Travel has a way of shaping what we bring back with us: flavors, recipes, small rituals that find their way into everyday life.

In the South, Cinco de Mayo, which marks the Battle of Puebla, has become a reason to gather—maybe around a table or out on a patio, and almost always with something delicious to enjoy. 

We asked a few members of our team to share their favorite margarita recipes: the ones they’ve come back to, adjusted over time, and never hesitate to share with friends. From classic lime with a salted rim to a few unique recipes with a twist, there’s no wrong one to mix up first. 

Tag @goodgritmag if you try one of these margarita recipes—we’d love to see it.

Bottled Strawberry Margarita

1 Topo Chico

1/2 oz strawberry syrup

3/4 oz lime juice

3/4 oz triple sec

1.5 oz tequila blanco

Lime wedge

Instructions:

Pour out or drink ⅓ of your sparkling water. Add the strawberry syrup, lime juice, triple sec, and tequila. Stir with a straw, then top with a lime wedge. Serve ice cold.

Bourbon Margarita

2 oz. Bourbon

1 oz. Lime Juice

1 oz. Agave Syrup

Mint, Lime, & Salt for garnish

Mambo Taxi On The Rocks

1.5 oz Tequila (Silver/Blanco)

1 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau

1 oz Fresh Lime Juice

0.5 oz Agave Nectar (or to taste)

1.5 oz Housemade Red Wine Sangria (Pinot Noir + splash of Brandy/Orange Juice)

Pomegranate Margarita

2 oz Patron Silver (or whatever ya like)

1 oz Triple Sec

2 oz Pomegranate Juice

2 oz Fresh Lime Juice

1-1.5 oz Simple Syrup (depending on your liking)

Rim: personal preference is no rim — but salt or tajin is fine!

The Sawyer Special

2 oz. Tequila (make sure it’s 100% de Agave)

2 oz. Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice (never from a bottle)

1 oz. Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice (also never from a bottle)

1.5 oz. Agave Nectar (or to taste)

Combine all ingredients, shake with ice, then strain over fresh ice + a salted rim

SPICY TEXAS MARGARITA

2 oz blanco tequila

1 oz orange liqueur (I recommend Cointreau)

.5 oz agave syrup

Splash of OJ

Entire fresh lime or 2 (depending on taste)

Couple of slices of jalapeño muddled up

Serve over ice with jalapeño slice and tajin rim

Watermelon Margarita

4 cups cubed watermelon

4oz Tequila Blanco

2 tsp agave

1 lime, juiced

Tajin for rim

Run watermelon cube on glass rim and dip rim into Tajin
Blend watermelon cubes in blender and pour into shaker
Add to shaker: tequila, lime juice, and agave
Shake well
Strain into prepared glass

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