Average
Sour & Citrusy
5 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Frozen Margarita is a tequila cocktail made with tequila blanco, triple sec, fresh lime juice and simple syrup, blended with ice and one of the most popular summer drinks of all time.
The Frozen Margarita is served in a signature salt-rimmed margarita glass with a straw and garnished with a lime wheel, Easy to make and a guaranteed hit every time, the Frozen Margarita is a natural choice for any summer gathering.
How To Make a frozen margarita cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Blender
Knife
Citrus Elbow
How to Mix
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and pour simple syrup into a blender.
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Use a knife to cut a couple of limes in half. Save a lime wheel for garnishing and a lime half to coat the rim of your glassware.
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Use a citrus elbow (or citrus press) to juice the lime halves, then measure and pour the Lime Juice into the blender.
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Measure and add tequila into the blender.
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Add 3-4 ice cubes into the blender, then blend on high.
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Add more ice cubes as desired until you achieve the right consistency. You want the consistency of your drink to be somewhere between a smoothie and sorbet.
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Pour some kosher salt onto a small plate.
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Take a lime half and rub it along the rim of a margarita glass.
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Dip the rim of your glass into the salt to give it a salt rim.
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Pour the cocktail from the blender directly into the salt-rimmed glass and fill to the top to give your drink a crown shape.
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Place a lime wheel on the side of your glass to garnish.
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Place a straw directly into the glass.
All about the Frozen Margarita Cocktail
The Frozen Margarita is a variation of a Margarita blended with ice and made with Tequila Blanco, Triple Sec, lime juice, and simple syrup.
The Frozen Margarita is tangy, zesty and sour. The sweet orange notes from the triple sec perfectly balance the tangy lime, adding a hint of sweetness to the drink. The citrus fruits slice through the earthy, peppery undertones of the agave.
“Tastes like a walk down your favorite Mexican beach. It’s the drink of the summer” says Rico. “You get all the flavors of 100% agave, lime and the triple sec, which gives the drink a nice orange flow – all chilled to perfection,” he adds.
Unlike the classic Margarita, whose origins are often debated, the history of the frozen margarita is thankfully much clearer and well documented.
The first frozen margarita was crafted on May 11, 1971, by a Dallas restaurant owner who ingeniously adapted a soft-serve ice cream machine to create the slushy cocktail.
This innovation allowed the blended drink to be served in large quantities, revolutionizing the Tex-Mex restaurant scene and sparking a nationwide craze through the U.S.
Today, the Frozen Margarita can be found at bars and restaurants all over the world.
- Getting the Right Consistency
The key to a perfect Frozen Margarita is that perfect consistency, somewhere between sorbet and a smoothie. Therefore, as Rico advises, although you want your drink to be frozen, don’t add too much ice – start with 3-4 ice cubes. Once blending, keep adding ice until you get the right consistency.
- Add Simple Syrup
While a classic Margarita doesn’t include simple syrup, adding around 30 ml when making a frozen version helps keep the drink from becoming too diluted by the ice, ensuring it stays sweet. Check out this article to learn how to make simple syrup - Use Fresh Lime Juice
The zesty character that lime brings to a Margarita is one of the most important elements. So, avoid the convenience of bottled lime juice and instead grab some limes and squeeze fresh lime juice. It’s the difference between an OK-tasting drink and an incredible one.
- Swap Tequila for Mezcal
A mezcal Frozen Margarita is one of our favorite variations – swap the tequila for mezcal and the drink takes on a smoky depth that complements the lime juice and the citrusy sweetness of the triple sec. Follow the recipe above using mezcal in place of tequila.
- Blue Frozen Margarita
A Blue Frozen Margarita swaps triple sec for blue curaçao to give the drink its signature color. Follow the recipe on this page but use blue curaçao in place of triple sec. Both are orange-flavored liqueurs, but blue curaçao is sweeter and slightly more complex.
- Serving a Frozen Margarita in its signature Margarita Glass is a must. This glass is perfect due to its wide mouth, which comfortably accommodates the icy cocktail. Its rim is also easy to salt and perfect for garnishing with a lime wheel.
- Frozen or not, a Margarita should always be served in a salt-rimmed glass.
- Want to spice it up? Use a Mexican spice mix seasoning consisting of lime, chili peppers and salt to rim your glass. Oooh, now
that’s spicy. - You simply can’t beat a lime wheel to garnish a Frozen Margarita – it’s a classic.
Tastes like a walk down your favorite Mexican beach. It’s the drink of the summer.
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Frozen Margarita FAQ
A Frozen Margarita contains simple syrup while a classic Margarita does not. “When you make a frozen drink, you want that extra sugar, so your drink doesn’t taste watered down,” explains Rico.
The only other difference is the way they’re made. A Frozen Margarita is a frozen blended drink, while a traditional Margarita is a shaken drink.
A lime wheel.
For a Frozen Margarita, a 100% agave Tequila Blanco is the standard choice. Its bright, peppery agave character cuts cleanly through the lime and the orange sweetness of the triple sec, which is exactly what you want when the drink is served ice-cold. Our recipe calls for Olmeca Tequila Blanco, but any unaged 100% agave blanco will give you the same clean, crisp base.
Taste is personal but we recommend using Olmeca Tequila Blanco.
Our recipe calls for 1 part tequila blanco, ¾ part triple sec, ½ part lime juice and 1 part simple syrup, blended with 3-4 ice cubes. Keep the proportions consistent and adjust only the ice until the texture sits somewhere between a smoothie and a sorbet. That balance of tequila, orange liqueur, lime and sweetener is what keeps the drink from tasting watered down once it’s frozen.
