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Recipe

3-2-1 Margarita

10 min • 1 to 2 servings •
Albert Dente
A margarita cocktail with a salted rim and lime garnish, served on a plate with a lime half, alongside a jigger and cocktail shaker.

This is what I understand to be the traditional margarita. The Cointreau works as a natural sweetener eliminating the need for sugar or simple syrup. Some will argue that this cocktail is more potent, but I think it only tastes that way. Sugar in drinks mask the alcohol fooling the palate. Why anyone would want to mask a fine tequila is beyond me.

Ready

  • Patrón Añejo Tequila (my favorite, use yours)
  • Cointreau
  • Fresh lime juice

    • Set

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Shot glass
  • Ice

    • Go!

  • Place cocktail glasses in freezer for 5 minutes.
  • Mix three (3) parts tequila with two (2) parts Cointreau and (1) one part fresh lime juice.
  • Add a healthy amount of ice, cover and shake.
  • Strain into pre-chilled cocktail glasses and serve immediately.

    • Recommendations

    For big parties or when I am short on cash I will make the simple margarita recipe on this site with a cheaper tequila.
    You can use ice chips or crushed iced to create little ice-crystals in the drink. Bartenders will often do this little trick. Some purists don’t like it as they claim the crushed ice dilutes the tequila.
    The picture shows a glass rimmed with sugar (sorry but it is the only one I have) and it is a good option if you want to make the margarita a little sweeter without messing with the proportions.

    Cointreau margarita party drink tequila

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