How to Make a Margarita Cocktail
A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting the Ultimate Serve.
A true classic and one of the most ordered cocktails in the world, the Margarita is proof that simplicity, done properly, is unbeatable. Bright tequila, orange-laced Cointreau, and fresh lime come together in perfect balance — sharp, citrusy, and effortlessly refreshing. It's a cocktail that rewards quality ingredients above all else; there's nowhere to hide with only four components, so fresh lime juice and a good blanco tequila are non-negotiable. Equally at home at a summer garden party or a relaxed dinner table, this is the serve that never goes out of style.
⸻
Base Spirit: Tequila Blanco
Flavour Profile: Citrusy, crisp, balanced, refreshing
Glassware: Rocks Glass (served over ice)
Occasion: Garden Parties, Birthday Parties, Dinner Parties, Weddings, Hen Dos
⸻
Ingredients:
40ml Tequila Blanco
20ml Cointreau
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
10ml Simple Syrup
Salt (for the rim, optional)
Lime Wheel (garnish)
⸻
How to make:
If salting the rim, run a lime wedge around the edge of a rocks glass and dip into salt before adding ice.
Fill the rocks glass with ice and set aside.
Add the tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake hard for 10–15 seconds until well chilled.
Strain into the prepared rocks glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with a lime wheel.
Serve immediately.
⸻
Allergens:
Cointreau (sulphites, brand dependent)
⸻
Story behind the Serve
The exact origins of the Margarita are fiercely debated, multiple bartenders across Mexico and the US have claimed to have invented it throughout the 1930s and 40s, and the truth is likely lost to history. What isn't in question is its staying power. Built on the same logic as the classic Daisy cocktail (spirit, citrus, orange liqueur), the Margarita has become the definitive tequila cocktail worldwide, and the benchmark against which every other tequila serve is measured. Get the ratio right, use fresh lime, and it's hard to improve on.
⸻
Take a look at other delicious margarita riffs here:
⸻
Planning an Event in Sussex?
Whether you’re hosting an elegant dinner party in Hove, a stylish birthday celebration in Brighton, or a sophisticated supper club in the Sussex countryside, we bring bespoke cocktail experiences to you.
Loved this one? Try our Tommy’s Margarita next, perfect for your next private party.
Want the full lineup? Browse our Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails for more inspiration.
Ready to bring it to your event? Enquire about Private Events across Brighton, Hove & Sussex.
⸻
Premium Hove-based mobile cocktail service across:
East & West Sussex | Tailored menus | Professional Mixologists
