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Margarita Without Triple Sec

Three Margaritas with salted rims and lime garnishes
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini

You'll notice that this particular margarita recipe is missing one ingredient that's crucial to a classic margarita. Orange liqueur (often Cointreau or another triple sec) typically brings sweetness to this drink, balancing the tart lime and tequila. The trouble is, that liqueur can mask the flavor of great tequila—and sometimes we really want to taste the tequila. To compensate, this version incorporates simple syrup, which smooths things out but lets the spirit and the lime juice shine. The resulting margarita is fresher tasting, with a brightness that sings of summer. Drink up.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1

Ingredients

Kosher salt (for serving)
½ thick lime wheel (for serving)
2 oz. tequila blanco
¾ oz. fresh lime juice
¾ oz. simple syrup

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place some salt on a small plate. Rub rim of an old-fashioned or rocks glass with lime (reserve for serving); dip in salt. Fill with ice and set aside.

    Step 2

    Combine tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.

    Step 3

    Strain cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into reserved glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

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