National Margarita Day: Recipes to Celebrate With!

It’s National Margarita Day! Who knew? But now that you do know, we’ve got some recipes to help you celebrate the holiday with classic recipes and some tasty variations too.

First, a good margarita has to have good chips and salsa to go with…so pick up some chips and a fiery salsa while you’re buying your margarita ingredients. If you’re feeling especially festive, try our favorite recipe for guacamole too.

First, the two best margarita recipes we’ve found — simple, sweet-sour deliciousness:

Perfect Margarita Recipe

* 1 1/2 ounces tequila (we prefer Patron Silver)
* 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (must be fresh squeezed!)
* 1/2 ounce Cointreau (not Triple Sec!)
* Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
* Ice

If using salt, rim your glass by dampening the edge with a wet paper towel and then dipping in a plate of salt. Then, fill the glass with ice — add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau; and stir a few times until chilled and serve.

Alton Brown’s Margarita Recipe

* 2 ounces 100 percent agave silver/blanco tequila, divided
* 1 tablespoon kosher salt
* 4 limes, divided
* 1/2 small Hamlin or Valencia orange
* 2 tablespoons light agave nectar
* 3/4 cup ice cubes, about 3 to 4

Pour 1/2-ounce of the tequila into a small saucer. Spread the kosher salt in a separate small saucer. Dip the rim of a martini or other wide rimmed glass into the tequila. Lift out of the tequila and hold upside down for 10 seconds to allow for slight evaporation. Next, dip the glass into the salt to coat the rim. Set aside.

Halve 2 of the limes, cut a thin slice for garnish from 1, and set aside. Juice the halved limes into the bottom of a Boston-style cocktail shaker. Cut the remaining 2 limes and the orange into quarters and add them to the juice in the shaker. Add the agave nectar to and muddle for 2 minutes until the juices are release. Strain the juice mixture through a cocktail strainer into the top of the shaker and discard the solids.

Return the juice to the bottom of the shaker, add the remaining 1 1/2 ounces of tequila and any remaining on the saucer. Add the ice to the shaker, cover and shake for 30 seconds. Strain the mixture through a cocktail strainer into the prepared glass, garnish with reserved lime slice, and serve immediately.

Now for a couple of other variations that we like:

Pomegranate Margarita Recipe

* Lime wedges
* Salt (optional)
* Ice
* 4 ounces white tequila
* 2 ounces Triple Sec
* 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
* 1 lime, juiced (optional)
* Club soda

If using salt, rim your glass by dampening the edge with a wet paper towel and then dipping in a plate of salt. Fill glasses with ice. In a cocktail shaker with ice place the tequila, triple sec, pomegranate juice, and lime juice. Pour into the salt-rimmed glasses and top off with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Blue Margarita Recipe

* 1 1/2 oz. tequila
* 1/2 oz. blue Curacao
* 1 teaspoon Cointreau
* 1 oz. lime juice

Add ingredients, plus ice, to cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into salted glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

Mango Margarita Recipe

* 4 oz. tequila
* 1 oz. Triple Sec
* 2 mangos, peeled and seeded
* 2 oz. water
2 cups crushed ice

* Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Makes 2 servings.