You only need four ingredients to make this classic golden Margarita. This popular variation specifically calls for gold tequila, giving it an effortless balance of smooth and zesty flavor and a beautiful golden color. This recipe is not only fun to mix up, but it’s also straightforward, making it the perfect addition to any summer party.
It’s no surprise that margaritas are the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. The classic tequila and lime cocktail is the perfect drink to quench your thirst on a warm summer afternoon.
You only need four ingredients to make this classic gold tequila margarita. This recipe promises to outshine store-bought mixes with its authentic charm and refreshing taste.
Why You’ll Love This Golden Margarita Recipe
Simple Ingredients: Only requires a few fresh ingredients that are easy to find at any local grocery store or liquor store.
Easy to Make: With just a few steps, this drink can be whipped up quickly, making it perfect for entertaining or relaxing at home.
Versatile: This cocktail can easily be adjusted to suit individual tastes and preferences and can be personalized for any occasion, from tequila choice to garnish options.
Shopping List and Ingredient Notes
Tequila: Select a quality, 100% agave tequila for the best flavor.
Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice is essential.
Simple Syrup: This sweetener can be made at home by simmering equal parts sugar and water over the stovetop until the sugar has dissolved.
Ice: Larger cubes are preferable for serving.
Cocktail Shaker: Necessary for mixing ingredients thoroughly.
Margarita Glasses: Traditional serving glass; alternatively, use a rock glass.
Reposado Tequila
Reposado tequila, a type of tequila, matures in oak barrels for a period ranging from two to twelve months. This aging process imparts a golden hue and bestows the beverage with a smooth flavor profile, including subtle notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak.
Reposado tequila distinguishes itself from other types, such as Blanco and Anejo, through this distinct maturation technique and resultant flavor complexity, contributing to the signature color of a Golden Margarita.
Best Reposado Tequilas
- Mijenta Reposado: A harmonious blend rich in agave flavors.
- Casamigos Reposado: Smooth with notes of caramel and cocoa.
- Villa One Reposado: Full-bodied, hints of fruit and spice.
- Clase Azul Reposado: Velvety, with a balance of spices and vanilla.
- Jose Cuervo Gold: It’s not a true reposado but a mix offering a sweeter taste.
Orange Liqueurs
One of the other primary ingredients of a Golden Margarita is an orange liqueur. You can choose from a few different ones, but they each have their unique flavor.
- Triple Sec: Flavored with fragrant but bitter citrus fruit from Curacao
- Cointreau: Made from bitter and sweet orange peels
- Grand Marnier: Notes of vanilla, orange, oak, and brandy
Recipe Tips
Top Shelf Ingredients: Opt for quality tequila and orange liqueur.
Citrus Balance: Combine both sour mix and orange juice for a well-rounded taste.
Kosher Salt Rim: Adds a classic touch and enhances flavors.
Variations Galore: Experiment with blood orange or coconut for diversity.
Skinny: Swap the simple syrup for agave, or leave the sweater out of the cocktail for an extra skinny margarita.
Extra Boozy: Add a little mezcal or an extra shot of tequila gold.
Margarita Salt: – Use a thick margarita salt or mix it with a bit of tajin.
Taste your drink: Make sure it fits your liking before serving it. Add more simple syrup or lime juice, depending on how much of a sweet or sour fan you are.
Margarita Cocktail Garnishes
- Dehydrated Lime or Orange: A sophisticated choice for a chic finish.
- Fresh Lime Wedge: A splash of color and a hint of tartness. A reliable garnish.
- Lime Zest: Adds vibrant color, texture, and an aromatic twist.
- Orange Peel: Since this recipe uses orange liqueur, an orang peel would be a nice garnish.
The garnishes provide visual appeal and subtle flavor nuances to the classic Margarita.
How to Salt the Rim of a Glass
- Spread salt on a plate.
- Moisten the glass’s rim with a citrus wedge or water.
- Invert the glass and press the rim onto the salt.
- Rotate gently, coating evenly.
- Lift and inspect for an even salt layer.
- Avoid salting the inside—this alters the taste.
Serving Recommendations
When to Serve
- Happy Hour: Ideal for sipping any day of the week.
- Celebrations: Elevate the mood with a festive cocktail.
- Casual Birthday
- Carnival or Garden Party
- Cinco de Mayo
What to Serve with a Golden Margarita
- Taco Salad — A fresh and large taco salad complements the citrus notes in a Golden Margarita.
- Nachos with Blanco Cheese — Pair with creamy queso blanco for texture variety.
- Mexican Style Fruit Platter — chili-lime seasoned fruit for a sweet contrast.
- Tacos, chips, and guacamole — Classic staples that resonate with the Margarita’s flavors.
More Margarita Recipes
Coconut: A tropical twist with tequila, lime, and coconut cream.
Lemon: Bright and zesty, perfect for summer days.
Hibiscus: Infused with floral notes and a deep red hue.
Frozen Mango: Creamy and fruity, best served chilled.
Pumpkin: A fall-inspired margarita with a hint of spice.
Margarita Mocktail: A sparkling non-alcoholic version.
Cranberry: A tart and tangy option for holiday festivities.
Mix up a Grand Marnier Margarita for yourself or a few friends this summer. You’ll quench your thirst while enjoying this popular drink. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
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Golden Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces gold tequila
- 1 1/2 ounces lime juice, fresh
- 3/4 ounces simple syrup
- 1 ounce Grand Marnier
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in 1 cup of ice.
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Rim a margarita glass with salt and fill the glass with ice.
- Strain the margarita over ice and garnish.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Marnier is a type of triple sec, a category of orange-flavored liqueurs. However, it’s a brand with a distinctive blend that includes a Cognac base, giving it a richer flavor and smoother finish than standard triple sec.
Freshness: Fresh lime juice and natural sweeteners enhance the flavor.
Control: Adjust ingredient proportions to personal taste.
Quality: Avoid preservatives and artificial flavors found in many mixes.
A Golden Margarita typically contains a higher alcohol content due to adding an aged tequila, like reposado or añejo, and Grand Marnier. The strength can vary but is generally more substantial than a classic margarita with a smoother, more complex flavor profile.
Gold tequilas are those that are caramel and amber in color. Some tequila makers add gold to their tequila to make it that color. Gold tequila is aged explicitly in a barrel, which gives it its signature color.
Tequila is celebrated for its diverse range of flavors and styles, primarily categorized by the aging process. Blanco, or silver tequila, is typically unaged, offering a pure expression of the agave plant.
Reposado, meaning “rested,” is aged in wood barrels from two months to a year, acquiring a smoother taste with subtle woody notes.
Añejo, which translates to “aged,” is left to mature in barrels for one to three years, resulting in a tequila that’s even richer and more complex. Extra Añejo is a newer category, representing tequilas aged over three years, boasting the most intricate and refined flavors.
Lastly, Joven, or gold tequila, is often a blend of Blanco and Reposado, sometimes with caramel coloring or other additives to achieve its golden hue.
Also, check out more great cocktail recipes, our favorite mixed drinks, and cheap drinks to make at home!
My husband loves his Margaritas! We were watching the Preakness and I made these. He raved about how good they were! Thank you for your the simplicity of this excellent cocktail.
So happy to hear this Wanda!
Delicious! So good! Really great drink to relax with! Refreshing, but still elegant in it’s own way. Good stuff.
Sooo good! I am obsessed! My friends & I loved it!
This was absolutely AMAZING!!! The flavors, the classy look… I loved it all! Thank you