The Best Tequila for Margaritas: Workhorse Blancos, Premium Picks and the Right Orange Liqueur
A great margarita is three ingredients: tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime. With so little else in the glass, the tequila matters more than people think. The good news is that the best margarita tequila is rarely the most expensive one. We sort the shelf the way we do at the counter: blanco or reposado first, then how many you're making. Every bottle below ships nationwide.
In This Guide
Our Picks at a Glance
- Best tequila for margaritas overall: Espolòn Blanco. Peppery, bright and fairly priced.
- Best cheap tequila for margaritas: El Jimador Blanco. 100% agave and under $25.
- Best value under $25: Lunazul Blanco and Cazadores Blanco.
- Best bartender's pick: Olmeca Altos Plata. Highland agave, part tahona-crushed.
- Best premium tequila for margaritas: Siete Leguas Blanco. Additive-free and full of agave.
- Best additive-free blanco for margaritas: Tequila Ocho Plata.
- Best reposado for margaritas: Espolòn Reposado. Ideal for a Cadillac Margarita.
- Best orange liqueur for margaritas: Cointreau. The standard every recipe assumes.
- Best margarita gift: our Margarita Kit, Espolòn Blanco and Cointreau in one box.
The Best Margarita Tequilas, Compared
Every tequila below is 100% blue Weber agave at 80 proof. "Agave punch" is how clearly the tequila comes through once lime and orange liqueur are in the glass.
| Bottle | Style / Region | Proof | Flavor | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Jimador Blanco | Blanco, Jalisco | 80 | Light agave, citrus | Under $25 | Big batches, parties |
| Lunazul Blanco | Blanco, Jalisco | 80 | Sweet agave, pepper | Under $25 | Value pitchers |
| Cazadores Blanco | Blanco, Highlands | 80 | Fruity agave, citrus | Under $25 | Everyday margaritas |
| Espolòn Blanco | Blanco, Highlands | 80 | Pepper, citrus, cooked agave | Under $30 | Best overall |
| Olmeca Altos Plata | Blanco, Highlands | 80 | Citrus, herbs, sweet agave | Under $30 | Bartender's choice |
| Herradura Silver | Blanco, Lowlands | 80 | Agave, light oak, vanilla | Under $40 | Rounder margaritas |
| Siete Leguas Blanco | Blanco, Highlands | 80 | Earthy agave, black pepper | Under $50 | Premium margaritas |
| G4 Blanco | Blanco, Highlands | 80 | Sweet agave, mineral | Under $50 | Additive-free, tahona |
| Tequila Ocho Plata | Blanco, Highlands | 80 | Bright agave, citrus, pepper | Under $50 | Agave-forward margaritas |
| Espolòn Reposado | Reposado, Highlands | 80 | Agave, vanilla, light spice | Under $40 | Cadillac Margarita |
| Olmeca Altos Reposado | Reposado, Highlands | 80 | Agave, caramel, citrus | Under $30 | Winter margaritas |
Best Value Workhorses
For a pitcher or a party, you want a 100% agave blanco that tastes clean and costs little. The one rule: if the label doesn't say "100% agave," it's a mixto and can be up to 49% other sugars. Skip it. These are the bottles we point to for parties.
Our best tequila for margaritas, all things considered. Peppery and citrusy with a clear cooked-agave note that still shows through lime and Cointreau. It's the tequila in our Margarita Kit for a reason: it makes a margarita taste like tequila, not like sour mix.
The best cheap tequila for margaritas. It's 100% agave, light and citrusy, and it does exactly what a party tequila should: disappear into a good drink without any harsh edges. Buy two.
A little more agave sweetness and pepper than its price suggests. A strong choice when you want value without giving up flavor.
A highland blanco with a fruity, slightly sweet profile. It's soft enough for people who don't usually drink tequila, which makes it a safe pick when you don't know your crowd.
A blanco built with bartenders in mind. Part of the agave is crushed with a traditional tahona stone, which is rare at this price. Citrus, herbs and sweet agave, with enough body to stand up to lime. You'll find it in a lot of good cocktail bars.
Best Premium Tequila for Margaritas
Is it worth putting a $50 tequila in a margarita? For a pitcher, no. For a margarita you're making for two and actually tasting, yes. An additive-free blanco gives you more agave, more pepper and a drier finish, and the drink gets better for it.
Our best premium tequila for margaritas. Earthy, rich and peppery, from a family-run distillery that still crushes part of its agave with a tahona. It turns a margarita into an agave drink with lime, which is how it should be.
Single-estate agave, with each batch from one named field. Bright, juicy and peppery. It's additive-free and a favorite in agave-focused bars for a reason.
Tahona-crushed, additive-free and clean, with sweet agave and a mineral snap that keeps a margarita lively. A great bottle if you also want to sip a little on its own.
