The Best Margarita Recipes to Make This Year

National Margarita Day

A lot of us have really picked up an interest in tequila and it's no wonder. Its popularity is soaring in the U.S. and doesn't look like it'll be slowing down any time soon. The only contender would probably be whiskey. Meh, but they have their own day. Now, it's National Margarita Day and we put together some of the best margarita recipes around so you can pick one or maybe even all of them to try.

We have a few surprises in there too. Maybe it's not all about tequila but it certainly has a theme going on. Take a look at some of these great tequila brands and start making some amazing margaritas today!

The Skinniest Margarita

Lalo tequila bottle next to a margarita.

The Skinniest Margarita

Photo by LALO

This margarita was created by Soho House Austin which opened in 2021. It uses LALO tequila, which is additive-free and represents what tequila was truly supposed to taste like. LALO is named after Co-Founder and Maestro Tequilero Eduardo "Lalo" González. Eduardo is the grandson of Don Julio González, of Don Julio Tequila fame. He and Founding Partner David R. Carbillido wanted to bring tequila back to its roots and nothing but a pure blanco tequila. Thus, LALO was born.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces LALO
  • 1/2 ounce Ferrand Dry Curacao
  • 1 ounce hand-squeezed lime juice
  • Garnish with dehydrated lime wheel

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients into a glass filled with ice
  2. Stir
  3. Garnish
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Daisy Margarita

pink house alchemy margarita kit with a sample margarita.

Daisy Margarita

Photo courtesy of Pink House Alchemy

This isn't a tequila you add your ingredients to but rather it's ingredients you add to your tequila. Pink House Alchemy makes all sorts of shrubs, syrups, and kits so you can just sit back and whip up the cocktails and enjoy. Each bottle is handcrafted and made with the best ingredients around. The combinations of flavors are perfect for experimenting with.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces silver tequila
  • 1 ounce pH Pineapple Rosemary Shrub
  • 0.75 ounce pH Herbalicious Syrup
  • 1 ounce fresh lime juice

Directions

  1. Shake or stir
  2. Strain into a glass over ice, rimmed with rosemary salt
  3. Enjoy!
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Blanco Luxury Margarita

margarita next to a strainer and jigger of lime wedges.

Blanco Margarita

Photo courtesy of Don Julio

We're not sure there isn't a person alive that doesn't know Don Julio, especially since we just mentioned his grandson! They have an impressive line of tequila expressions anyone would be happy to have in their collection. This recipe features the blanco tequila which is probably our go-to tequilas for margaritas. They also have Reposado, Añejo, 70 Cristalino, 1942, and many more. We would recommend going down the line and seeing which is your favorite. maybe even try making an old-fashioned or drinking it straight, sophisticated-like.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces of Don Julio Blanco Tequila
  • 0.75 ounces fresh lime
  • 0.50 ounce simple syrup or agave nectar
  • Lime wedge

Directions

  1. Combine Don Julio Blanco, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup/agave nectar in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.
  2. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
  3. Garnish with a lime wedge.
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​Fresh Citrus Margarita

mezcal amaras next too a martini glass of fresh citrus margarita sitting on a table.

Fresh Citrus Margarita

Photo courtesy of Mezcal Amaras

Even though this is mezcal, it's all about the margarita. It doesn't have to be tequila, it could be tequila-like. Mezcal is a very close relative of tequila. It's a bit more earthy with a bit more of a bite but it works. It's also made from blue agave, but not restricted to just blue agave like tequila, but just about any species of agave. The process is similar but the flavor is distinct.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces Mezcal Amarás Espadín
  • 1 ounce Rosemary syrup
  • 0.5 ounce Lemon juice
  • 0.5 ounce Orange liqueur
  • Grapefruit ice cream
  • Garnish: Rosemary sprig

Shaker Method

  1. Add rosemary syrup, lemon juice, and Mezcal Amarás Espadín to your shaker.
  2. Place ice and shake it well.

Build Method

  1. Add a scoop of grapefruit ice cream in a margarita glass, pour the mixture, and decorate with a sprig of rosemary.
Mixologist Notes:

The margarita is a cocktail that has evolved over the years; it's fresh and bright at the same time making it one of my favorites. For this cocktail, I wanted to respect the citrus and freshness by using Amarás Espadín as the base. Triple Sec, fresh lemon, and the refreshing grapefruit sorbet add three distinct layers of citrus. This cocktail evolves as you are enjoying it - as the sorbet combines with the cocktail, you experience different flavors and textures

Recipe by Jessica Arellano Magallon Mixologist for Mezcal Amarás

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Smoked Blood Orange Margarita

Chef Danielle Duran Zecca making a smoked blood orange margarita with the stundenglass beverage infuser.

