● Medium 5 min
Margarita
Tequila, orange liqueur and lime in a salt-rimmed glass.
Quick answer: 50 ml tequila • 20 ml triple sec
Recipes
Tequila cocktails
Tequila cocktail recipes: Margarita, Paloma, Tequila Sunrise, Mexican. Ratios, the salt rim and what to do when you have no triple sec.
BrandBar Editorial Team
Content prepared and tested by BrandBar's professional bartending team.
Blue agave tequila carries a herbaceous, peppery note that holds acid well — which is why almost every classic built on it revolves around lime or grapefruit. Blanco (silver) is unaged and the brightest, the default choice for a Margarita or Paloma. Reposado rests in oak, comes out softer and suits drinks you sip slowly.
A salt rim is not decoration: salt suppresses the bitterness of agave and lifts the citrus. Apply it to half the rim so the drinker keeps the choice. Mezcal is interchangeable with tequila in these recipes but brings noticeable smoke — start by replacing half the measure.
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Frequently asked questions
Which tequila do I need for a Margarita?
Blanco (silver) made from 100% agave: it is the brightest and holds lime acidity best. Reposado works too, but the drink turns softer with an oak edge.
What can replace triple sec in a Margarita?
Any orange liqueur — Cointreau, Grand Marnier or a standard orange liqueur. With none at all, use sugar syrup plus a little orange zest: simpler, but the balance holds.
How does mezcal differ from tequila in cocktails?
Mezcal is made from agave roasted in earthen pits, so it is smoky. In recipes it replaces tequila fully or by half — the smoke becomes the leading note and changes the drink's character entirely.
Other bases
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