The Margarita is the top cocktail for most bars and restaurants, and it’s easy to see why. The sweet/sour combination of lime and agave with the kick of tequila makes for a delicious, refreshing and fun drink anytime.
It’s hard to go wrong with the classic formula, but there are plenty of ways to elevate your Margarita beyond the basic. Meg Walker, a Michelin-trained chef and the owner of Made by Meg Catering in Los Angeles, has several tips for crafting at-home Margaritas with fun, unexpected twists.
Upgrade your rim
“Plain salt is not the end-all, be-all,” says Walker. Mix it up with creative, unexpected elements such as Tajin spice/chili lime seasoning, dill pickle salt, smoked salt with agave, hibiscus sugar, fruit sugars (i.e. coconut sugar), spiced sugars with tamarind nectar, and dehydrated fruit crumbles with chamoy sauce.
Create homemade infusions
Infuse your tequila or mezcal for that wow-factor! Whether it’s for a few weeks or a few hours (hello, last-minute party hosting), Walker says, “the infusion process will allow your spirit to reach that desired deep, bold flavor. The possibilities of fruits and herbs to infuse are endless, including citrus peels, fresh herbs, dried florals and smoked spices.”
Go for large, rimmed glassware. Use the traditional Margarita glass because it has a wider lip with more surface area for your specialized coating and garnish, Walker advises. “From a glassware perspective, you can see why the classic is still popular. I prefer a thicker glass for Margaritas, so the heat from your fingers doesn’t melt the ice too quickly — no one wants a watered-down Margarita.”
Use quality mixers and tequilas
“I’m also a fan of fresh fruit juices to get the most delicious cocktails, rather than syrupy or sugary Margaritas — a thing of the past,” she says. Whether it’s fresh-squeezed lime juice, fresh watermelon or fresh pineapple juice, quality mixers make all the difference in creating a bright, balanced Margarita.
Good quality tequila also makes a huge difference — it’s not a flavor that you can hide, Walker adds. Some of Made by Meg Catering’s favorite tequilas for Margaritas include Cazadores silver tequila, Casamigos, Casa Dragones and Hornitos plata tequila.
Balance beats booze
Most at-home Margaritas are either too sweet or too strong — the secret is controlling the acid, Walker says. “Always taste your citrus before mixing, since limes can vary wildly in tartness and acidity.”
Adjust the sweetness you add to your recipe after shaking the other ingredients, not before, so you can better determine the balance of the cocktail, she notes. Add sweetener in quarter-ounce increments until you reach your desired level for your ideal Margarita profile.
Shake like a pro, not a Polaroid
The way you shake your Margarita makes a big difference in texture and balance. “Use larger, hard ice cubes and shake aggressively for 10 to 15 seconds, as this properly chills and aerates the Margarita for a brighter, smoother finish,” says Walker.
If you’re incorporating pulpier, textured or solid ingredients, such as fresh fruit purées or florals, use a fine mesh strainer to keep the drink clean and refined — no stray raspberry seeds. And serve the Margarita in a glass over fresh ice, ideally using large-format cubes for slower dilution while keeping the cocktail chilled.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Mezcal
- ½ oz. Tequila
- 1 oz. Triple sec
- 1 oz. Fresh watermelon juice no added sugar
- ¾ oz. Fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1 ½ oz. Simple syrup
- 2 seedless Jalapeno slices
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Add larger, hard ice and shake well until chilled.
- Strain into glass filled with large ice cubes.
- Garnish with lime wheel, jalapeño slice and watermelon.
