Tequila / Shake
Margarita
Learn how a citrus liqueur contributes sweetness as well as aroma.
Reference: IBA · Source checked 24 September 2026 · Not independently taste-tested
Ingredients
- 100% agave tequila50 ml
- triple sec20 ml
- fresh lime juice15 ml
Quantities scale proportionally. Ice, garnish and “to top” amounts depend on the glass. Prepare individual portions when a shaker or mixing glass cannot hold the full batch.
Garnish: Optional half salt rim.
Method
- 1
If using salt, prepare half of the glass rim so there is an unsalted side.
- 2
Measure the tequila, triple sec and lime into a shaker with ice.
- 3
Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Understand the craft
The learning point
Triple sec contributes both alcohol and sugar. Substituting a different sweetener changes more than sweetness alone.
Watch for this
A common mistake
Treating fresh juice and sweetened lime cordial as interchangeable changes the balance.