Smoked Blood Orange Margarita

Photo courtesy of Stundenglass

So, here we have another ingredient-forward margarita. You can use your favorite mezcal and combine the ingredients but to really finish it off, you need the Stündenglass Beverage Infuser to really get that smoke flavor in your drink. Not only will this impress your friends, but it looks pretty darn awesome if you ask us.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces of your favorite mezcal
  • 1 ounce blood orange juice
  • 0.5 ounce lime juice
  • 0.5 ounce rosemary simple syrup
  • dry rosemary to smoke

Directions

  1. Rim the glass with Chamoy (it can be found in any Mexican market or store)
  2. Add the ingredients one by one in the shaker
  3. Add ice to fill the shaker
  4. Shake for 30 seconds
  5. Place your favorite ice shape int eh glass
  6. Strain content from shaker into glass
  7. Top with a dry blood orange slice
  8. Smoke with dry Rosemary using Stündengalss Beverage Infuser
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Spicy Manarita

spicy manarita sitting on a concrete floor in sunlight.

Spicy Manarita

Photo courtesy of Teremana

Who doesn't love The Rock, Dwayne Johnson? Of course you know they'd have to have a margarita that was as sweet but just as tough as the man himself. The Spicy Manarita has the sweet, spicy, and smooth taste of a reposado tequila and the heat will keep you coming back for more.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Teremana Reposado
  • 0.75 ounce Lime Juice
  • 0.5 ounce Agave Nectar
  • 2 Jalapeño Slices (remove seeds)

Directions

  1. Muddle jalapeño in shaker.
  2. Add Teremana, Lime Juice & Agave Nectar.
  3. Shake with ice.
  4. Strain and serve over fresh ice.
  5. Garnish with a jalapeño slice.
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Turn and Burn

the turn and burn margarita sitting next to fresh limes and grapefruit wedges and a bottle of Don Ramon Plata

The Turn and Burn Margarita

Photo courtesy of Casa Don Ramón

Don Ramón produces three collections of tequila, the Punta Diamante, Platinium, and the Limited Edition featuring Plata, Añejo, and Extra Añejo in a Swarovski crystal-embellished bottle. As with most, if not all tequila, Don Ramón is from the highlands of Jalisco Mexico, and is made of 100% pure Blue Agave.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ouncesTequila Don Ramón Platinium Plata
  • 1.5 ounces Grapefruit Juice
  • 1 ounce Lime Juice
  • 0.75 ounce Agave Syrup
  • 1 Pinch Smoked Salt
  • 2 Sprigs Lemon Thyme (Garnish)
  • Charred Grapefruit (Garnish)

Directions

  1. Combine tequila, fruit juices, agave, salt, and one sprig of lemon thyme in a shaking tin with ice.
  2. Shake, strain, and pour the cocktail into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
  3. Garnish with a charred grapefruit slice and a fresh sprig of lemon thyme.
  4. Serve and enjoy!
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Cocktail Gummy Bears

three red gummy bears sitting next to a red margarita.

Cocktail Gummy Bear

Photo by Grand Velas Los Cabos

Okay, okay. Technically NOT a margarita but they accompany your margarita while visiting AAA 5-Diamond Grand Velas Los Cabos Resort in Mexico. They come in two flavors Hibiscus Mezcalita with chili salt or Piña Colada. They seem to be complimentary upon check-in, poolside, and well, check-out.

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Handblown Glass Tumblers

two handblown glass tumblers with brown colored glass along the rim sitting next to each other.

Handblown Glass Tumblers

Photo courtesy of Bespoke Post

If you're wondering what to put all these margaritas in, don't worry. You can put them in a margarita glass, a coupe glass, a pitcher, or these wonderfully handblown glass tumblers. Cocktails fit perfectly in them. They're comfortable to hold, easy to drink from and look beautiful while on display. And if your husband is clumsy and knocks one over and it shatters on the floor, never fear, they come in a set of two so you will always have a drink. He may not but then, he shouldn't have broken the glass. Pick some up now!

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WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

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