Of our 52 most popular cocktails of all time, eight are margaritas. This should surprise no one: Margaritas—when executed well—are perfect. And while all eight of those very popular recipes are fantastic, in practice, you only need one of them. Enter: Erika Kotite’s Margarita.
The recipe’s unassuming and to-the-point title (it’s plainly named “Margarita”) is indicative of its greatest strength: simplicity. Erika’s recipe delivers a balanced, refreshing, classic margarita on the rocks. It’s the sort of drink that doesn’t need an exhaustive makeover or explanation—so she doesn’t give it one. Instead, she provides a succinct, all-encompassing margarita tutorial that’s easily memorized and always delicious. Her secret? Unlike the traditional 10:4:3 (tequila: lime: triple sec) formula endorsed by the International Bartending Association, Erika employs an 8:4:4:1 (tequila: lime: triple sec: agave syrup) ratio to create a marg that’s bold, deftly sweet, and decidedly bright.
Although an embodiment of warm-weather refreshment—something Erika solidifies by detailing how to transform her cocktail into a blended, frozen, heat-beating masterpiece—the margarita is an ideal cocktail any time of year. If you need evidence to support this claim, I’d like to remind you that National Margarita Day is, in fact, in February. Beyond the holiday (which we should get school off for), the margarita is built for cold weather customization. The attributes that make it such a versatile summer drink (like the addition of fruits) are applicable throughout the seasons—just swap those summer strawberries for autumn’s apples.
But let’s go back to the basics: In her recipe, Erika shares a concise, actually-useful breakdown of the five types of tequilas. When building her own margarita, Erika prefers reposado, as she believes it offers a comparatively smoother finish than the other types. As far as brand preferences, Erika recommends Cazadores Reposado—a widely distributed, relatively affordable option that you should find at most liquor stores.
Don’t just take my word for it. While maintaining a perfect five-star rating, Erika’s recipe has accrued over 20 positive reviews—many of them teeming with excitement. “EXCELLENT,” praises Yasmeidy, using her outdoor voice. “Just the right balance of tequila, Cointreau & sweet & tangy. It’s also a very easy recipe to remember and to multiply,” writes Frankie.
Frankie hits the nails on the head: This recipe is quick to remember and easy to make—even if you’ve got the entire neighborhood coming over. Keep this one on file, pick up some tequila, and dive in.
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