5 Margarita recipes to ensure the success of your next summer party

Summer gatherings are not complete without a delicious plate of food and a refreshing beverage. A festive fiesta theme, complete with margaritas, will transform a good party into an exceptional one. Here are some tips and recipes to ensure that your summer party will make Jimmy Buffett proud. 

Your Margaritaville celebration deserves the very best. But remember that a Margarita is only as good as its weakest ingredient, so use premium 100% agave spirits, genuine Triple Sec, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Use coarse sea salt or kosher salt for salted rims, never table salt. Run a lime wedge around the edge of the glass to ensure that the salt adheres. 

The Classic Margarita 

Before experimenting with variations, you must first master the classic margarita. 

What you require: 

• 1 cup of tequila 
• 3 ounces orange liqueur 
• 3 ounces fresh lime juice 
• 1-ounce agave nectar (optional) 
• Yield: 4 Margaritas 

Directions: 

1. Shake the ingredients with ice and strain them into a salted-rimmed cocktail glass. 
2. If your mixture contains too much sugar, add more lime. 
3. If it’s too tart, add more agave or orange liqueur. 
4. The agave nectar is optional, but its earthy flavor is a beautiful addition. For a weaker margarita, reduce the amount of tequila. 

The Ultimate Margarita 

The ultimate margarita contains some of the same ingredients as the classic but adds a few more for an extra kick. 

What you require: 

• 1 cup of Patrón Silver 
• 2 ounces Grand Marnier 
• 1/4 cup of Triple Sec 
• 1/2 cup of your favorite lager beer 
• 1/2 cup of fresh-squeezed lime juice 
• Yield: 4 Margaritas 

Directions:  

1. Set the beer aside and shake the remaining ingredients with ice.  
2. Strain the mixture into a glass rimmed with salt and top with a splash of beer. 

Watermelon Margaritas 

Watermelon is the quintessential summer fruit. So why not incorporate that same flavor into your favorite cocktail? 

What you require: 

• 1/2 cup of your favorite tequila 
• 3 tablespoons of Triple Sec (1.5 oz) 
• 2 tablespoons of sugar 
• 2 ounces of fresh-squeezed lime juice 
• 3-4 cups of cubed watermelon (no seeds) 
• Yield: 4 Margaritas 

Directions: 

1. Blend the ingredients in a blender until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. 
2. Pour into a glass containing a few ice cubes to keep the beverage cold. 
3. Add sugar to the rim of your glass for bonus points. 

The Spicy Margarita 

To add some spice to the mix, try substituting one citrus for another in a margarita variation. For the standard Blanco, you may replace aged tequilas such as Reposado or Mezcal. Try this “less is more” margarita recipe rather than adding ingredients. 

What you require: 

• 1 cup of 100% agave tequila 
• 4 ounces of Grand Marnier 
• 4 ounces of freshly-squeeze lime juice 
• 4 ounces agave nectar syrup 
• Yield: 4 Margaritas 

Directions:  

1. Shake the ingredients with ice and strain them into your chosen margarita glass.  
2. Garnish the margarita with freshly sliced serrano or jalapeno pepper for added heat. 

The “Morning After” Margarita 

The morning-after margarita is the ideal substitute for a mimosa or Bloody Mary. 

What you require: 

• 6 ounces of your favorite tequila 
• 3 ounces of Cointreau 
• 3 ounces of freshly-squeeze lime juice 
• 4 ounces of mango nectar 
• 4 ounces of fresh tangerine juice 
• 2 ounces of ginger juice 
• Yield: 4 Margaritas 

Directions: 

1. Shake all of the ingredients listed above with ice. 
2. Strain and pour into a glass filled with ice. 
3. Replace the lime wedge with a tangerine wedge as a garnish.