I feel like most people have a love-hate relationship with tequila, myself included. It’s definitely not one of my favourite spirits–I’m more of an Old Fashioned gal (ha). But, one summer night, I was making some tacos and wanted a margarita. I came up with a lightened up classic margarita in the process. It’s not as strong as your usual margarita, but I find it super refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day.
How I lighten up a classic margarita
I love a strong cocktail. But, they can be a lot, especially if you’re sipping them on a hot summer day. To lighten up a classic margarita, I have made the following changes:
- Not too much booze. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a decent amount of alcohol. But it’s still a little less than most margarita’s I’ve been served!
- This margarita has no salt rim. I was out for drinks one super hot summer day and ordered a margarita. By the time the drink arrived at the table, the cold glass was warming up and all the salt had made it’s way into the drink. I LOVE salt and even I thought that cocktail was unbearably salty — I couldn’t drink it. Salt is also dehydrating and when you’re drinking booze on a hot summers day, you want to make sure you stay hydrated.
- That brings me to my last change: a little extra water. It obviously gives you a tiny bit of hydration. It’s easy to drink a cocktail pretty fast when it’s hot and you’re thirsty. The added water makes it go a little longer. It also lightens up the tequila flavour and strength of the drink. It’s great if you don’t like a super boozy forward cocktail. You can, most definitely, skip adding the water, or cut the amount in half.
After reading this, you may think that this isn’t a classic margarita after all!
As a vegan and celiac, I am very used to taking a recipe, changing almost everything, and still calling it what it might no longer be. No regrets!
How to Make a Lightened Up Classic Margarita
So now that you know what changes I have made to a classic margarita, let’s talk about making it!
I love cocktails, but I have no special cocktail making equipment. I have used a travel mug to shake a martini, and guess what, it was just fine.
For this reason, I have made this recipe as easy as possible and all you need is a glass and something you can use to stir the drink. I have some friends who create phenomenal cocktails and I am sure they would shake their heads at my recipe and instructions. But this recipe isn’t claiming to be a fancy, perfect margarita. It’s an easy cocktail to make because, let’s face it, wouldn’t you rather be spending your time outside with your friends?
I hope you enjoy this lightened up classic margarita. If you’re drinking it outside on a patio during a hot day, have a nice big glass of water afterwards (or during). Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.
Check out these other summer recipes!
- Fruity Summer Salad
- Vegan No Churn Coffee Ice Cream
- Vegan No Church Blackberry Basil Ice Cream
- BBQ Jackfruit Tacos
Check out Barnivore to see what brands of Tequila and Triple Sec are vegan!
This lightened up classic margarita is more subtle than a normal margarita, but still achieves a great taste. I think this is a perfect cocktail for enjoying outside on a hot day. It has no salt rim, which can be dehydrating in the summer, and is lightened up using some water and lots of ice. Please drink responsibly.
- 2 oz tequila (2 tbsp)
- 1 oz triple sec (1 tbsp)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice (1 tbsp)
- 1/2 oz simple syrup or agave (1/2 tbsp)
- 2 oz water (2 tbsp)
- ice
- lime slices, for garnish
-
In a highball glass, stir the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup, and water together.
-
Add in the ice - I like a decent amount of ice, but not so much that the ice raises over the alcohol. Gently stir until the glass feels cold.
-
Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy responsibly!
Pin this recipe to save it for later!
Leave a Reply