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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Tequila

    Classic Margarita on the Rocks

    Published: May 28, 2021 by Susie Weinrich · This post may contain affiliate links. 7 Comments

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    a classic margarita in a rocks glass with a salt rim and a lime wheel

    A Classic Margarita has a few crucial ingredients that make it oh so good! Fresh lime, good tequila, Cointreau, agave and kosher salt. Get the proportions right and you have a killer Margarita on the Rocks! Perfect for pairing with chips/salsa and good conversation.

    a classic margarita in a rocks glass with a salt rim and a lime wheel

    If you love all things Tequila Cocktails… then you are in the right spot. Tequila is our favorite spirits here at Mom’s Dinner. Some of our faves are the Pineapple Margarita, Tequila Soda, Orange Jalapeno Tequila Cooler, and Anejo on the Rocks.

    If you are looking for a non-alcoholic version this Margarita Mocktail is amazing!!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 Listen To The Recipe
    2 Why This is The BEST Margarita Recipe
    3 Ingredients
    4 Variations on the Classic
    5 Related Recipes
    6 Did you make this recipe?!
    7 Classic Margarita on the Rocks

    Listen To The Recipe

    You can also LISTEN to this Margarita recipe. I go over exactly how to make this yummy cocktail on my podcast, Let’s Make Dinner. I share all the tips and tricks to make it perfect! There is an audio player available in the recipe card below.

    Why This is The BEST Margarita Recipe

    • It is perfectly balanced in flavor, not too sweet, not too tangy, not too salty.
    • Adding a little agave to the mix actually enhances the tequila and lime flavor and takes some of the bite out of a strong cocktail.
    • Using quality ingredients like fresh lime juice, Cointreau and good Tequila makes it the BEST Margarita on the Rocks!

    Ingredients

    Just a handful of simple ingredients for this Classic Margarita Recipe.

    ingredients for margarita on the rocks

    Tequila – To keep it totally classic I recommend using a quality silver tequila. We love Casamigos ($$$) or Jose Cuervo Tradicional ($) , both are good at varying price points.

    Cointreau – Although Cointreau is a type of triple sec, it is not the same as “Triple Sec” that you buy in the store. I recommend using Cointreau specifically for this Margarita Recipe because it is not nearly as sugary as triple sec.

    Lime Juice – Make sure to use fresh squeezed lime juice here. It is not quite the same as the store bought bottled stuff. Depending on the size of your limes you will need 1-2 per cocktail.

    Agave – Just a little agave goes a long way. By only using ¼ ounce it sweetens your Margarita just enough to enhance and balance the tequila and lime flavor without making it overly sweet.

    Kosher Salt – It is key to use kosher salt here and not table or iodized salt. You want the rockier texture and smoother saltiness that you get with kosher salt!

    dipping a glass rim in kosher salt

    Variations on the Classic

    The basics of a Classic Margarita are 1 part citrus (lime), 1 part sweetener (Cointreau), and 1.5-2 parts tequila. With that combo you can create just about any Margarita combo you would like!

    Pineapple Margarita: Pop over to this recipe for Pineapple Margarita for a truly yummy drink!

    Grapefruit Margarita: 1 part lime juice, 1 part grapefruit juice, .25 part agave, 2 parts silver tequila.

    Spicy Margarita: Sub in a little jalapeno infused tequila for the silver tequila.

    Jalapeno, but not super spicy – Drop a jalapeno slice in your margarita. Just stir it in, don’t muddle it. It will give you nice kiss of heat and verdant flavor.

    Reposado: Use a Reposado tequila in place of the silver. It is mix of aged and silver tequila and will have a slightly stronger vanilla/caramel flavor.

    margarita on the rocks with a lime garnish

    Related Recipes

    • Watermelon Margarita
    • Best Ever Grapefruit Margarita Pitcher
    • Spiced Apple Cider Margarita
    • Pomegranate Margarita

    Susie Weinrich washing produce

    Did you make this recipe?!

    If you make this recipe I would love to hear your review. Pop down to the comment section and connect with me.

    Then sign up for our Weekly Newsletter so you never miss a new recipe!

    Rate This Recipe
    a salt rimmed glass with a classic margarita garnished with a lime

    Classic Margarita on the Rocks

    A perfectly balanced and delicious recipe for Margarita on the Rocks. Silver tequila is mixed with lime juice, Cointreau, and a little agave.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Servings: 1 margarita
    Calories: 215kcal
    Author: Susie Weinrich

    Equipment

    • Cocktail Shaker

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 ounces Silver Tequila
    • 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice one or two limes
    • 1 ounce Cointreau
    • .25 ounce agave
    • ***Optional – soda water to top off

    Serving

    • kosher salt place on a flat plate
    • ice
    • lime wedge or wheel
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you are cooking!

    Instructions

    • Rim The Glass – Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a 8-10 ounce glass. Dip the rim in the kosher salt on a flat plate. Fill the glass with ice. Set aside.
      Pro Tip: If you are having more than one margarita (duh!), instead of rimming the glass on the second or third drink simply sprinkle a pinch or two of salt straight into the drink!
    • Make the Margarita – Place a few cubes of ice in a cocktail shaker. Add the fresh squeezed lime juice, Cointreau, agave, and tequila. Shake for about 20-30 seconds.
    • Serve – Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.
    • Optional, but recommended- if you like a few bubbles in your Margarita you can top it off with 1-2 ounces of soda water.

    Notes:

    Margarita Tips:
    • Use a good silver tequila. I find that Casamigos ($$$) or Jose Cuervo Tradicional ($) are both great at varying price points.
    • Don’t skip the agave, it adds just the right amount of sweet to balance the tart lime and salty tequila.
    • If you have a second or third margarita skip rimming the glass with salt to keep things simple. Just sprinkle a little pinch or two of kosher salt right into your Marg. So GOOD!!!
    Virgin Margarita: If you want a non-alcoholic version this Margarita Mocktail is absolutely delicious!
    Did you try this recipe? Connect with me & let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
    Jump to Comments
    Serving: 1margarita | Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

    If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.

    More Mom's Dinner Recipes to Love

    • El Diablo Cocktail
    • 12 Tequila Cocktails Perfect for Fall
    • Fresh Ginger Margarita
    • The Best Cantarito Cocktail
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    About Susie Weinrich

    Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jen

      June 02, 2022 at 10:42 am

      5 stars
      I used your Reposado tequila recommendation and I’ll never go back now! Thank you for sharing, Susie. Can’t wait to make your Pineapple Margarita next.

      Reply
    2. Jessica R.

      April 29, 2022 at 6:56 pm

      This recipe with the spicy infused tequilla is amazing!!

      Reply
    3. Debbie

      March 27, 2022 at 10:08 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe made a da** good margarita! I didn’t have any of the soda but it tasted as good as what we get at the local cantina. Also, I used Teremana tequila which is quite an excellent tequila. Thank you for posting your recipe.

      Reply
      • Susie Weinrich

        March 28, 2022 at 8:56 am

        Love this!!! Thank you for rating the recipe. Tequila is my fave : )

        Reply
      • Ashley

        May 05, 2022 at 10:18 am

        Are you using agave nectar? I’m trying to get the ingredients to make them 🙂

        Reply
        • Susie Weinrich

          May 05, 2022 at 5:05 pm

          Yes, I like the light agave nectar (or syrup) the best.

    4. Lauren

      September 21, 2021 at 7:39 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect margarita, keeping this recipe in my regular rotation. Loved it!

      Reply

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