak notes.
- For the best flavor and dilution, make one cocktail at a time and serve immediately.
- Made with 40% ABV tequila and orange liqueur, this cocktail contains approximately two U.S. standard drinks.
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
- Serving size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Sugar: 7 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
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How to Fix a Margarita That Tastes Off
| If it tastes… | Try this |
|---|---|
| Too sour | Your limes may be very tart. Stir in 1/4 ounce of agave nectar or simple syrup and taste again. Next time, you can also cut the lime juice to 3/4 ounce. |
| Too sweet | Add a splash more lime juice, about 1/4 ounce, and make sure the liqueur was measured, not free-poured. |
| Harsh or too boozy | Shake a few seconds longer, measure the tequila carefully, or switch to a smoother bottle. |
| Watery | The ice was probably wet or melting. Use fresh, solid cubes and drink it right away. |
| Too salty | Salt got inside the glass. Wipe the inside of the rim next time. |
Serving, Pairing, and Making Ahead
Make this one drink at a time. Temperature and dilution are what make it taste balanced, so it’s best shaken to order. When you’re hosting, squeeze the limes shortly before guests arrive, chill the glasses, and shake each round fresh.
Pitcher versions are usually multiplied and stirred with ice rather than shaken, but they need their own dilution and tasting. The salty, spicy, citrusy side of the table suits this drink: tacos, guacamole, ceviche, grilled shrimp, or chips and salsa.
How Strong Is a Margarita?
With a 40% ABV orange liqueur, one margarita holds about 3 ounces of 40% spirits, or roughly two US standard drinks. A standard drink is 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol, the amount in 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. It also comes to about 230 calories (an estimate). Sip slowly, alternate with water, and never drive after drinking.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
24-Oz Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker with Strainer
Shakes tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice with ice, then strains the chilled Margarita into a glass
View on Amazon
2-Oz Stainless Steel Angled Cocktail Measuring Jigger
Measures tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice accurately to keep the classic Margarita's 2:1:1 ratio balanced
View on Amazon
Stainless Steel Handheld Lemon and Lime Squeezer
Presses fresh lime juice for the Margarita while helping catch seeds and keeping citrus prep quick and simple
View on Amazon
Set of Two 11-Oz Textured Rocks Cocktail Glasses
Holds a Margarita over fresh ice, with a weighted base and textured sides for comfortable everyday serving
View on AmazonSome links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, GUSTANA may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good ratio for a classic margarita?
This recipe uses a simple 2:1:1 ratio: 2 ounces tequila, 1 ounce orange liqueur, and 1 ounce fresh lime juice. Margarita formulas vary, so there is no single universal ratio, but 2:1:1 makes a tart, spirit-forward drink that is easy to remember and adjust to taste.
Can I use triple sec instead of Cointreau in a margarita?
Yes. Cointreau is a type of triple sec, so you can use another good-quality triple sec in the same 1-ounce amount. Different brands vary in sweetness and orange intensity, so taste the finished drink before adjusting the lime or adding any sweetener.
Is blanco or reposado tequila better for margaritas?
Blanco tequila is the best fit for this recipe because its bright agave flavor works cleanly with fresh lime and orange liqueur. Reposado also works and gives the margarita a rounder flavor with subtle oak notes. Whichever you choose, look for tequila labeled 100% agave.
Can I use bottled lime juice for a margarita?
You can, but freshly squeezed lime juice gives a noticeably brighter, fresher flavor. Because a classic margarita contains so few ingredients, differences in the lime juice are easy to taste. For the flavor intended in this recipe, fresh lime juice is the better choice.
Do I need a cocktail shaker to make a margarita?
No. A cocktail shaker chills and dilutes the drink quickly, but a tightly sealed jar works well as a substitute. You can also stir the ingredients with ice, although the finished margarita will have a slightly different texture and dilution than one that has been shaken.
Does a margarita need a salt rim?
No. A salt rim is traditional but completely optional. If you use one, coat only the outside edge of the glass so excess salt does not fall into the drink. A half-salted rim is another good option because you can choose between salted and unsalted sips.
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