4 Margarita Variations (For When You’re Bored Of Standard Margs)

We’re in the depths of margarita season now, folks, and the tequila’s flowing fast. Everywhere we turn, new margs are appearing: Restaurants and influencers are releasing products and variations at the speed of light, and at-home mixologists everywhere are figuring out how to make their versions a little more interesting. 

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If you fancy yourself as the latter and you want to shake up a margarita at home that goes one step beyond the classic combo of tequila, lime juice, and triple sec, we’ve got some fun takes for you. Here are a few of our favorite, more left-field margarita variations.

Tequila Daisy

A sour, the Tequila Daisy is a sprightly take on the classic marg, which brightens it with sugar and soda water, and adds a new twist with a couple of subs. The main change here is the use of Grand Marnier instead of triple sec: Made with a cognac base, the latter has a richer, more complex flavor. Lemon instead of lime juice gives a slightly more straightforward acidity, while the club soda and sugar temper some of the more acrid alcoholic notes. 

Manu de Chango

The Manu de Chango takes a few extra steps (well, unless you already have guava syrup to hand), but it’s worth it. Invented by bar director at Providence, Los Angeles, Kim Stodel, the inclusion of guava syrup and grapefruit juice gives this drink not only a tropical note, but an interesting play on the sweet-sour dynamics of the classic cocktail. A garnish of guava fruit leather adds a touch of texture. 

Mezcalita

Sometimes, the simplest changes produce the best results. Such is the case with the mezcalita, a marg twist that subs tequila for mezcal, giving it a smokier, woodier, grassier flavor profile. Some recipes, as with the one linked above, also include orange juice and bitters to increase the drink’s complexity (and, in the case of the orange juice, add further sweetness); if you want to keep things simple, though, a straight swap for mezcal from the tequila will add a lot of interest. 

Le Mexique

It might not seem immediately obvious, but ginger flavors pair surprisingly well with tequila. You can see this for yourself by making Le Mexique, a margarita variation that replaces triple sec with Domaine de Canton. The ginger liqueur adds a spiciness to the drink that you might not be able to live without after trying it – and the mango purée gives a rounded, slightly tart sweetness.