The best Margarita mix makes the best Margaritas without any extra ingredients—okay, maybe ice. For me, that means it’s zesty and sweet, perfect with blanco tequila and smoky mezcal alike (or even non-alcoholic tequila, if that’s your bag). But there are many styles of Margarita mix on the market. So, if you’re wondering what is the best Margarita mix, you have to ask yourself, do you like your Margarita spicy? Extra sweet? A little salty? Light on the sugar? Flavored like mango? Over the course of multiple taste tests, we tried 26 different Margarita mixes to find out.
It’s not hard to make one Margarita—squeeze a lime or two, shake the juice up with tequila and triple sec (or agave nectar if you’re doing it Tommy’s way), strain over ice, done. But it is hard to make a lot of Margaritas. That’s where the best Margarita mix really comes in handy. It’s the savior of every summer party. But it can turn a party sour if you opt for the wrong one.
So, in order to find the best Margarita mixer possible, we sipped all of the most popular, top-selling Margarita mixes as well as a new-to-market Margarita mixer or two. We tasted these mixes both on their own (to assess their unique flavor profiles) and with tequila (as they are designed to be enjoyed). We were looking for mixes that had that almost-fresh lime juice flavor and a decent amount of sweetness—not so much that they were cloying but enough to balance out the citrusy zest and tame the heat of the tequila. We also wanted a premade Margarita mix that required only adding tequila to make a complete Margarita, which is why you won’t see Trader Joe’s Margarita mix on this list. While it was a decent sweetened lime cordial, it called for triple sec. And that defeats the entire purpose of a Margarita drink mix. Sorry, TJ’s.
So, if you don’t want to do anything but slosh one liquid with another liquid, here are the best Margarita mixes we tasted—now including the best spicy Margarita mix, the best light Margarita mix, and the best Margarita mix in a camping-friendly pouch.
- Simple Truth Organic Lime Margarita Mix
This organic Margarita mix lets the tequila shine through in the cocktail. So, agave fans, mark it down and add it to your grocery list. It tastes as if the limes were grilled—they have a rounded, roasty flavor that mellows out the citrusy taste. If you feel like Margaritas can sometimes be too aggressively acidic, then this is the best Margarita mix for you. It’s also made with agave syrup, which, in my opinion, is the best way to make a Margarita. It would be especially good with a softer, aged tequila like a reposado.
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- Owen’s Sparkling Margarita Mix
There should be another name for a sparkling Margarita—Margarita Sbagliato? But we’ll just stick with sparkling Margarita for now. Anyway, if you prefer your Margs with a little spritz, then this is the best premade Margarita mix for you by a mile. Sold in individual cans, it’s a little gingery with good limey flavor and aggressive bubbles. Though it’s designed to be mixed with tequila or mezcal, I also think this mix could be good with rum or sipped solo as a non-alcoholic mocktail.
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- Tres Agaves Strawberry Margarita Mix
If you ever sipped on Santa Cruz Organic’s strawberry lemonade as a kid (and loved it), then this will be the best strawberry Margarita mix you’ve ever tasted. It tastes like fresh, mild strawberry juice without a ton of zingy acidity. It’s highly sippable and would be totally acceptable to serve a mocktail. If you’re opting for a real Strawberry Marg, use a bright, zesty blanco tequila to bring a little complexity to the mix.
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- Agalima Organic Margarita Mixes
Whether you’re pregnant, sober, or simply abstaining from drinking for one day, this is the best Margarita mixer to drink straight. It’s sweet up front and then zesty and a touch bitter on the finish. For my cocktail nerds out there, it tastes like it’s made with a lime oleo saccharum. It’s complex enough that you don’t need the tequila to feel like you’re drinking a cocktail. However, for those who can and do imbibe alcohol, managing editor Gwynedd Stuart said that it “tastes pleasantly limey with a nice zip to it,” when paired with tequila.
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- Master of Mixes
I think this Margarita mix tastes like melted lime popsicle—or like limeade from frozen concentrate. It’s sweet but balanced and is reminiscent of lime cordial. It’s affordable and it’s plentiful, and sometimes that’s all you need to qualify as one of the best Margarita mixes. “It tastes cheap but in a way that makes me feel alive,” said Sporked’s Jordan Myrick. I get what they’re saying—it tastes like fun, like a memory of summertime jubilation. This is the best premade Margarita mix for a pool party. And, most importantly, this is the best frozen Margarita mix because it packs enough flavor that you can blend it up with a bunch of ice.
