Name: Tommy's Margarita
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 60 ml Reposado tequila; 30 ml Lime juice; 15 ml Agave syrup; 4 drop Margarita Bitters

Tommy's Margarita
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Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
2 oz	Patrón Reposado tequila
1 oz	Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
¹⁄₂ oz	Agave syrup
4 drop	Difford's Margarita Bitters optional

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
Prepare garnish of lime wedge.
SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
Garnish with lime wedge.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

The flavour of agave is king in this simple Margarita, made without the traditional orange liqueur.

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Variant:

Tommy's Mezcal Margarita; Matador Margarita (Tommy's Style; Smoky Tommy's Margarita; Hot Tommy

History:

Created in circa 1987/88 by Julio Bermejo and named after his family's Mexican restaurant and bar in San Francisco, the self-proclaimed "premier tequila bar on earth".

Tomas and Elmy Bermejo set up Tommy's in 1965 and Julio is one of their five children, all of which are involved in what is truly a family business. Julio has become a legend in the drinks industry for the Tommy's Margarita, his knowledge of tequila and his evangelistic quest to promote good tequila.

Tommy's Margarita now appears on the menus of bars all around the world, and in turn, the small family restaurant where the drink was created has become something of a mecca for bartenders and barflies wanting to experience the now famous cocktail in the bar where it was invented. Their journey is well-rewarded. At Tommy's, the classic Margarita trio of tequila, triple sec and lime is enhanced by using agave syrup in place of the triple sec and hand-squeezed Persian limes. The drink is served accompanied by plentiful tortillas and salsa. The bar's shelves groan with one of the largest selections of 100% agave spirit in the USA, and drinkers are encouraged to sample how different tequilas taste in the bar's signature cocktail.

Margarita cocktail history and variations

Nutrition:

One serving of Tommy's Margarita contains 180 calories

Alcohol content:

1.3 standard drinks
16.81% alc./vol. (16.81° proof)
17.7 grams of pure alcohol

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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 Tommy's Margarita.
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Sterling Diesel

6th June at 17:03

Simon when you make agave syrup, is it 2:1, 1:1, or what?

Simon Difford

6th June at 20:22

I don't make agave syrup, I use it undiluted straight from the bottle.

Florian Ruf

31st March at 14:50

This cocktail is simply perfect. I made it in the original version on the rocks with Corralejo Reposado and added 4 drops of saline solution. IMHO if you like the salty effect this is much preferable to adding the salt rim. Next time I will try Simons advice and serve it straight up.

Hunter Newsome

22nd November 2023 at 05:27

Pretty lime-forward and a little overly-tart. Can’t taste much tequila under that whole shot of lime juice. I tried with 1/4oz less lime and liked it more, though I suggest increasing the tequila to compensate for the added sweetness.

Asher Günther

10th October 2023 at 06:36

Small typo - should be „At Tommy's, the classic Margarita trio of tequila, LIME*, and triple sec...“

Simon Difford

10th October 2023 at 07:44

Many thanks, Asher. I've fixed that and a couple of other howlers.

Chris Dimal

24th July 2023 at 08:35

And I thought Margaritas cannot be any better! I agree with Miguel, I slightly (just) prefer this over the standard Margarita. A lot more of the Tequila and Agave, balanced by lime tartness. Truly delectable!

Miguel Perales

11th April 2023 at 22:41

I tried Tommy's and The Original Margarita back to back and I would have to say that I like this one slightly more. This one has a more balanced feel and is quite nice to drink.

John Hinojos

15th March 2023 at 01:43

Perfect. I have had margaritas all over the US southwest and in Mexico. This is perfect. It has the sweetness, but not overly. There is the sour from the lime and the hit from the tequila.

Ron C

12th January 2023 at 06:03

I like mine with no salt rim and one dash of orange bitters.....perfect.

Chris Corboy

27th November 2022 at 11:03

Used Vivir Reposado with a chef's pinch of sea salt in the shake, no change to any of the other ingredients. Definitely not a purists Tommy however I think it's a worthy variation. Interested in your feedback.

Antti Ylänen

22nd October 2022 at 21:37

a bit confused with the instructions as it says to strain into chilled glass, but the picture - and every recipe i've seen before - is served on the rocks. anyway, my absolute favourite riff on margarita, works with both blanco and reposado. little on the sweet side with this much agave, so half a salt rim works wonders.

Simon Difford

23rd October 2022 at 09:20

Can be served straight-up but better and (as per at Tommy's restaurant) served-on-the-rocks. I've corrected accordingly. Thanks for bringing to my attention.