If you’re looking for a fresh take on the classic margarita, this Lemon Margarita is it. Simply swapping lime juice out for lemon juice isn’t the move. The key to making the best lemon margarita—that truly taste like lemon—lies in making a lemon simple syrup sweetened with honey.
What Is a Lemon Margarita?
At its most basic, a lemon margarita is a margarita made with lemon juice instead of lime juice. Some recipes simply call for shaking up 1 ½ ounces tequila, ¾ ounce orange liqueur and ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice.
And while this is OK, I don’t think it’s overly “lemony,” and it certainly could be better. So I’m taking it one step farther by using a lemon simple syrup in place of orange liqueur.
Ingredients Needed
- Honey: like I said, I prefer a honey-based simple syrup in this cocktail. The floral notes of the honey enhance the lemon notes. If you prefer a more mild flavor, use agave or granulated sugar.
- Lemons: Meyer lemons really show off in this recipe. But they have a short season. So use whatever lemons you can get your hands on! You’ll be using the zest and the juice.
- Tequila: Blanco tequila is what you want here. Something clean and crisp. Don Julio is my preferred, I also like Cazadores.
How To Make a Lemon Margarita
- Make the simple syrup by combining lemon juice, honey and lemon zest in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer then cover the pan, remove from heat and allow the mixture to steep until cool.
- Strain the simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve. Store the simple syrup in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To make a margarita, add 1½ ounces tequila, ¾ ounce lemon juice and ¾ ounce simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake to chill then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Cocktail Tips
- Meyer lemons have a short season, but if you can get your hands on a few, this is a great cocktail to use them in!
- A traditional simple syrup is made with sugar and water. And while you can use granulated sugar to make this simple syrup, I think a honey-sweetened syrup enhances the lemon flavor. (Use leftover lemon simple syrup to make the best French 75.)
What Type of Tequila to Use
To keep the lemon and honey flavors in the forefront, I recommend using blanco tequila. It’s clean and crisp in flavor and allows the lemon to take center stage. My two favorite tequilas are Don Julio and Cazadores.
More Margarita Recipes to Try
- The simplest tequila you can make is a Tommy’s Margarita. Just tequila, agave and fresh lime juice.
- If you like a smoky cocktail, give a mezcal margarita a try. And if you like things smoky and spicy, try a Spicy Mezcal Margarita.
- Another unique marg that needs to be on the menu: my Italian Margarita. It’s a fan favorite for its depth of flavor and nuance. Absolutely one of a kind.
- Or try my show-stopping Rhubarb Margarita. The perfect cocktail for transitioning from spring to summer.
- Tart cherry juice is a great cocktail ingredient and makes delicious Cherry Margaritas.
Drinks & Cocktails
Tommy’s Margarita
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Mezcal Margarita
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Spicy Mezcal Margarita
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The Best Italian Margarita Cocktail
FAQ
There’s no right or wrong answer, but in my opinion the best garnish is something that’s already in the cocktail. So a lemon wheel (in this recipe) or a lime wedge for a traditional margarita. I garnish Carrot Margaritas with carrot greens and Mezcal Margaritas with a sprig of sage because it’s sweetened with a sage simple syrup. When it doubt, just rim the glass with kosher salt and call it a day!
No! This Lemon Margarita is a great example of a margarita that doesn’t have to be made with triple sec. Orange liqueur, whether that be triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier, is traditional in a margarita, but there are ways around it. For example, Tommy’s Margarita uses agave syrup and my Italian Margarita uses Amaretto. You can also make a skinny margarita which is made with tequila, lime juice and orange juice.
There are so many great options, and a margarita is definitely in the running for my favorite. But you can’t beat a Caipirinha—it’s simple, tart and just delicious.
Depends on the type of margarita you’re making. I don’t recommend using añejo in a Lemon Margarita because it will compete with the lemon flavor. However, I love the idea of using it in an Italian Margarita. It’s toasty flavor pairs well with the other bold ingredients.
Lemon Margarita Recipe
Description
Ingredients
Honey-Lemon Simple Syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- grated zest of 1 lemon
Meyer Lemon Margarita
- 1½ ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce Honey-Lemon Simple Syrup
Instructions
Honey-Lemon Simple Syrup
- Bring ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup lemon juice, and grated zest of 1 lemon to a simmer in a small saucepan.
- Cover, remove from heat, and let syrup steep until completely cool.
- Strain syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store simple syrup in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Meyer Lemon Margarita
- Combine 1½ ounces tequila, ¾ ounce lemon juice and ¾ honey-lemon simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake to chill then strain over ice in a rocks glass.
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Video
Notes
Nutrition
