Ever wonder which Margarita is best? How different can they be? Is there a non-alcoholic version that can blend in with the crowd? Is it better with or without triple sec? Is it better with simple syrup or agave? To answer these questions, we decided to test 8 recipes, blind, all at the same time, to rank them in order from best to least. And here’s what we found…
Recounting the Tale
Margaritas are one of the most popular cocktails in the world, but where did it first begin? Well, the history is a bit muddy with many (at least 6) claiming the throne on this classic, but I’ll expand on two versions (the one I ascribe to and the one I relate to the most).
The tale I ascribe to: David Wondrich, a cocktail historian and author of Imbibe!, believes Americans who visited a racetrack just outside Tijuana, circa 1929, sipped on tequila-based cocktails that fell under a category of drinks previously known as “daisies” – spirit, citrus, and sweetening agent. Daisy in Spanish translates to… you guessed it, “Margarita.”
“The margarita is simply a tequila daisy. It’s not named after a woman, and it wasn’t invented in the 1940s. It’s an older drink than that, and it’s a more humble one. But it’s still one of the best cocktails ever created.”
David Wondrich, Imbibe!
The tale I find most entertaining: The manager of the Garci Crespo Hotel in Puebla, Mexico, Danny Negrete, made the margarita for his girlfriend, Margarita. As the story goes, she liked to eat salt with anything she drank (I can relate!) a
The Toast Off
- 10 tasters
- 8 margarita recipes
- All cocktails were made within 5 minutes of each other to allow for side by side tastings, since cocktails can change dramatically over time (as things like temperature and dilution change)
- All cocktails were shaken and strained
- All cocktails were served in identical glassware and without garnish
- Each taster ranked each cocktail in order from 1-8 (worst to best) for overall flavor, with additional tasting notes on each
- All cocktails were measured strictly according to the recipe instructions but omitted any garnish or ice serving instructions as to keep these as identical in appearance as possible
- Teremana Small Batch Tequila Blanco
- Teremana Small Batch Tequila Reposado
- Ilegal Mezcal Joven
- Cointreau Liqueur
- Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Tequila
- Seedlip Grove 42 Non-Alcoholic Spirit
- Supasawa Seriously Sour Cocktail Mixer
- Persian Lime
- Key Lime
- Simple Syrup
- Agave Syrup
- Egg white
- Topo Chico Twist of Lime
- Jalapeño
- Bon Appetit: One of the tasters swore this was the best margarita he had ever had, so we had to include it.
- Defined Dish: The staple in our household that my wife discovered a few years back. It’s been a crowd-pleaser for years, featuring a slightly different take by including an egg white, which is uncommon in margaritas.
- Toasty Bird Original: I love smoke and spice in my margaritas and wanted to create something “clarified” without actually clarifying it, so I used a new lime alternative called Supasawa to see if it could stand up.
- Kyle’s: This is Kyle’s classic margarita that he makes by the pool with a little fizz, paying homage to the Sara Morales Margarita origin story.
- Toasty Bird Original Non-Alcoholic: A non-alcoholic take to see how it fares in the lineup.
- Bobby Heugel’s: This is the winner of a blind tasting by accredited bartenders in NYC, highlighting what happens when you remove the orange liqueur.
- New York Times: The first recipe you’re likely to see when you search “best margarita” online. With over 5,000 five-star reviews, we wanted to see if it really is the best.
- International Bartenders Association: The standard that you’ll probably find in any dive bar.
“Apparently the first paper airplane toy was documented in the 1800s. Since then, people have been trying to set world records, for longest flight time and furthest distance… And also for flying the most into a watermelon — 13 if you were wondering.
Takuo Toda holds the record for the longest time in air. His airplane stayed in the air for 29.2 seconds. Dillon Ruble (with the assistance of the Boeing corporation) holds the record for furthest distance, by flying his plane 290 feet.
So here’s to Takuo, Dillon, and the Boeing corporation 😉 — luckily they are better at flying and setting world records than keeping doors on their planes.”
Winner: Bon Appetit
2 ounces tequila blanco
0.75 ounces lime juice
0.75 ounces simple syrup
Love OR Hate: Toasty Bird Zero Proof
2 ounces ritual non-alcoholic tequila
0.5 ounce seedlip 42 non-alcoholic spirit
0.5 ounce simple syrup
0.75 ounce lime juice
Full Rankings
8. Best for a Strong Tequila Kick: International Bartenders Association
Taster Notes:
Harsh and basic with a strong tequila-forward profile. It has sharp, candy-like notes and lacks sweetness, making it a bold but less balanced choice.
Ingredients:
- 50 ml (1.69 oz) tequila 100% agave
- 20 ml (.68 oz) triple sec
- 15 ml (.5 oz) freshly squeezed lime juice
7. Best for an Acidic Margarita: New York Times
Taster Notes:
Very acidic and lime-forward with a spicy jalapeño kick. It’s strong, boozy, and a bit bitter, with a salty, sour finish.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- 1 whole lime juice (typically 0.75 ounce)
- 0.5 ounce triple sec, preferably cointreau
6. Best for Sweet College Memories: Bobby Heugel’s
Taster Notes:
Sweet and reminiscent of simpler times, with a standard margarita taste. It’s sweet-forward with a slight bread note and a store-bought feel.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces tequila blanco (Pueblo Viejo)
- 0.25 ounce key lime juice
- 0.25 ounce persian lime
- 0.5 ounce agave syrup
5. Best for a Non-Alcoholic Twist: Toasty Bird Original Zero Proof
Taster Notes:
Citrus-forward with a cleaner taste, but not quite a margarita. It’s complex and fruity with a bit of a burn and slightly too acidic.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces ritual non-alcoholic tequila
- 0.5 ounce seedlip 42 non-alcoholic spirit
- 0.5 ounce simple syrup
- 0.75 ounce lime juice
4. Best for a Fizzy, Refreshing Margarita: Kyle’s
Taster Notes:
Bubbly and well-balanced with a nice mix of sweetness and acidity. It’s fizzy and refreshing, with a taste reminiscent of Sprite.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounces tequila blanco
- 1 ounce tequila reposado
- 0.5 ounce triple sec (cointreau)
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 0.5 ounce agave syrup
- top lightly with Topo Chico – twist of lime
3. Best for a Spicy, Smokey Margarita: Toasty Bird Original
Taster Notes:
Spicy and smoky with a distinct ancho and jalapeño profile. It’s sweet and honey-forward, offering a unique and different flavor experience.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounces jalapeno infused tequila blanco
- 0.5 ounce mezcal joven
- 0.75 ounce supasawa (lime alternative)
- 0.5 ounce triple sec (cointreau)
- 0.5 ounce simple syrup
2. Best for a Smooth, Balanced Sip: Defined Dish
Taster Notes:
Smooth and creamy with a balanced sweetness. The egg white adds a nice texture, making it a delicious and easy-to-drink margarita with a slight sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- 0.5 ounces triple sec (cointreau)
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1 teaspoon egg whites
1. Best for a Classic, Sweet Margarita: Bon Appetit
Taster Notes:
Sweet and classic with a lime and tequila-forward profile. It’s balanced with a slight bitterness, making it a perfect all-day margarita.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- 0.75 ounces lime juice
- 0.75 ounces simple syrup