Top 5 Margarita Recipes {it's 5 o'clock somewhere}

Our top-5 favorite margarita recipes.
Fresh & tasty. Just add salt and a chilled glass and it's 5 o'clock somewhere...or at least we're pretty sure it is!

And just for kicks, we've added several versions of each recipe.
Version 1: You've got a little extra time. Go all out.
Version 2: Keep it Simple. bada-boom, bada-bing. You've got a margarita.


The Classic Margarita

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(photo source here)

Version 1: Go all out

• 1-1/2 oz.silver tequila 
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• splash simple syrul
• salt rim

Directions: Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled coctail shaker. Shake until cold and strain into a chilled salt-rimmed glass. Makes 1 serving.

Version 2: Keep it Simple

• 1 oz. Jose Cuervo Especial® Gold Tequila
• 3 oz. Jose Cuervo® Margarita Mix
• 1 lime wedge
• salt

Directions: Pour Jose Cuervo Especial Gold and Jose Cuervo Lime Margarita Mix into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into salt rimmed margarita glass. Garnish with lime wedge. Makes 1 serving.
 

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Version 3: Keep it Simpler

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

• 1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
• 6 oz tequila
• 2 oz striple sec

Directions: Fill blender with crushed ice. Pour in limeade concentrate, tequila and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve. Makes 4 servings.
 

The Mango Margarita 

 

 

 

 

(photo source here)

Version 1: Go all out

• 1 (10-ounce) bag frozen diced mango
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2/3 cup tequila (preferably silver, 80 proof)
• 2 tablespoons Cointreau or other orange liqueur
• 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 2 cups ice water

Directions: Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into chilled glass and enjoy. Makes 4 servings.

Version 2: Keep it simple

• 1 can of Dole’s Orange Peach Mango frozen juice
• your favorite tequila
• your choice of Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec.

Directions: put can of Dole frozen juice into blender. Fill can 3/4 full with tequila and remaining 1/4 with your choice of cointreau, grand marnier or triple sec. Add a few handfuls of ice and blend. Sugar the rim of the glass and garnish with an orange slice. Makes 4 servings.
Options: Add either lime juice or margarita mix to taste. Add about half a cup of diced (fresh or frozen) mangoes, if you want an even richer mango flavor!



Skinny Margarita (130 calories or LESS)

(photo credit here)

 

Version 1: Go all Out (115 calories)

• 1 (2-serving) packet sugar-free lemonade powdered drink mix (about 1 teaspoon)
• 6 ounces diet lemon-lime soda
• 1 1/2 ounces tequila 
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Crushed ice, as needed
• Lime slice, for serving, optional

Directions: Combine powdered drink mix, soda, tequila, and lime juice in a glass or shaker. Stir to dissolve the drink mix. Pour into a margarita glass with lots of crushed ice. Finish it off with a slice of lime on the rim of the glass, if using. 115 Calories per serving.

Version 2: On The Rocks (130 calories)

• 1 ounce premium or silver tequila
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur
• 1.5 ounces fresh-squeezed lime juice.

Directions: Shake with 3/4 cup ice; garnish with lime. 130 calories per serving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(photo credit here)

 Version 3: Keep it simple

• buy Skinny Girl Margarita mix

Directions: see bottle :) Only 25 calories per serving!!

 

The Grand-Ultimate Margaritas

Version 1: The Grand

• 1 lime, halved
• Coarse salt
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, from about 4 limes
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
• 1/4 cup Triple Sec
• 1 cup gold tequila
• Ice
• 1/2 can good quality lager-style beer
• Lime wheels, for garnish

Directions. Combine the lime juice, sugar, orange liqueur, Triple Sec, tequila, and a big handful of ice in a cocktail shaker (or blender). Shake the margarita really well (at least 20 seconds), add a splash of beer and strain into the salt rimmed glasses filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel. Makes 4 servings.

Version 2: The Ultimate

• Kosher salt or ground sea salt (for rim)
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) white, silver or blanco tequila
• 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh orange juice
• 1 teaspoon light agave nectar
• 1 lime wedge or round, for garnish

Directions: Fill a small cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the tequila, freshly squeezed lime and orange juice and agave nectar. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain the liquid into a salt rimmed glass filled with ice and garnish with a slice of lime. Makes 1 serving.

 

Variations:

- Smash a few of fruit like strawberries, peaches, watermelon or mango at the bottom of your shaker before adding ice and the other ingredients.

- Smash a few fresh herbs, like basil or cilantro leaves, for garden-fresh flavor

- add a skinny slice of serrano or jalapeño pepper for heat.

- Strawberry basil and grapefruit serrano are both great combinations.

- Add a splash of fruit juice to your shaker. Fresh squeezed grapefruit, pomegranate or cranberry juice are great ideas.

- For a frozen margarita, blend the basic margarita ingredients in a blender along with 1/2 cup frozen fruit (blueberries or mango) and a few ice cubes. Serve over ice cubes to slow melting.

- Expiriement with rim salt. Mix in raw sugar or spices, like ground cinnamon or chili powder



The Champagne Margarita

 

 

 

 

 

(photo source here)

• finely grated zest from 1 lime
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup Cointreau
• 1 cup silver tequila (I like El Tesoro and Partida)
• superfine sugar, if needed for added sweetness
• 1 lime, cut in half, for serving
• Coarse (Kosher) salt, for serving
• 1 bottle Champagne or other sparkling wine

Directions: In a pitcher, combine the lime zest, lime juice, Cointreau, tequila and sugar if you are using it. Cover and refrigerate until cold (at least 1 hour). Pour about 3 oz into each salt rimmed glass and fill the rest of the way with Champagne or sparkling wine. Makes 8 servings.