The best Margarita mix is zesty and sweet, perfect with blanco tequila and smoky mezcal alike. You should be able to fool friends into thinking you made Margaritas from scratch when you use the best Margarita mixer. But there are so many on the market—which ones taste like real citrus and which ones taste like Ecto Cooler? We tasted over 20 different Margarita mixes in two separate taste tests 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 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 mix 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.
- 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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Kroger
- 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.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Tres Agaves Strawberry Margarita Mix
If you ever sipped on Santa Cruz Organic’s strawberry lemonade as a kid, you’ll like this Strawberry Margarita mix. 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 Marg, opt for a bright, zesty blanco tequila to bring a little complexity to the mix.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Agalima Organic Margarita Mixes
Whether you’re pregnant, sober, or simply abstaining from drinking for one day, this is the best Margarita mix 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.”
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- Master of Mixes
I think this 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 senior staff writer Jordan Myrick. I get what they’re saying—it tastes like fun, like a memory of summertime jubilation. This is the best Margarita mix for a pool party. And, most importantly, this is the best Margarita mix for frozen Margaritas because it packs enough flavor that you can blend it up with a bunch of ice.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Hella Classic Margarita
Named after a now closed San Francisco watering hole, which was founded by SF-born baseball player Francis Joseph “Lefty” O’Doul, this mix puts a spin on the margarita much like Lefty used to put a spin on his pitches (I assume he put spin on his pitches). The key lime makes the mix taste more in line with grapefruit than classic lime. “If you are a paloma fan, you would like this one,” Gwynedd said. It has a touch of bitterness to it and a lot of fresh bite. I was a big fan of this mix—but I’m a big fan of grapefruit.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- 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 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, you’ll like this. 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.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- 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 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.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- 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 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. I’ll keep saying it.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
Best Organic
Best Sparkling
Best Strawberry
Best Virgin
Best for Frozen Margaritas
Best Splurge
Best for Tequila Haters
Best Canned
Best of the Best
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