Is it even summer without a margarita in hand? This icy, lime-forward classic boasts the perfect balance of tart, spicy, and sweet flavors. Blend up a batch using tequila, New Deal Ginger Liqueur, fresh lime juice, and orange liqueur—then freeze in advance. Pull it out when the guests arrive and serve straight from the container for maximum chill.
This big-batch recipe starts with a one-liter bottle (1000ML) of tequila, which is a little smaller than “a handle.” You can start with a one-liter bottle of tequila and pour off some for later use. Or, you can start with any empty one-liter bottle. Some examples of common freezer-safe one-liter bottles widely available from various retailers are here, here, or here.
- 1-liter bottle of your favorite tequila
- 3/4 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1/4 cup orange liqueur (Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- 1/4 cup New Deal Ginger Liqueur
- 3 T agave syrup
- 1/8 t salt + additional salt for rim of glass
- lime wheel for garnish
- cocktail shaker and ice, for service
Pour off 1 1/4 cups tequila from the one-liter bottle. Reserve for other cocktails. Add remaining ingredients (including 1/8 t salt) to the bottle of tequila and close tightly. Shake until agave is fully dissolved. Place the bottle in the freezer for at least 8 hours.
When you’re ready to serve the margaritas, remove the bottle from the freezer and shake well. Add 1 cup of cubed ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in 1/2 cup of margarita mixture and shake well. Salt the rim of a margarita glass and add some ice. Strain margarita mixture into the glasses and garnish with a lime wheel.
