First build
Make the Margarita benchmark
Fresh lime, blanco tequila, measured orange liqueur, and a half rim show the bright center of the category.
Cocktail category
Tequila cocktails guide
Tequila drinks work best when agave stays present through citrus, salt, and measured sweetness.
Guide notes
How to approach tequila
- Use fresh lime, not bottled sour mix.
- Blanco keeps drinks bright; reposado adds rounder spice.
- Salt should lift the drink, not take it over.
Start here
Pick the first lane
Use these routes to move from the tequila overview into the backed recipe, spirit, or bar page that fits the moment.
Make the Margarita
Tall path
Use the Paloma for refreshment
Tequila, lime, grapefruit soda, and optional salt move the family toward highball service without losing agave.
Guide status
Open the tequila spirit guide
The tequila route carries its current publication state alongside category-level drink paths.
What the family covers
Flavor and occasion lanes
Bright and saltedChoose the Margarita when lime, orange liqueur, and salt should make the tequila feel crisp rather than sweet.Margarita specTall and bitter-citrusChoose the Paloma when grapefruit soda and a short stir fit a longer, colder glass.Paloma specAgave-room contextUse Thunderbird when the next step is a West LA bar review with cocktails and agave spirits in the current data.Thunderbird review
Technique notes
Make the format behave
- Fresh lime firstBottled sour mix changes both acid and sweetness. The current tequila specs rely on fresh lime for structure.
- Shake citrus, build highballsShake the Margarita with hard cold ice; build the Paloma over ice and stir briefly so grapefruit stays lively.
- Use salt as adjustmentSalt should sharpen lime and agave. A half rim or small pinch gives control without turning the drink saline.
Recommended recipes
Tequila to make now
Tequila-led drinks built around citrus, refreshment, and agave character.
Build at homeeasy
Margarita
A bright, dry Margarita spec built around blanco tequila, fresh lime, measured orange liqueur, and a small agave adjustment.
Make this cocktail
Build at homeeasy
Paloma
A cold tequila highball with fresh lime, chilled grapefruit soda, hard ice, and a small optional salt cue.
Make this cocktail