National Margarita Day kicks off this coming weekend and while it might be a little chilly in many parts of the United States, spring is right around the corner. To prepare ourselves for fun and sun, we’ve got a variety of National Margarita Day recipes ranging from traditional recipes to remixed riffs.
National Margarita Day is Saturday, February 22 and winter is still in full swing for a few more weeks. The bright, typically citrus-forward nature of margaritas lends the beverage to being tailored for the warm months but we’re big fans of sipping on what we want when we want it, and not just affix a drink to a season.
The origin of the margarita is one I’d need an entire segment to break down, each tale more fascinating than the next. David Wondrich, one of the foremost minds in cocktail history, linked the margarita to the brandy daisy, a drink that solidified its foundation in the late 19th Century. Swapping out brandy for tequila, the daisy, which calls for a base spirit, a liqueur, and citrus juice, is transformed into something immediately quaffable and a sensible choice if you’re in a sunnier climate.
I’m partial to a blood orange margarita, but also traditional margaritas made with fresh lime juice and really good ice is where the drink can truly stick with the soul. That said, there are a variety of margarita tweaks that we featured in this year’s roundup that we’ll dive into this weekend with our readers. I even managed to squeeze in a booze-free option, and a lot of Italian pizazz to go around. Also, because you’re reading this via a Black-owned publication, I’ve featured a brand that lines up in that fashion.
For now, please enjoy National Margarita Day responsibly and festively. Stay tuned to these pages for our St. Patrick’s Day drinks roundup.
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Photo: Getty
1. 21Seeds – Spicy Seed Margarita
Source:21 Seeds
1.5 oz 21Seeds Cucumber Jalapeño Infused Tequila
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
Garnishes: Slice of lime or cucumber
Preparation:
Place all ingredients into shaker with 1.5 cups of ice. Shake 30 seconds (totally underrated and makes the cocktail), pour into a glass. Garnish with a lime and/or cucumber slice and serve.
Optional:
Rub rim of glass with lime wedge and salt the rim (or substitute salt for tajin)
Add club soda to make it a margarita spritz.
2. Astral – Very Berry Margarita
Source:Astral
1.25oz Astral Tequila Blanco
0.5oz Fresh Lime Jui ce
0.75oz Simple Syrup
Crème de Mûre Float
3. Bauchant & Gracias a Dios – Mango Margarita
Source:Gracias a Dios
1.5oz Gracias a Dios Mango Mezcal
0.5oz Bauchant Orange Liqueur
0.75oz lime juice
0.25oz lemon juice
0.5oz agave syrup
Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice into a double rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
4. Cantera Negra – Winter Marg
Source:Cantera Negra
1.5 parts Cantera Negra Reposado Tequila
0.5 part Fresh lime juice
0.5 part Fresh blood orange juice
0.5 part Agave syrup
0.75 tsp Vanilla extract
Directions:
Rim a rocks glass with winter spice mix.* Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into prepped rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
5. Casamigos – CLASSIC MARGARITA
Source:Casamigos
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Casamigos Reposado Tequila or Casamigos Blanco Tequila
.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
.5 oz. Fresh Orange Juice
.25 oz. Agave Nectar
Optional: 1⁄2 Thick Rim Equal Parts Salt/Sugar/Orange Zest
Garnish: Lime Wheel
Preparation:
Wet 1⁄2 rim of rocks glass with lime wheel or wedge, then dip into salt mixture. Combine all ingredients into a tin shaker. Add ice, shake vigorously and strain into a small rocks glass. Add fresh ice and garnish.
6. Código 1530 – Spaghetti Western Margarita
Source:Codigo 1530
2 parts Código 1530 Reposado Tequila
1 part fresh lime juice
0.75 parts Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
0.25 parts agave nectar
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain over fresh ice, and garnish with a signature lemon twist.
7. Cointreau -Cold Brew Margarita
Source:Cointreau
1 oz Cointreau
2 oz Tequila
1 oz of Cold Brew Coffee
0.5 oz of Oat Milk
Directions:
Add all ingredients into shaker and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.Garnish with espresso beans.
8. Cutwater – RTD Margarita Lineup
Source:Cutwater
Cutwater is one of the top RTD (ready-to-drink) offerings on the market today, and I’ve enjoyed their wide variety of classic cocktails that also come with some unique twists. The award-winning brand’s margarita lineup will make it a bit easier to get your National Margarita Day celebrations going. Just chill and pour over ice.
Learn more here.
9. DELEÓN – DeSour Margarita
Source:DeLeon
Ingredients:
1oz DELEÓN Reposado
1oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5oz Agave Nectar
0.5oz Red Wine Float
Garnish: Dehydrated Orange
Method: In a shaker, combine DELEÓN Reposado Tequila, lemon juice, and agave nectar. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until the mixture is chilled. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Carefully pour the red wine over the back of a spoon to float it on top of the cocktail.
10. Disaronno – Disarita
Source:Disaronno
Pour the ingredients into a shaker and double strain into a margarita glass. Garnish with lime wedge.
11. Don Julio – Spicy Margarita
Source:Don Julio
1.5oz Tequila Don Julio Blanco
0.75oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.75oz Agave Syrup
1-2 slices of Jalapeño (de-seeded)
Preparation:
Muddle 1-2 slices of de-seeded jalapeños in a cocktail shaker. Add Tequila Don Julio Blanco, fresh lime juice and agave syrup to the shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
12. Dulce Vida – Cinnamon Pineapple Margarita
Source:Dulce Vida
Ingredients:
2 oz Dulce Vida Organic Blanco Tequila
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
.5 oz Naranja Orange Liqueur
1 oz Pineapple Juice
1 dash Agave Syrup
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into glass filled with ice. Garnish with a pineapple slice and cinnamon sticks.
