A simple classic margarita recipe with silver tequila, Cointreau (or triple sec), fresh lime juice, and simple syrup or sugar. No sour mix!
Juice your lime. Measure how much juice you have. 1 ounce of juice is 2 tablespoons by volume; 1.5 ounces of juice is 3 tablespoons. (See my math below to adjust the recipe based on your amount of juice.)
If using sugar instead of simple syrup, add to your lime juice and stir until dissolved.
Optional: salt or sugar the rims of your glasses Rub a lime wedge along the rim of the glass. Roll the wet edge in a small plate of salt or sugar, your preference.
Combine tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, or a large mixing glass. Shake (or stir) until mixed and very chilled, about 30 seconds. If not sweet enough, add more syrup little by little to taste.
Strain into the salt- or sugar-rimmed glasses filled with crushed ice. Don't skip the ice; that's what makes the drink refreshing. Enjoy.
Use mid-range, white tequila in this recipe. Premium is unnecessary. Gold tequila will add unwanted flavors to your margarita.
You can substitute any triple sec for the Cointreau; however, your margarita may end up a little sweeter.
If you don't have orange liqueur at all, add the same amount of orange juice instead. You may need more sugar or syrup to taste.
Use only freshly squeezed lime juice. Bottled lime juice has preservatives, and while I use it sometimes in cooking, it won't taste that good when you drink it.
Don't use sour mix!
You can use granulated sugar or agave syrup in place of simple syrup. To substitute sugar, add half the quantity for the syrup (~2.5 teaspoons). To substitute agave, use the same amount as the simple syrup.
The syrup/sugar adds body to the drink, light as it is. I don't recommend adding artificial sweeteners.
Ratios based on lime juice amounts I've written down:
1.1 oz lime juice | 2.75 oz tequila | 1.375 oz Cointreau | 0.55 oz simple syrup or 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
1.2 oz lime | 3 oz tequila | 1.5 oz Cointreau | 0.6 oz syrup or a heaping 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
1.4 oz lime | 3.5 oz tequila | 1.75 oz Cointreau | 0.7 oz syrup or 2 teaspoons sugar
1.6 oz lime | 4 oz tequila | 2 oz Cointreau | 0.8 oz syrup or a heaping 2 teaspoons sugar
2 oz lime | 5 oz tequila | 2.5 oz Cointreau | 1 oz syrup or 1 tablespoon sugar
0.375 fluid ounces = just over 2 teaspoons
0.5 fluid ounces = 1 tablespoon
0.75 fluid ounces = 1.5 tablespoons
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons
2 fluid ounces = ¼ cup
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
Calorie count is an estimate only; calories in your cocktails will depend on the amounts of ingredients used.