I tasted 66 different Margarita recipes (not all at once) and most of them were not good. The slight harshness of lime juice combines with the bite of tequila in most of them, while others have too much triple sec, which makes the drink unpleasantly sweet.
The secret of the Best Shaken Margarita Recipe comes from a Houston, Texas restaurant famous for Margaritas. A mere teaspoon of lemon juice brightens up the tequila and lime, and balances the sweetness of the agave nectar. Cointreau or other triple sec is no longer necessary.
- 1½ ounces of 100% blue agave silver or blanco tequila
- 2/3 ounce (2 measuring teaspoons) fresh lime juice
- ½ measuring teaspoon or ½ barspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce agave nectar (undiluted)
— Hold a tumbler glass upside down, and rub a cut lime on one half of the rim. Dip, but don’t twist, the outside of the wet rim into a shallow dish with a small pile of Morton Sea Salt (the kind without iodine) or other sea salt. To give you guests a choice of salt or no salt, merely dip half of the rim of the glass into the salt.
Add the tequila, lime juice, lemon juice, and agave nectar into a mixing glass with enough ice to fill the serving glass. Shake 36 times and dirty-pour the entire contents of the shaker into the salt-rimmed serving glass. Garnish with a lime wheel, half of a lime wheel, or a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.
Lunazul Blanco Tequila is an inexpensive tequila that is ideal for Margaritas.
Recommended tequilas are Milagro, Herradura, Avion, Siembra Azul, Dos Lunas, Tapatio, Patron, and Corazon. Your favorite silver tequila is recommended.
A few reposado (gold) tequilas mix well in margaritas, such as Dos Lunas and Izkali. Expensive tequilas like El Tesoro or Pura Vida are better left for sipping.
Pitchers of House Margaritas (makes 6)
9 ounces 100% blue agave silver or blanco tequila (Lunazul is recommended)
4 ounces freshly-squeeze lime juice
½ ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
2 ounces agave nectar (undiluted)
— Fill a pitcher with the tequila, lime juice, lemon juice, and agave nectar. Add ice, thin lime or lemon wheels, and thin orange wheels if you wish.
Frozen Margaritas
Premium shaken margaritas are great for small gatherings, but if you have lots of guests, the drinks take too much time to prepare. With different proportions, and a little triple sec or orange liqueur, you can make these terrific Cheap Margaritas. If you want Strawberry Frozen Margaritas, just add two fresh or frozen strawberries per drink before blending it.