13. HOPWTR – Lime Mock-arita Magic
Source:hop wtr
3 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice
½ oz Agave
¼ oz Sweetened Ginger Juice
3 Drops Liquid Chlorophyll
Method:
14. Ilegal – Margarita
Source:Ilegal
Ingredients:
2 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
Directions: Shake with ice, strain into a pre-salted rimmed rocks glass, and enjoy.
15. ITALICUS – MARGARITA
Source:Italicus
INGREDIENTS:
1 part ITALICUS ROSOLIO DI BERGAMOTTO
1 part Tequila Blanco
½ part lime juice
1 bar spoon agave nectar
METHOD:
Shake and serve straight up in a coupette. Garnish with lime zest or green olives.
16. Jon Basil Tequila – Margarita
Source:Jon Basil Tequila
2 oz Jon Basil Tequila
1 oz Fresh lime juice
0.5 oz Agave syrup
0.5 oz Orange liqueur
Salt or chili-salt rim
Instructions:
Rim the glass with salt or chili-salt for an extra kick. Shake Jon Basil Tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, and orange liqueur with ice until chilled. Strain into the glass, garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy the perfect blend of smooth and bold flavors.
17. Jose Cuervo – Classic Cuervo Margarita
Source:Jose Cuervo
Ingredients:
2 oz Cuervo Tradicional Blanco
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz orange liqueur
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
Lime for garnish
Salt for rim
Ice
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Cuervo Tradicional Blanco, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave nectar to taste. Shake well! Run lime wedge around the rim of the glass then dip the glass into salt. Add ice to the glass and strain the contents of the shaker. Garnish the glass with a lime wedge and enjoy!
18. Juliette- Peach Collins by Kyma
Source:Kyma
This drink is part of Kyma‘s cocktail offerings.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Cristalino Tequila
1 ozJuliette Liqueur
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz Peach Purée
1-2 Slices Fresh Jalapeño
Soda Water
Method:
Muddle the jalapeño slices in a shaker. Add tequila, Juliette, lime juice, and peach purée. Shake well with ice. Strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and gently stir. Garnish with a peach slice and a jalapeño ring.
19. LALO – Pomegranate Margarita
Source:LALO
Ingredients
1.5 oz LALO
.75 oz POM Juice
.5 oz Lime Juice
.25 oz agave nectar
Method
Add all ingredients to an ice filled shaker tin. Shake to chill and dilute. Strain into ice filled rocks glass. Garnish with lime wheel and pomegranate seeds.
20. Lobos 1017 – Bergamot Margarita
Source:Lobos 1017
Ingredients:
1 1/2oz TEQUILA LOBOS 1707 REPOSADO
1oz FRESH LIME JUICE
3/4Oz ITALICUS BERGAMOT LIQUEUR
1 BARSPOON AGAVE SYRUP
HALF SALT RIM
Method:
SHAKE ALL INGREDIENTS VIGOROUSLY WITH ICE, THEN STRAIN OVER FRESH ICE INTO A ROCKS – OR MARGARITA – GLASS.
Garnish
LIME WEDGE, HALF-RIM OF SEA SALT
21. Mezcal Unión – Hibiscus Margarita
Source:mezcal union
Ingredients:
1 oz Mezcal Unión Uno
0.50 oz Cointreau
0.5 oz Ancho Reyes Original
0.5 oz Hibiscus and Cardamom Syrup
1 oz Pomegranate Juice
0.75 oz Lime Juice
Glassware: Old-Fashioned
Garnishes: Pineapple Triangle + Pink Peppercorn Salt Rim
Preparation: Rim a glass with pink peppercorn salt. Add all ingredients to the shaker. Add ice and shake. Double strain into rimmed glass. Use pineapple triangles as a garnish.
22. Partida – Margarita Azul
Source:Partida
Ingredients:
45ml Partida Blanco
30ml Bols Blue Curacao
25ml Fresh lime juice
10ml Sugar syrup
Method:
Shake ingredients over ice and serve in a margarita glass. Salt or sugared rim is optional.
23. Rancho La Gloria – Tajin-a-Rita
Source:Rancho La Gloria
Ingredients:
3.5 oz Rancho La Gloria Classic Lime Margarita
Method:
Rim glass with Tajín Mild Hot Sauce. Dip rimmed glass into Tajín Clásico Seasoning. Add ice to glass. Pour Rancho La Gloria Classic Lime Margarita into glass. Enjoy!
24. SAVOIA ORANCIO – ORANCIO MARGARITA
Source:SAVOIA ORANCIO
METHOD:
Squeeze half part fresh lime juice into your shaker. Add 1 part Tequila Blanco. Add 1 part SAVOIA ORANCIO. Add 1 bar spoon of agave nectar & stir. Add ice to your shaker.Shake + strain into a glass.
25. Teremana – Blood Orange Margarita (Batch Recipe)
Source:Teremana
2 cups Teremana Blanco
1 cup Fresh Blood Orange Juice
¾ cup Fresh Lime Juice
½ cup Agave Nectar
Add all ingredients to a large pitcher with ice. Stir gently to incorporate. Strain and pour into rocks glasses with fresh ice. Garnish with blood orange slices.
26. Yobo – Mandarin Margarita
Source:Yobo
Ingredients:
0.75 oz Yobo Kish SHINE Kumquat Rose & Ginger Apéritif
2 oz Blanco Tequila
0.25 oz Agave
0.25 oz Lime Juice
0.75 oz Mandarin Juice
0.25 oz Amaro Nonino
Garnish: Salt Rimmed Glass & Mandarin Leaves
Method: Add all of your ingredients to a mixing glass. Give it a quick shake. Give a double rocks glass a half salt rim and fine strain the cocktail into it. Add some ice and garnish with the leaves left over from your mandarins. Cheers!