Classic Frozen Margarita Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic margarita made of? ›

By contrast to many of the diluted, super-sweet, and sometimes fizzy huge mugs of margaritas that are often served in restaurants around the world nowadays, a traditional margarita is actually a strong, tart co*cktail made with three simple ingredients — good-quality tequila, orange liqueur, and freshly-squeezed lime ...

But beware: The margarita will taste boozier, too. Those slushy-like frozen margaritas often don't taste as alcoholic as on the rocks because you are consuming ice with the margarita liquid, which is why a frozen margarita will taste colder than one on the rocks.

We'll just tell you upfront: The secret to a tasty margarita is freshly squeezed lime juice (not the bottled stuff) and—here's the real secret—a splash of fresh OJ. That's right. Fresh-squeezed juice from an actual orange (not an orange-flavored liqueur) will produce a cleaner-tasting, more refreshing margarita.

If you don't have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau. For a non-alcoholic substitute you can add fresh orange juice, or agave nectar/simple syrup, to add a touch of sweetness.

Frozen Margaritas Have More Texture

These tiny beads of ice don't just make your drink as cold as possible, they also add a nice bit of texture that many drinks lack. This lets you drink it slowly through a straw or quickly from the rim of the glass.

The formula for the perfect margarita:

The key to making the best margarita is all in the ratio and balance of the ingredients. This recipe is doubled to make two margs, but for one perfectly balanced margarita, we use 2 oz. of tequila, 1 oz. of triple sec, and 3/4 oz. lime juice.

While Cointreau is a premium option with a higher price point and ABV, triple sec is a more affordable and sweeter alternative. Regardless of your preference, Red & White offers both options for purchase, making it a convenient one-stop-shop for all your liquor needs.

The classic margarita calls for Cointreau (plus good silver tequila and fresh lime juice). Because its flavor is uncomplicated by spice notes, Cointreau is very adaptable in blending, and shakes up beautifully with clear spirits as well as with brandies, and darker, aged liquors.

Like margaritas, bartenders serve daiquiris shaken or blended as frozen drinks. Alternatively, they may also serve them straight up. However, daiquiris lack the signature salt rim of a margarita, but may include a sugar rim or other fun garnishment.

The type of orange liqueur used: Triple sec contains fewer calories and less alcohol than other types of orange liqueur. Whether the margarita is frozen or on the rocks: A frozen margarita contains more calories and alcohol than a non-frozen margarita.

Is a frozen margarita the same as a daiquiri? ›

The main difference is the alcohol in each co*cktail. Margaritas are made with tequila and sweetened with triple sec, while daiquiris are made with white rum and simple syrup for sweetener. Their common ingredients are lime juice, lots of ice and sometimes fruit juices.

Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita. Popular labels include Cointreau, Combier, Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, and Grand Marnier.

The dirty margarita takes its inspiration from the dirty martini, a classic libation made with strong liquor and a splash of a little something not-so-clear. We swap olive juice for jalapeno brine, making this a drink that packs the heat–and a punch.

If you like your margaritas dry, you can just skip this step. But if you're like me and want your margaritas sweet, Stodel said you should always use agave syrup. "It's an excellent sweetener for your margaritas, a natural product," he told me. "It comes from the thing that makes tequila, so I think it's awesome."

Margaritas are made with tequila and sweetened with triple sec, while daiquiris are made with white rum and simple syrup for sweetener. Their common ingredients are lime juice, lots of ice and sometimes fruit juices.

Larger ice cubes take longer to melt, providing a slower dilution process. On the other hand, frozen margaritas provide a more consistent dilution process, since blended or shaved ice is more consistent in size. Surrounding temperatures also affect the pace at which the ice melts and dilutes the co*cktail over time.

The type of orange liqueur used: Triple sec contains fewer calories and less alcohol than other types of orange liqueur. Whether the margarita is frozen or on the rocks: A frozen margarita contains more calories and alcohol than a non-frozen margarita.

Frozen margarita mixers tend to contain a lot of processed sugar and calories that provide no nutritional value. A single 2-ounce serving of Old Orchard or Bacardi brand margarita mixer has 90 calories. Two ounces is about one-quarter cup. Most drinkers will consume a drink that is larger than that.