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- Q Spicy Grapefruit Margarita Mix
The spicy Margarita continues to be a cocktail menu staple. A bartender once told me that a surefire way to sell a cocktail on a menu was to add jalapeños. Now, you can use that same philosophy when whipping up cocktails for at-home guests. We tried two spicy Margarita mixes in our most recent taste test, this one and Simple Truth Cilantro Lime Jalapeno, and Q came out ahead thanks to its more subtle flavors. You get sweet-tart grilled grapefruit flavor, some zesty rind, grassy jalapeño, and a heat that doesn’t smack you in the face but instead builds as you sip. If you do want something a bit more aggressive, then the Simple Truth brand might be more up your alley. But, if you appreciate a balanced cocktail, Q makes the best spicy Margarita mix around.
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- Q Light Margarita Mix
We’ve tried a few light Margarita mixes, but this is the first one that really wowed us. It may, indeed, be a light Margarita mix with just 10 calories per serving, but there’s nothing light about the flavor. It’s rich and concentrated with a dark, roasted lime flavor and a good hit of salt. It does not make a sweet Margarita. This is the best store bought Margarita mix for folks who like a low sugar Margarita.
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
- Hella Classic Margarita
Want to spend a little extra cash on a fancy, craft bottle of Marg mix, either for yourself or to include in a Margarita-themed gift basket (fun!)?This is the best Margarita mix that’s worth your money. It’s so tart and concentrated. You can really shake it up with ice and tequila without any fear of diluting any of the flavor. There’s a touch of salinity, but really, this mix is all about the lime. It’s so sour, it made me sweat a little bit.
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- Daily’s Margarita Mix
“This one has much more true lime flavor,” said Gwynedd. “It has that nice sour pucker.” It does indeed have a ton of zesty bite—an impressive amount for a premade Margarita mix, though it’s more on the limeade spectrum than actual, freshly juiced lime. This mix also masks the tequila a lot more than some of the others. So, if you like Margaritas but not necessarily tequila, this is the best Margarita mix for your style. Plus, it comes with a speed pour top so you can get all Cocktail on your guests and really make a show out of your Margarita making. Or, you know, just pour some without spilling everywhere.
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- Q Spectacular Margarita Mix
While Margarita mixes are handy to have around for groups, sometimes you’re just looking for the best Margarita mixer for one. Sold in a four-pack, this canned Margarita mix gets an edge over most of the other mixes on this list due to its saltiness. There’s a noticeable salinity that complements the zingy lime juice perfectly. If you insist on a salty rim, then this is the best Margarita mix you could ever hope for. And it would be particularly good with mezcal.
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- Filthy Margarita Mix
For ages, cans were the only way to take your Margarita mix on the go. Filthy now makes pouches of Margarita mix, each containing enough mix to make two Margaritas. The packaging alone makes this the best premade Margarita mix to bring on a beach or camping trip. But, luckily, this mix tastes great, too. It really almost took the number one spot—and it’s the best Margarita mix if you don’t plan on making a ton of Margaritas. It’s extremely zesty and tangy and very drinkable. This mix makes a Margarita that really tastes like something you’d get at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
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- Kirkland Signature Premium Margarita Cocktail Mix
Costco is great for so many things—a very particular chocolate cake that Jordan swears by, weekly staples to keep a large household fed, a year’s supply of toilet paper, and basically everything you need for parties. You can host a killer party with one trip to Costco. Pick up a cow’s worth of meat to grill up, stock up on bags of tortilla chips the size of pillow cases, and definitely do not forget the Costco Margarita mix. Not only do you get two 1.75L bottles per purchase, but it’s also just plain good. It has a bright lime flavor, but it’s not too sour. You can gulp it. It does lean sweet, but that helps balance out the alcohol of the tequila. Cocktails need sugar. After three taste tests, Costco Margarita mix remains the best Margarita mix to buy.
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Best Organic
Best Sparkling
Best Strawberry Mix
Best for Virgin Margaritas
Best Frozen Margarita Mix
Best Spicy Margarita Mix
Best Light Margarita Mix
Best Splurge
Best for Tequila Haters
Best Canned
Best Portable
Best of the Best
Other margarita mixes we tried: Powell & Mahoney Classic, Stirrings Simple Margarita, Mr & Mrs T Strawberry Daiquiri-Margarita Mix, Simple Truth Organic Margarita Mix Lime, Margaritaville Golden Margarita, On the House Light Margarita Cocktail Mix, Fever-Tree Light Margarita Mix, Fever-Tree Classic Margarita Mix, Jose Cuervo Mango Margarita Mix, Citra-Fresh Agave Mango Margarita, Simple Truth Organic Cilantro Lime Jalapeno Margarita Mix, Simply Mixology Lime Margarita
The 7 Best Bloody Mary Mixes to Start Your Sunday Mornings Right
Breakfast comes in all shapes and sizes: liquid (smoothie), solid (pancakes), leftovers (yesterday’s The Sporked team (a mix of Bloody Mary devotees and newbies) gathered ‘round the tasting table to try a bar’s worth of some of the top brands of Bloody Mary mix.
Agalima is my favorite out of these hands down. But I like a tequila forward margarita.