What Defines A Margarita?

At Mundo Margarita, we get this question a lot, so we want to put this baby to bed. Simply, there isn’t agreement, BUT the International Bartenders Association (IBA) classifies the margarita as a “contemporary classic,” and it is clear about its definition:

• 100 percent agave tequila
• Fresh lime juice
• Triple sec (a colorless orange-flavored liqueur)
• Shaken with ice
• Optional salt rim
• Served in a chilled glass

Common triple secs are Curaçao, Cointreau, and Grand Marnier.

For the sake of argument, we have included definitions from Wikipedia (the world), Merriam-Webster (a limited but factual definition), and other credible sources (OCS). From these, we see that everyone generally agrees on the core of the margarita — tequila, flavored liqueur (typically but not always orange), and lime juice.