Margarita

A Margarita is a tequila cocktail that tastes sharp, citrusy and slightly sweet, shaken cold and served in a cocktail glass with a half salt rim. CBC Liquors, Westford stocks the tequila and triple sec for it at 142 Littleton Rd. This page explains why the drink works, how to shake it well, and what to change if you want a twist.

Why does a Margarita taste so balanced?

A Margarita works because three ingredients each do a different job. Tequila gives the drink its backbone, with a grassy, peppery character. Triple sec, an orange liqueur, adds sweetness and a bitter-orange note that softens the lime. Fresh lime juice brings acidity that keeps the drink bright instead of sugary.

The salt on half the rim is the fourth part of the balance. A little salt on the lips makes the sour and the sweet taste rounder, and because only half the rim is salted, you can sip from either side depending on how much you want.

Because the recipe is so short, each ingredient shows. A fresh lime and a clean, honest tequila matter more than any extra step.

Where does the Margarita come from?

The Margarita's origin is disputed, and the stories vary. The most common tellings place its invention in Mexico or along the border in the late 1930s or 1940s, with several bartenders and hosts each credited by different accounts.

What most versions agree on is that the drink grew out of the older family of tequila, citrus and orange liqueur drinks, sometimes called daisies. The Margarita is the one that stuck, and it is now filed among the contemporary classics.

No single story has ever been settled, so treat each as folklore. What is certain is that the recipe has stayed simple.

How do you make a Margarita well?

Make a Margarita by preparing the glass first, then shaking the drink hard over ice and straining it. Chill a cocktail glass, rub half the rim with a lime wedge, and dip that half in salt. Keep the salt on the outside edge so it does not fall into the drink.

Add the tequila, triple sec and lime juice to a shaker, fill it with ice and shake well until the outside is cold. Strain into the prepared glass.

A few mistakes to avoid: bottled lime juice tastes flat, so squeeze it fresh; do not shake with too little ice, because it will not chill or dilute properly; and do not salt the whole rim if you want control over the taste.

What are the common twists on a Margarita?

Most twists on this Margarita change one ingredient or add one flavour. A Margarita on the rocks is a twist on this recipe: the same drink strained over fresh ice in a different glass. A spicy twist adds a slice of jalapeño to the shaker. A fruit twist muddles strawberry, mango or watermelon into the mix.

Some people swap the triple sec for another orange liqueur, which changes the sweetness and the depth of the orange. Others use a reposado tequila in place of blanco for a softer, slightly oaky taste.

A frozen Margarita, blended with ice, is also a twist on this recipe. Each of these changes the drink, so treat them as variations on the version on this page.

How do you make a Margarita for a crowd?

Make Margaritas for a group by mixing the tequila, triple sec and lime juice in a pitcher ahead of time, keeping the same balance as the single drink. Squeeze the lime the same day, since fresh juice fades after several hours in the fridge.

Chill the pitcher well, and add a splash of cold water to stand in for the dilution that shaking would normally give. Keep ice out of the pitcher so the mix does not turn watery while it waits.

When guests are ready, pour over a shaker of ice, shake briefly, and strain into glasses rimmed with salt. You can also set out a plate of salt and lime wedges so everyone prepares their own glass.

Can you make a Margarita without alcohol?

Yes, you can make a zero-proof Margarita from ordinary kitchen ingredients. Use fresh lime juice, a little orange juice and a touch of sugar syrup or honey syrup for sweetness, then shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed glass.

The orange juice stands in for the triple sec, and a splash of chilled sparkling water can add length and a little lift. Taste and adjust: more lime if it is sweet, a little more syrup if it is sharp.

The half salt rim and the lime wedge stay the same, so the drink looks and sips like the original.

What do you need from CBC Liquors for a Margarita?

For a Margarita, you pick up tequila and triple sec here, and everything else comes from your kitchen. On the Tequila shelf, CBC Liquors, Westford has MAYENDA, ZARPADO and DON JULIO in stock, including blanco bottlings. On the Liqueur shelf, you will find triple sec from MR. BOSTON and DeKuyper.

The lime juice, the salt and the lime wedge are from your own kitchen. Buy limes fresh and squeeze them just before you shake.

You can add the products on this page to your order for pickup, delivery or shipping, or come into the store. The store is open Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.