Lime Margarita Recipe

Name: Lime Margarita Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 Oz Espolòn Tequila Blanco; 0.5 Oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur; 1 Oz Lime juice, freshly squeezed; 0.5 Oz Agave syrup; Lime wheel and salt to garnish; Ice

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PREP TIME 5 min

Cocktail Type

Margarita

Great for

Weekends

Difficulty

Easy

JUMP TO RECIPE

There are so many different versions of the Margarita cocktail around these days that you’d be forgiven for not realising that the deceptively humble Lime Margarita is actually the OG drink that started the whole craze…

As with most stories worth telling, the exact origins of this singular marriage of tequila and lime has grown a little murky over time.

Some folks believe the lime juice Margarita recipe was dreamt up by a Mexican restaurant owner who was smitten with a striking Ziegfeld showgirl Marjorie King, who would only ever drink tequila shots due to allergies. So, Carlos (Danny) Herrera came to the rescue and created a zingy drink that she could sip slowly rather than shoot.

The other story goes that famous Texas socialite Margaret Sames (also called Margarita) poured the first version of this on the rocks cocktail at a house party in Mexico in the 1940s. Or perhaps it was a first shaken up for actress Rita Hayworth (whose real name was Margaret) when she visited Tijuana in the same decade.

Most drinks historians will also tell you that the Lime Margarita is actually a refreshing take on a cocktail that went before – The Daisy. This beloved drink combined a spirit base with citrus juice and grenadine over shaved ice. So, you can see how the Margarita would be a fun spin on this particular cocktail template.

Whatever the case may be, the Lime Margarita remains a classic that pairs well with all sorts of tasty canapes and main meals. As such, it’s a great trick to have up your hosting sleeve.

How to make a Lime Margarita

Here is our super-simple margarita recipe with lime juice. It’s so fresh and zesty, and wonderfully easy to make at home. Enjoy!

QUICK TIPS

Use a good quality tequila like Espolòn Tequila Blanco as it’s made from 100% Blue Weber agave

Pop your glasses in the freezer about 10 minutes before serving up your cocktails

Add a little lime zest to the salt you use to rim your serving glasses

INGREDIENTS

Color pencil illustration of a Lime Margarita

MAKE FOR

1 Person

2 Oz

60 Ml

2 Parts

Espolòn Tequila Blanco

0.5 Oz

15 Ml

0.5 Parts

Grand Marnier orange liqueur

1 Oz

30 Ml

1 Parts

Lime juice, freshly squeezed

0.5 Oz

15 Ml

0.5 Parts

Agave syrup

Lime wheel and salt to garnish

Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until well chilled

Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice

Place the salt in a saucer, wet the rim of the glass, and dip it to salt the rim

Garnish with a lime wheel, and serve

This recipe calls for a rocks glass, but you can also serve a Lime Margarita in a classic double-bowl margarita glass of course. These glasses have a nice sturdy lip that makes it easy to add the salt rim.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you want to prep your tequila summer cocktails before your guests arrive, we recommend adding the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave syrup together in a jug or container from which you can easily pour. Then add the desired amount of the prepped mixture to a shaker to make each Lime Margarita. Alternatively, you can go for punch approach, and mix everything up in a communal bowl, from which guests can serve themselves with a ladle. In this case, wait until the very last moment to add the ice so you don't dilute the flavor profile too much.

The classic Margarita recipe with fresh limes does include tequila as a spirit base, along with orange liqueur. However, you can also make an alcohol-free version of the drink if you wish. Simply combine orange juice, lime juice, agave syrup, and club soda for a refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail.