Celebrate National Margarita Day 2024 With 7 Boundary Pushing Twists on the Classic Recipe

National Margarita Day (2/22) has once again reared its head for legions of cocktail drinkers. The simple mix of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice has cemented itself as a classic for good reason — but sometimes, you need to change up the formula.

Celebrating the occasion, we’ve put together a list of seven top-tier margarita variations perfect for every level of home mixologist. Some require nothing more than tequila and juice, while others go all-in on infusions, homemade cordials and unorthodox garnishes. Cheers!

Spicy Cucumber Margarita

The ever-trendy spicy margarita has taken on many, many forms over the past couple of years.

This recipe incorporates two staples of the genre — jalapeños and Tajin — alongside healthy servings of lime, pineapple juice and blended cucumber. Equal parts sweet, spicy and vegetal, each ingredient balances one another out for a perfect “best of all worlds” spicy marg experience.

Ingredients

• 2 oz LALO Tequila Blanco
• 2 oz Lime Juice
• 1.5 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 Small Cucumber
• 2-4 slices of Jalapeño
• 1-2 tbsps Agave Syrup

Directions

1. Rim edge of glass with lime wedge and dip in Tajín or salt.
2. Add tequila, lime juice, pineapple and cucumber to blender and strain when smooth.
3. In a cocktail shaker, muddle slices of jalapeño, ice, cocktail mix, and shake until chilled.
4. Strain into glass. Serve with extra lime wedges and garnish with jalapeño slices.

Italicus Margarita

A leading figure in the Italian apéritif wave, Italicus combines locally harvested bergamot, chamomile and gentian root for a citrus-forward slice of Mediterranian flavor.

That is to say, it fits quite well inside a margarita. Consider topping this off with green olives for maximum effect.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
• 1 oz Blanco Tequila
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1 bar spoon Agave Nectar

Directions

1.  Shake and serve straight up in a coupette.
2. Garnish with lime zest or green olives.

Golden Hour Margarita

Amping up the complexity, the Golden Hour Margarita hinges on mezcal, homemade turmeric milk and toasty corn liqueur.

Fret not, this isn’t a trendy fresh-pressed juice option from Whole Foods or Erewhon. Rather, the recipe balances sweet and savory influences to create a cocktail greater than its vaguely vegetal roots. Once you collect the necessary ingredients, it isn’t too difficult to stir up for yourself.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 oz Mezcal Union Uno
• 1/4 oz Nixta Elote Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Clarified Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz Golden Milk (Turmeric Milk)
  • 2 cups Coconut Milk
  • 1 tsp Ground Turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Maple Syrup or Honey
  • A pinch of Black Pepper

Directions

1. After making golden milk, combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled. Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice.
3. Garnish with a dehydrated orange half and a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Mezcal Marg W/ Blood Orange

The crimson flavor of blood orange juice has become an increasingly popular choice for sodas and tonics over the past couple of years. So why not cocktails as well?

A combination of tequila and mezcal does well to balance out the tart nip of blood orange, which fits nicely alongside plenty of lime juice and a few dashes of bitters. Mixed well, every sip tastes like a bite of fresh fruit. With alcohol, that is.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Fresh Blood Orange Juice
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila
• 1/2 oz Mezcal
• 2-3 dashes Orange Bitters
• Pinch of Sea Salt & Blood Orange slices, for garnish

Directions

1. In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine blood orange juice, lime juice, tequila, mezcal & orange bitters. Stir well to combine, and chill the ingredients.
2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice, & sprinkle a pinch of salt.
3. Garnish with blood orange slices.

Winter’s Margarita

National Margarita Day is — somewhat paradoxically — located smack dab in the middle of winter. Why, you might ask, would the powers that be celebrate a classic summer cocktail when snow still falls from the sky? We’re equally puzzled.

Combining cozy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla, the Winter’s Margarita perfectly answers the call for fireside tequila sipping. Time to put down the hot toddy.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Cantera Negra Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh Blood Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz Agave Syrup
• 3/4 oz Vanilla Extract
• Winter Spice Mix
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Chili Powder

Directions

1. Rim a rocks glass with winter spice mix.
2. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously.
3. Strain into prepped rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

“Cold Pizza” Margarita

It wouldn’t be a margarita roundup without at least one over-the-top, time-intensive “gourmet” option.

This year, that honor goes to Double Chicken Please’s Cold Pizza. Recently voted the best bar in America, DCP specializes in reconstructing classic recipes like beet salad and mango sticky rice into boozy, sippable form. The bar’s Cold Pizza laboriously mixes cheese-infused tequila, tomato water and basil cordial for a wallop of savory flavor. If you have enough time on your hands, dare to give it a shot.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Cheese & Burnt Toast-Infused Tequila
• 10 ml Lime-Basil Cordial
• 5ml Oolong Tea Honey
• 40 ml Tomato Water
• 15 ml Egg White

Directions

1. Shake ingredients until chilled and strain into a low martini glass.
2. Garnish with edible custom rice paper stamped with the image of a hand holding a slice of pizza.

Apple Cider Marg

The Apple Cider Marg is another autumnal option — sadly few and far between in the world of tequila cocktails.

The recipe is relatively straightforward, brought together by a delicately sweet sugar, cinnamon and sea salt rim. Top off with star anise and apple slices if you’re entertaining guests.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Flecha Azul Anejo Tequila
• 2 oz Apple Cider
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz Agave Syrup
• Rim
  • 1 tsp White Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Directions

1. Rim the glass by running a lime wedge over the lip. On a separate shallow plate, combine cinnamon sugar and salt. Dip glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker, add cocktail ingredients. Shake well.
3. Garnish and serve.

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