You’ll notice that this cocktail is missing one particular ingredient crucial to a classic margarita recipe. Orange liqueur (often Cointreau or another triple sec) typically brings sweetness to tequila’s most ubiquitous drink. But some margarita lovers feel the liqueur overpowers the flavor of good tequila. To compensate, this version deploys simple syrup, which smooths things but lets the spirit and the tart lime juice shine. The resulting margarita (without triple sec, thank you very much) is fresher tasting, with a brightness that sings of summer. Drink up.
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What you’ll need
Cocktail Shaker
$20 At Amazon
Hawthorne Strainer
$7 At Amazon
2" Silicone Ice Cube Tray
$15 At Amazon
Recipe information
Total Time
5 minutes
Yield
Makes 1
Ingredients
1
2
¾
¾
Preparation
Step 1
Place some kosher salt on a small plate. Rub half the outer rim of an old-fashioned or rocks glass with 1 thick lime wheel (reserve for serving); roll moistened rim in salt. Fill with ice and set aside.
Step 2
Combine 2 oz. tequila blanco, ¾ oz. fresh lime juice, and ¾ oz. 1:1 simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds and strain through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into reserved glass. Garnish with reserved lime wheel.
Editor’s note: This orange-liqueur-free margarita was first printed in our May 2016 issue. Head this way for more of our favorite tequila drinks →