Best Reposado for Margaritas
A reposado gives a rounder, slightly richer margarita with a hint of vanilla. It's the classic base for a Cadillac Margarita, made with Grand Marnier, and it works better than blanco in fall and winter.
Rested in oak just long enough to soften the pepper and add vanilla and light spice. Pair it with Grand Marnier for the best Cadillac Margarita at its price.
Caramel and citrus over cooked agave, with enough backbone to carry lime. A smart pick for a cold-weather margarita with a dash of orange bitters.
Technically a blanco, but it rests 45 days in American oak, so it drinks like a bridge between blanco and reposado. It gives a smooth, slightly vanilla margarita that pleases a crowd.
The Orange Liqueur Matters Too
Orange liqueur is a third of the drink's flavor. A cheap, syrupy triple sec makes a sweet, flat margarita no matter which tequila you pour. For the full rundown, see our guide to the best orange liqueurs.
The best orange liqueur for a classic margarita. Made from sweet and bitter orange peels, it's dry, clean and strong enough to add structure, not just sugar. If a recipe says "triple sec," this is the one it means.
Cognac blended with bitter orange. Richer and rounder than Cointreau, with a little oak. Use it with reposado for a Cadillac Margarita, or float half an ounce on top.
A bartender favorite. Drier and more complex than most orange liqueurs, with bitter peel and spice. It makes a slightly more grown-up margarita.
The Classic Margarita Spec
Our house spec, the one printed in our Margarita Kit:
- 2 oz 100% agave blanco tequila
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 1 oz fresh lime juice (about one lime)
- Shake hard with ice for 10 to 12 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass with a salted rim, or serve up in a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Like it a little sweeter? Add a quarter ounce of agave nectar. Like it tarter? Drop the Cointreau to three-quarters of an ounce.
Tommy's Margarita
The modern classic from San Francisco skips orange liqueur entirely: 2 oz blanco, 1 oz fresh lime and half an ounce of agave nectar. It puts the tequila front and center, so use one of the premium blancos above. Herradura Agave Nectar works well.
Cadillac Margarita
2 oz reposado, 1 oz Grand Marnier, 1 oz fresh lime. Shake and serve on the rocks. Richer, rounder and a little more indulgent.
Making a pitcher
For eight drinks: 16 oz tequila, 8 oz Cointreau, 8 oz fresh lime and 4 oz of water to stand in for the dilution you'd get from shaking. Chill for an hour, then pour over ice.
Blanco vs. Reposado for Margaritas
Why blanco is the default
Blanco is unaged or rested under two months, so it tastes of agave, pepper and citrus. Those flavors match lime perfectly. Most bartenders reach for blanco, and so do we.
When reposado is better
Reposado rests two to twelve months in oak. It brings vanilla and spice, and it pairs best with Grand Marnier or a richer orange liqueur. Use it when you want a heavier, cool-weather margarita.
Skip añejo
Añejo spends a year or more in barrels. The oak fights with lime, and you pay for aging you won't taste. Sip it instead. Our guide to the best sipping tequila and our premium tequila guide cover the best ones.
Additive-free in a margarita
Some tequilas use small amounts of additives such as glycerin or sweeteners. In a margarita, that extra sweetness can make the drink cloying. An additive-free blanco keeps the drink crisp. See our additive-free tequila collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tequila for margaritas?
Espolòn Blanco is our best overall tequila for margaritas. For a premium margarita, Siete Leguas Blanco. For a budget party pitcher, El Jimador Blanco.
Should I use blanco or reposado for margaritas?
Use blanco for a classic, bright margarita. Use reposado for a richer, rounder drink, especially a Cadillac Margarita with Grand Marnier.
What is the best cheap tequila for margaritas?
El Jimador Blanco, Lunazul Blanco and Cazadores Blanco are all 100% agave and cost under $25.
Is Cointreau or Grand Marnier better for margaritas?
Cointreau is better for a classic margarita because it's drier and cleaner. Grand Marnier is cognac-based and richer, and works best with reposado in a Cadillac Margarita.
Is Patrón good for margaritas?
Yes, Patrón Silver makes a smooth, clean margarita. For the same money, Siete Leguas or G4 give you more agave flavor.
What is the ratio for a classic margarita?
Our house ratio is 2 parts tequila, 1 part Cointreau and 1 part fresh lime juice. Shake with ice and serve on the rocks with salt.
Shop Margarita Tequila at The Liquor Barn
Blanco workhorses, additive-free favorites and the orange liqueurs that make them shine. Ships nationwide. Family-owned since 1982.
Shop Blanco Tequila All Tequila Reposado TequilaThe Liquor Barn operates three retail locations in Vernon Hills, Wheeling, and Niles, Illinois. We are a licensed Illinois retailer and ship to states where direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping is permitted. Prices and availability change; the product page always has the current price. Questions about shipping to your state? Contact us here. Please drink responsibly.
