What does a margarita taste like?
A margarita tastes bright, tangy and refreshing: tart fresh lime, a little orange sweetness and the peppery, green agave flavor of tequila, often with a salty rim.
Margarita
lime, tequila, salty rim
A margarita is tequila, fresh lime juice and orange liqueur, shaken and served on the rocks or up, usually with salt on the rim. The lime hits first, sharp and juicy, then the orange liqueur rounds it out with a little sweetness. Underneath is tequila's peppery, slightly vegetal agave flavor (agave is the plant tequila is made from). The salt makes the lime taste brighter and the whole thing more refreshing. Made with fresh lime, it's balanced. Made with a sweet bottled mix, it tastes like candy.
Where you’ll see it
On every Mexican restaurant and bar menu, on the rocks, straight up or frozen, with salt or without. You'll see flavored versions (mango, strawberry, watermelon), spicy ones with jalapeño and smoky ones with mezcal.
Order it if you want something tangy, refreshing and a little boozy with tacos.
Quick questions
- Is a margarita sweet or sour?
- A well-made one is balanced, more tangy than sweet. Bars that use bottled sour mix tend to make them much sweeter.
- What liqueur is in a margarita?
- An orange liqueur, usually triple sec or Cointreau. Some bars use Grand Marnier for a richer, more cognac-like version.
- What's the difference between a margarita and a Tommy's margarita?
- A Tommy's skips the orange liqueur and uses agave syrup instead, so it tastes cleaner and more of tequila.