classic · shaken
Margarita recipe
Tequila, lime, triple sec. Shake hard, salt the rim.
A Margarita is 45 ml (42.3 g) Tequila, 22 ml (21.6 g) Triple Sec and 22 ml (22.7 g) Fresh Lime Juice, shaken and served in a coupe. It pours to about 89 ml before ice, at roughly 27.6% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glasscoupe
- Methodshaken
- Pour volume89 ml
- Strength (est.)27.6% ABV
- Time3 min
Margarita ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tequila (blanco) | 45 ml | 42.3 g | 0.94 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Triple Sec | 22 ml | 21.6 g | 0.98 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Fresh Lime Juice | 22 ml | 22.7 g | 1.03 | Weighed by the coaster |
How to make a Margarita
- Set your coupe on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Add Tequila, Triple Sec and Fresh Lime Juice to a shaker, weighing each ingredient rather than eyeballing a jigger.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
Margarita: the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Margarita?
Roughly 27.6% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Spirit-forward. Sip it, do not sink it.
What glass should a Margarita be served in?
A coupe. Chill it first — a room-temperature stemmed glass will undo half the work you just did in the mixing tin.
Can I make a Margarita without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
If you like the Margarita
Tommy's Margarita
Julio Bermejo's two-ingredient riff — agave nectar instead of orange liqueur.
Grand Margarita
A Margarita built up with Grand Marnier and a touch of agave.
Paloma
Mexico's favourite highball. Tequila and grapefruit, over ice.
Tequila Sunrise
Tequila and orange juice with a grenadine sunrise.
Mai Tai
Trader Vic's original. Rum, orgeat, lime — no juice.
Cosmopolitan
Vodka, triple sec, cranberry, lime. Bright pink, perfectly balanced.