5 Classic Margarita Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a few days away, so to help you celebrate, we compiled 5 classic margarita recipes––there’s something for everyone! Cheers!

The Classic Margarita

Ingredients
2 oz Blanco tequila
1 oz Fresh lime juice
1⁄2 oz Orange liqueur
1⁄2 oz Agave syrup

Instructions
Add all the ingredients into a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled.

Strain into the prepared rocks glass over fresh ice.

Garnish with a lime wheel and kosher salt (optional).

 

 

The Smoky Margarita

Ingredients
Ice
Juice of 2 limes
2 1/2 oz Jalapeño Simple Syrup*
1/3 cup gold tequila
1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/2 oz orange liqueur (triple sec or Grand Marnier)
Garnish: slices of jalapeño, lime wedges
Smoked Chile Salt Rim
1 lime, quartered
1 Tbsp smoked sea salt
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

*Jalapeño Simple Syrup
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 jalapeño, halved

Instructions
To make the simple syrup, combine water, sugar and jalapeño in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat once sugar has dissolved. Let steep covered for 30 minutes. Discard jalapeño. To make the smoked chili salt rim, whisk together salt and chili powder. Add to a shallow bowl. Prepare two cocktail glasses by rubbing the rim with a wedge of lime. Rim the glasses with the smoked chili salt rim. Set aside. In a shaker filled with ice, combine lime juice, Jalapeño Simple Syrup, gold tequila, chili powder, and orange liqueur for the margaritas. Fill the two rimmed glasses with ice. Strain cocktail evenly between the two glasses. Garnish with lime wedges and serve immediately.

The Spicy Margarita

Ingredients
Kosher salt and a lime wedge to rim the glass
Ice
2 ounces silver tequila
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons light agave nectar
1/4 to 1/2 jalapeno pepper, cut into thin, round slices
Lime wedges
Additional jalapeno slices for serving

Instructions
Rim the glass: Pour a thin layer of salt onto a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the top edge of your glass to moisten it, then dip the glass into the salt so that it sticks, tapping all the way around. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.

Fill a small cocktail shaker with additional ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, agave, and jalapeno slices. Tightly close and shake vigorously for 30 seconds (it’s longer than you think). Strain into the rimmed glass. Enjoy immediately, garnished with lime wedges and additional jalapeno slices.

The Fruity Margarita

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar or salt (for glass rims)
2 cups ice (you can eyeball this)
1/2 cup triple berry simple syrup*
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup tequila
Optional Garnishes: Lime slices, fresh berries

*Triple Berry Simple Syrup
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup blackberries
1/3 cup sliced strawberries
1/3 cup blueberries

 

Instructions
To make the triple berry simple syrup, combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook 4-5 minutes until berries have softened and sugar has dissolved. Remove syrup from heat and let it cool completely. Strain the simple syrup to remove the berry pieces and set strained simple syrup aside for the margaritas.

Next, lay two plates down on the counter. Add just enough water to the first plate to cover its surface.

Add your sugar or salt to the second plate and spread it out evenly. Grab four cocktail glasses and dip the rim of each glass lightly into the shallow water on the first plate, and then into the sugar or salt on the second plate. Shake off the excess, fill each glass with 1/4 cup or so of ice, and set aside.

Combine triple berry simple syrup, lime juice, and tequila in a cocktail shaker. (Depending on the size of your shaker, you may need to do this in two batches). Add a handful of ice and shake well until margaritas are chilled.

Divide margaritas evenly between your four cocktail glasses. Garnish margaritas with extra lime slices and fresh berries (optional) and serve immediately.

The Frozen Margarita

Ingredients
Coarse kosher salt, for rimming glass
lime wedges, for rimming glass and garnishing
1 cup tequila
1 cup lime juice
1/2 cup triple sec (or other orange liqueur)
2 tablespoons agave syrup (or other sweetener, to taste)
6 cups ice

Instructions
Run a lime wedge around the rim of 4 glasses. Dip the edges of the glasses in coarse kosher salt. Add tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup and ice to a large blender. Blend until slushy. Taste and add more sweetener if desired. Pour into prepared glasses and serve immediately.

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