Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (2024)

This is the best margarita recipe to share with friends at a party. The addition of bitters gives this classic margarita co*cktail a wonderful layer of flavor.Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (1)

Best Margarita co*cktail

Call me suckered, hoodwinked, or duped. I believe in magic potions. A man hawking small bottles of potion, proclaiming outlandish results. Out of curiosity, I skeptically try the potion.A few shakes in a co*cktail drink. A co*cktail I am very familiar with, but with a mere few dashes of this elixir it became something new. Better. Incredibly delicious. It really is the best margarita co*cktail you’ll make.

co*cktail Bitters have been known to many much more savvy than I, but for me it is an exciting new world. A mystical potion which marries the ingredients of a co*cktail together. Just about anytime I find a bar making exceptional co*cktails drinks, it is almost a guarantee that they have a beautiful stock of bitters frequently reached for behind the bar. Often times, there are bitters they are making themselves amongst the bottles. This is the start to the best margarita recipe.

My dawdling discovery of bitters magic powers recently came to fruition in the pages of a book. Not for the lack of signs trying to tell me the same thing. A reader commented about my use of triple sec in a margarita recipe, disapproving of it’s unctuous sweetness and mentioned it would be much better with some simple syrup and bitters instead.Diane comes home from photographing Bazaar, a hot restaurant in LA known for their exceptional co*cktails recipes (among other things), and she is all aflutter talking about their house made bitters.

Bitters for Margarita co*cktails

Time after time, bitters have been under my nose, and yet I’ve passed right over their magic. We’ve even had several bottles of bitters in amongst our golden elixirs of alcohol, but they were almost never used. But all of these subtle and not so subtle hints have taking me along my current path. Ripening me for the moment I laid hands on the book Bitters by Brad Thomas Parsons.

Diane and I were meeting with the publishers of Ten Speed Press to discuss a project we were working on with them, and I spied the Bitters book on their shelf. They must have seen the twinkle in my eye, because the lovely ladies at Ten Speed handed us the book to take home as we concluded our meeting.

As much as I love co*cktails, it is rare I get excited about a new book. I have my trusted resource on classic co*cktails. Occasionally we’ll come across a beautiful book put out by an upstanding bar, and the drinks will be delicious and creative, yet I rarely make anything out of them. But this book has me excited. Beyond being a great read and resource, it is changing how I make co*cktails.

Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (3)We are in the process of making our own bitters, with the help of Parsons’ book, but there are already a great handful of exceptional bitters on the market. The process of bitters is month long, so until ours are ready, we’ve had fun playing with our purchased potions. Stomach a little uneasy? Some soda water a a few dashes of bitters may be the trick to settling your tummy.

Bitters for a co*cktail is like the pepper and salt to a dish. Or the fish sauce to Vietnamese cuisine. By themselves it is a bit overpowering, but when added with the other ingredients they season it perfectly. Make two classic co*cktails, one with bitters and one without and see which you like better. I can almost guarantee it will be the one with the bitters. For us, any co*cktail I usually used triple sec in, I’ve now replaced that with a bit of simple syrup and a few dashes of orange bitters. Sidecars have never been so good.

Like most everything good in co*cktails recipes there is always folklore and mystery involved and bitters are no exception. It is part of the beauty. One legend which I’ve yet to try but is fun to share, is the no-fail cure to hiccups. Soak a sugar coated lemon wedge with Angostura bitters and take a bite. Hiccups will be gone.

Since our limes are going ape nuts right now, here’s the best margarita co*cktail recipe sans the triple sec and with bitters and simple syrup balancing the lime and tequila.

-Todd

Check out our co*cktail Recipes Here and our Complete Whiskey Guide.

Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (4)

Margarita Recipe w/ fresh Lime & Bitters

Yield: 1 co*cktail

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Note how the co*cktail smells before you shake it. Soon you'll recognize the scent of a well made margarita and will be able to make up a batch of them sole by scent.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces (45ml)Resposada or Anejo Tequila
  • 1 1/2 ounces (45ml) fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 ounce (30ml) Simple Syrup
  • 3 dashes Orange Bitters
  • kosher salt or sea salt for the rim

Instructions

  • Rub the rim of an old fashioned glass(or whatever glass you prefer)with an edge of a lime slice. Swirl the rim through a small pile of kosher or sea salt to salt the rim. Add one or two large cubes into the glass.

  • Combine tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters in an ice filled shaker.

  • Shake vigorously for 15 seconds, then strain into the salted glass. Serve or drink immediately and with leisure.

Notes

Note 1: Simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water. One cup sugar dissolved in one cup of water. This can always be modified for preferred taste and experimentation, but this is a good starting point.

