The Margarita cocktail uses tequila as its main alcoholic base.
A standard Margarita combines tequila with orange liqueur, usually triple sec or Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. It may be served shaken over ice, strained into a glass, or blended with ice. A salt rim is a common finishing touch, but it is not essential to the drink’s identity.
The cocktail’s exact origin is disputed. Several origin stories place its creation in Mexico during the 1930s or 1940s, while others credit individual bartenders or socialites. The name is also sometimes linked to the Spanish form of “Margaret.”
A common mix-up is confusing tequila with mezcal. Both are agave spirits, but tequila is made from blue Weber agave and is the traditional spirit in a Margarita. Mezcal can appear in variations, but a classic Margarita is tequila-based.