Margarita
A tequila-based cocktail with lime juice, Cointreau, and a little agave syrup. It is tart from citrus, lightly sweet, and moderate in strength at about 16% ABV.
Also in Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails, with a different recipe →
5
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice or a chilled coupe
Margarita
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Volume205 ml
Strength16% ABV
Alcohol32 ml (26 g)81 ml of vodka (40%)2.5 shots (of 30ml)
Sugar9 g (4.4%)2.5 sugar cubes
Acidity0.65%
Sweet vs sourBalanced
“Picador Cocktail listed in W. J. Tarling’s Café Royal Cocktail Book” (1937)
Similar cocktails
Tommy's Margarita
A low-proof tequila cocktail with blanco tequila, agave syrup, and lime juice. It is lightly tart and lightly sweet, with low strength at about 12% ABV.
Replacing Cointreau with more agave syrup removes the orange note and adds sweetness, while extra lime juice makes it tarter and more agave-forward.
- Same: 2 oz blanco tequila, shaken and strained over ice in a rocks glass.
- Different: 1 oz agave syrup instead of .25 oz and no Cointreau; 1 oz lime juice instead of .75 oz; no garnish.
Siesta
A tequila-based cocktail made with reposado tequila, Campari, grapefruit and lime juices, and simple syrup. It is lightly tart and lightly sweet, and low in alcohol at about 14% ABV.
Campari and grapefruit juice in place of the Cointreau and agave make it bitter and grapefruit-forward, with reposado adding a slightly oaky note.
- Same: 2 oz tequila and lime juice, shaken and strained into a chilled coupe.
- Different: Reposado tequila instead of blanco; .5 oz each of Campari, grapefruit juice, lime juice and simple syrup instead of Cointreau and agave; a grapefruit twist.
Lawn Dart
A split-base tequila and gin cocktail with green pepper, lime, agave syrup, and Green Chartreuse. It is moderately acidic, lightly sweet and balanced, and moderate in strength at about 15% ABV.
Green Chartreuse instead of Cointreau and muddled green pepper make it more herbal and vegetal, while gin adds botanicals and agave syrup sweetness.
- Same: Blanco tequila, .75 oz lime juice, agave syrup and a lime wheel, shaken.
- Different: 1 oz tequila and 1 oz gin instead of 2 oz tequila; Green Chartreuse instead of Cointreau; .75 oz agave syrup; muddled green pepper; fine-strained over ice in a Collins glass with an umbrella.
Cosmopolitan
A vodka-based cocktail with orange liqueur, lime juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup. It is tart and lightly sweet (off-dry), with moderate strength at about 15% ABV.
Vodka instead of tequila removes the agave flavor, while cranberry juice and simple syrup in place of agave syrup make it fruitier, tarter, and sweeter.
- Same: .75 oz Cointreau and .75 oz lime juice, shaken and strained into a chilled coupe.
- Different: 2 oz Buddha's hand vodka instead of tequila; cranberry juice and simple syrup instead of agave syrup; an orange twist.
Royal Bermuda Yachtclub Cocktail
A rum sour-style cocktail with Mount Gay Eclipse Amber Rum, lime juice, Cointreau, and falernum. It is tart and lightly sweet, with moderate strength at about 15% ABV.
Amber rum and falernum in place of the tequila make it richer with clove-and-almond spice, while more lime and less Cointreau leave it tarter and less orange-forward.
- Same: Cointreau, lime juice and a lime wheel, shaken and strained into a chilled coupe.
- Different: 2 oz amber rum instead of tequila; .5 oz each of Cointreau and falernum instead of .75 oz Cointreau and agave syrup; 1 oz lime juice.
Red-headed Saint
A cachaça sour made with lime juice, agave syrup, yellow Chartreuse, and two bitters. It is moderately tart, off-dry, and has moderate strength at about 15% ABV.
Cachaça and Yellow Chartreuse in place of tequila and Cointreau make it grassier and more honey-herbal, with Peychaud's adding anise and pebble ice adding dilution.
- Same: .75 oz lime juice and agave syrup, shaken and strained over ice.
- Different: 2 oz cachaça instead of tequila; Yellow Chartreuse and verbena bitters instead of Cointreau; .5 oz agave syrup; served over pebble ice in a Collins glass and topped with Peychaud's.
Margarita