From spicy to savory to blended or built as simply as possible, there’s a Margarita for everyone. Today, especially in the wake of the Jägerita, the modern Margarita doesn’t even need to rely on tequila or mezcal. That’s the beauty of the drink. It’s a shape-shifter in a cocktail landscape that’s often inundated with dogma around classic recipes. The Margarita, by contrast, is whatever you want it to be, which is why we’ve compiled some of our favorite recipes for the classic (including some not-so-classic riffs) to provide a Margarita recipe for however you like it.
Christine Wiseman’s Margarita
This winning recipe is a hybrid of a classic Margarita and a Tommy’s.
Cape Cod Margarita
Frozen fruit cubes stand in for ice.
Haley Traub’s Frozen Margarita
An icy take that adds an unexpected splash of orange juice.
50/50 Margarita
A split base of mezcal and manzanilla sherry offers a lower-ABV take on the classic.
Avocado Margarita
A lush, buttery riff on the citrusy classic.
Mezcal Margarita
A mezcal spin on the timeless Margarita from the trailblazing bar Mayahuel.
I’m on Fire
The spicy Margarita, with an added dose of pineapple.
Margarita al Pastor
A savory Margarita inspired by Mexico City's tacos.
Mango Margarita
The tequila classic meets fresh mango—all thrown in the blender.
The Infante
A modern classic Margarita made with aromatic orgeat and rose water.
Margarita Verde
Tequila turbocharged with housemade “garden cordial.”
Blood Orange Margarita
A showcase for that most dramatic of winter citrus.
Gram-Arita
A Cadillac Margarita.
Tommy’s Margarita
This industry stalwart omits orange liqueur in favor of agave syrup.
Session Margarita
Manzanilla sherry teams up with tequila in this low-proof spin.
Kung Fu Furi
A celery- and sesame-laced mezcal Margarita.
Margarita Soda
The tequila classic meets a low-ABV, crushable highball.
