Margarita (straight-up)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (220 ratings)

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Patrón Silver blanco tequila
34 oz Cointreau triple sec liqueur
34 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
16 oz Agave syrup
4 drop Difford's Margarita Bitters optional
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Optionally, RIM glass with salt (moisten outside edge with lime juice and dip into salt).
  3. Prepare garnish of lime wedge.
  4. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  5. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  6. Garnish with lime wedge on rim.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10
Cocktail of the day:

22nd February 2025 is Margarita Day

Review:

If desired, for the perfect salt rim you can liquidise or grind sea salt to make it finer, then run a cut slice of lime (or orange) around the outside edge of the glass rim before dipping the outside of the rim into salt. (Only salt the outside of the glass to avoid contaminating the drink.)

View readers' comments

Variant:

Margaritas made with premium tequilas are sometimes referred to as 'Deluxe' or 'Cadillac' Margaritas.
Margarita on-the-rocks (Difford's recipe)
Improved Trashy Margarita
Margarita (frozen)
50:50 Margarita
Mezcal Margarita

Nutrition:

One serving of Margarita (straight-up) contains 167 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 20.91% alc./vol. (20.91° proof)
  • 19.9 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 10 of 13 comments for Margarita (straight-up).
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Michael Click’s Avatar Michael Click
23rd December 2024 at 06:37
I really back adding the Difford's Margarita Bitters if you can source them. The woody and floral notes really complement agave spirits. I added 8 drops and the subtle orange backdrop from the Cointreau is not lost. Next time, I may try a full dash from the dropper and see what effect that has. I prefer my Margaritas straight up because I drink them too quickly for ice to matter but on-the-rocks makes for a more sessionable drink. I can't wait to try these bitters with a mezcal version!
I D’s Avatar I D
18th September 2024 at 16:27
Instead of just salt, try a rim with tajin (dried chilli peppers, sea salt, citric acid & dehydrated lime juice)
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
19th December 2024 at 13:44
Yes, we have a local small business that makes a chilli and lime salt for cocktails. Perfect for this excellent straight up Margarita.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
18th September 2024 at 18:11
Tajin is delicious.
Ryan Harrold’s Avatar Ryan Harrold
10th September 2024 at 13:08
Just like a Daiquiri, a Margarita is a cocktail that I’ve had multiple times that’s both simple and great, with a Margarita being both sweet and tart, which this time I used 1800 Blanco Tequila and the Margarita was great like always
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
31st August 2024 at 13:10
Having previously been known to say that, “margaritas are for people who don’t know what martinis are”, I must admit that, with quality ingredients and you this kind of spec, this is a proper and special drink. Herbal, savoury, sweet-sour and definitely moreish. I look forward to retrying in warmer weather!
Chris Dimal’s Avatar Chris Dimal
29th January 2024 at 19:06
Alright, this is the winner. I managed to acquire a truly amazing additive free Tequila called the Cascahuin Blanco. Brick oven cooked, roller-milled and confirmed additive free. All of this to say that with it, you get a Margarita which hits the sweet spot, with vegetal minerality, orange fruitiness and lime sourness, rounded out by just enough agave syrup, still maintaining its 'Daisy' nature. My favourite take on a Margarita.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
1st April 2024 at 17:24
Chris, ever since I discovered Cascahuin Blanco, I want no other. I agree, this is the winner. This recipe is similar to my own, which is 50-25-20-5, plus some saline. There's something about that little bit of agave that just seals the deal. Salud!
Mark Lambourne’s Avatar Mark Lambourne
3rd January 2024 at 16:50
Do you really do the lime wedge garnish with this? It’s not shown in the photo and it seems a little weird dropping that into a small shallow coupe glass.
Mark Lambourne’s Avatar Mark Lambourne
12th January 2024 at 18:02
Yeah thanks I realised afterwards that it belongs on the rim. :-) And that’s how you have it in the photo in the book.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
7th January 2024 at 09:11
A lime wedge is not essential but adds to appearance and allows the drinker to squeeze into the cocktail if they want to make it a tad sourer. It is usually placed on the time with a slot cut into the wedge.
Giulio Motta’s Avatar Giulio Motta
24th October 2023 at 08:17
Tried this with Difford's bitters and I was surprised how well the other flavors blend with the lavender of the bitters. Great job!
Olga María Gómez Henderson’s Avatar Olga María Gómez Henderson
21st April 2023 at 10:10
I see. Thank you!
Olga María Gómez Henderson’s Avatar Olga María Gómez Henderson
20th April 2023 at 11:43
Out of curiousity, How is Margarita usually prepared, with Tequila blanco or reposado? Does it matters or is just a preference?
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
20th April 2023 at 13:32
It's down to your own preference. I lean towards reposado when served on-the-rocks and blanco when straight-up.
David Stanford’s Avatar David Stanford
29th December 2022 at 19:15
There is only one way of improving this.
Exactly the same but switch out the syrup for “jalapeño agave” syrup.
Made by bringing a chopped jalapeno in 90ml of water to the boil, remove from the heat, leave for 5 mins then stir in 45ml of agave nectar, fine strain and refrigerate.
The perfect “Jalapeño Margarita”.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
30th December 2022 at 09:11
Thanks, David. I've added "Jalapeño agave syrup" (along with your instructions) as an ingredient in our Cocktail Builder in case you or others want to use Cocktail Builder to add your version to Difford's Guide.