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Tequila Recipe
Skinny Margarita
If you’re a cocktail lover looking for a simple margarita that also happens to be low-calorie, you’ve come to the right place.
Time to make: 10 minutesServes: 1
The low-calorie version of a classic. With all the authentic flavor of a classic margarita, this “margarita light”, or “skinny margarita”, is easy to make and easy on the calories. More importantly, the simplicity of ingredients allows quality tequila to shine. With only a few ingredients, try your hand at this simple cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Blanco Tequila
- 0.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.25 oz. Agave Nectar
- 2 Dashes Orange Bitters
- Orange Slice Garnish
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a half moon orange slice.
In this recipe
What’s in a skinny margarita?
The skinny margarita isn’t far from the components of the classic margarita of old—tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur (or another citrus syrup or liqueur). However, as the margarita has seen an explosion of varieties and recipes, enjoying the “skinny” margarita, for many, is more about returning to the basics of what made the margarita great to begin with.
No consensus exists on what exactly constitutes a skinny marg. Some recipes use orange juice instead of orange liqueur. Some replace sugar with artificial sweeteners. As for us, we chose to use orange bitters to impart all the flavor you’ve come to expect from a margarita.
Variations to customize your skinny margarita
As such a simple serve, there are plenty of ways you can customize your skinny margarita. Try any of the variations below or a mix of a few.
For a lime-y, true blanco drink
If you aren’t a fan of orange bitters, you can leave them out.
For a sweeter, more orange-y drink
You can swap out orange bitters for 0.25 oz. of orange liqueur or 0.5 oz. of orange juice. If you’re looking to cut sugar, this option may lessen the effect, but you’ll still end up with a delightfully refreshing-tasting margarita.
If you don’t have agave nectar
No worries! You can use simple syrup instead. To make your own, mix one-part sugar with one-part hot water. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then let cool. Now it's ready to use.
For a tasty rim
Before pouring your drink into the glass, run a lime wedge or your orange slice around the rim of your glass, then dip it in kosher salt. This traditional margarita rim heightens the flavor of the sweet and sour cocktail while suppressing bitterness.
Switch up the spirits
The classic margarita uses blanco tequila, but other types of agave spirits can be just as delightful.
Top-shelf reposado
For slightly deeper flavor with notes of vanilla, oak and caramel, try reposado. Reposado tequila is aged between two and twelve months, maintaining agave flavor but bringing in more of the flavor of oak casks. We have a variety of high-quality reposado bottles to choose from on The Bar.
Opt for a smoky mezcal
For a smoky flavor, try using mezcal. This agave-based spirit includes a roasting process, hence the smoke tones. Use a high-quality mezcal like Casamigos Mezcal to create the best margarita. A marg is only as good as its tequila—or in this case, mezcal.
Shop reposado tequila
Get in the mix
Love this recipe? Shaking up cocktails at your next soiree? We'd love to see it. Follow us on Instagram and tag @thebardotcom to show us your serve.
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