The margarita cocktail is a mixture of tequila, fresh lime juice, and sweetener. Serving a classic margarita up means it's chilled and served without ice. It's smooth, bright, and refreshing!

A classic margarita up is perfectly balanced and sure to become your new favorite drink! My dad has always ordered his margarita up, so naturally, that's how I prefer mine.

Enjoy this margarita with homemade guacamole, tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, Mexican picadillo, cowboy caviar, or mango habanero salsa.

Thank you, Sarah from Merece Photograph y, for capturing the photos in this post! Sarah is based in North DFW, Texas. She specializes in branding, portraits, and real estate photography. Learn more and view her portfolio!

Why you'll love this recipe

Tart and sweet: But not too sweet!
No margarita mix needed: Just 3 ingredients.
Easy to adapt: Make your margarita just how you like it! See popular margarita variations below.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make the best margarita at home:

Tequila: Use your favorite tequila. Blanco tequila (silver tequila) will give you a smooth, light, fresh taste. Reposado tequila provides more depth of flavor and color.
Lime juice: Fresh is best! Use this citrus squeezer to get every last drop. The average size lime yields about 1 ounce of juice.
Triple sec: This is one of the key ingredients, it acts as the sweetener and adds a hint of orange flavor.
Agave: Optional, but recommended for added sweetness.

How to make a margarita straight up

Wet the rim of a chilled margarita glass or cocktail glass with a lime wedge then dip into salt or Tajin.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in tequila, lime juice, and triple sec.
Shake well, until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into glass and serve.

Recipe variations

I love this recipe as written, but here are some tasty ways to switch it up!

Spicy: Add a couple jalapeño slices to your cocktail shaker. For more flavor, muddle them before adding other ingredients.
Smoky: Replace the tequila with mezcal.
Sweet: Add extra agave or simple syrup, to taste.
Fruity: Toss in fresh fruit like strawberries.

Related recipes

Want more quick tequila based cocktail recipes? Check these out next:

My limeade margarita recipe is a simple twist on the classic margarita, using just 2 ingredients. It's citrusy, sweet, and perfect for sipping on the patio.
These fresh peach margaritas blend fresh fruit with tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice, and agave for a frosty cocktail.
Learn how to make the ultimate ranch water with just a few simple ingredients! It's my go-to for hot summer days!
My simple apple cider margarita combines apple cider, lime juice, and tequila for the ultimate fall tequila cocktail.
This paloma cocktail is a light and refreshing tequila-based cocktail. It comes together with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda.

I hope you enjoy this fresh lime margarita recipe as much as we do! It's light, refreshing, and perfect all year long.