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 185kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 18mg, Potassium: 68mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 21IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: co*cktails, Fruit

Calories: 185

co*cktails & Beyond – Here’s some of our favorite finds:

We tend to be a bit obsessive over our co*cktail tools. Here’s some of our favorites we’ve collected and put to use over the years:

Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (5)OXO Citrus Squeezer – What is the difference between an ok co*cktail & a great one? Most of the time, fresh citrus juice. If you don’t have one, get yourself a squeezer.

Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (6)Japanese Style Ice Pick – My favorite co*cktail tool. With swag and great function, it’s perfect for co*cktail geeks like us.

Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (7)co*cktail Kingdom Leopold Jigger – We have a dozen jiggers, but this one is my favorite. Love the copper-plating, quickly gives a lived in patina. Love the lines on the inside marking off different measurements.

More Easy Recipes:

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  • Tomato Tarts

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Best Margarita Recipe co*cktail with Bitters | White On Rice Couple (2024)

FAQs

What co*cktail do you put bitters in? ›

The Old Fashioned is the quintessential co*cktail in the historical sense of the word. It's sugar (or simple syrup), Angostura bitters, whiskey, and a splash of water or club soda. Spirit and bitters recommendation: When he makes his Old Fashioneds with bourbon, Parsons likes Bulleit.

What bitters go well with tequila? ›

Clear, unaged spirits like vodka, gin, and silver tequila go best with the lightest of bitters like Lime Coriander and Grapefruit. Spirits with a little age like a gold rum, repesado tequila, or even an aged gin will benefit from Caradamom or Orange.

What is the best alcohol for margaritas? ›

Ghost Blanco, Tequila Ocho Plata, and Laneta Blanco are among the best tequilas for margaritas.

What can I add to my margarita mix to make it better? ›

A splash of fruit juice can also add some more flavor to your margaritas. Grapefruit juice will give a tart, slightly sour flavor, while pineapple juice creates a more tropical-tasting drink. "Citrus-based juices are essential for balancing out the sweetness of a margarita," David Alan told Insider.

What co*cktail uses a lot of Angostura bitters? ›

The Trinidad Sour is perhaps the most famous, and widely served, of the modern co*cktails that use aromatic bitters as a base—in this case one-and-a-half ounces of Angostura.

How much alcohol do bitters add to a drink? ›

Bitters are technically alcoholic, and they're usually between 35% to 45% ABV. Because they're sold in such small bottles and their flavor is so strong, most recipes call for just a dash or a few drops, making its overall alcohol contribution negligible, and why you don't need to be 21 or older to buy them.

What are the best bitters used by bartenders in co*cktails? ›

Some of the best co*cktail bitters available are Angostura, Regans' Orange, Peychaud's, Bittermens, and The Bitter Truth. A boom of commercially accessible bitters in myriad diverse tastes has accompanied the 21st-century co*cktail revolution. There are hundreds of different variations to pick from.

What are margarita bitters? ›

This elixir is made with lavender and other (top secret) aromatic botanicals. Use 4 drops to lift a margarita, add complexity and extenuate agave character.”

What are the most popular bitters for co*cktails? ›

Three types of bitters can be found behind just about any bar: Angostura, Peychaud's, and an orange bitter (there are several prominent brands). These are the so-called "holy trinity" of bitters, and most co*cktail recipes can be made with one of these.

What margarita mix do most restaurants use? ›

In addition to powdered mixes, which are more affordable, restaurants also use liquid mixes they can purchase from their alcohol supplier -similar to the concentrate above. The two most popular mixes that restaurants use for margaritas are Zing Zang Margarita Mix and Jose Cuervo Classic Lime Original Margarita Mix.

What is the best formula for margaritas? ›

In the end, a good Margarita is a question of proportions. It is a simple formula: 2 – 1 – ½ . 2 parts tequila, 1 part lime juice, ½ part cointreau. I like to measure in ounces, because the correct proportions, measured as 2 ounces, 1 ounce, ½ ounces make the perfect sized drink for the glasses I like to use.

Is Grand Marnier or triple sec better for a margarita? ›

Can they replace Triple Sec? Both Grand Marnier and Cointreau are excellent replacements for Triple Sec when making a Margarita. In fact, both of these are significantly more expensive and are considered to be better than inexpensive Triple Sec both in quality and taste.

What makes restaurant margaritas so good? ›

Just as important as the style of tequila is the use of a high-quality orange liqueur. Part of the Daisy category of co*cktails, the Margarita calls for triple sec such as Cointreau for sweetness and balance. Though some may opt for agave nectar instead, the addition of the liqueur is what makes a true Margarita.

What do you do with bitters in drinks? ›

The best way to think about bitters is as a liquid spice. Just as you'd add turmeric and cumin to create a flavourful curry, you add bitters to a drink to create depth and new dimensions. Spicy, herbal, and sometimes fruity, they're a great addition to a huge array of drinks!

Do you put bitters in whiskey? ›

A happy by-product of years of medical experimentation is that we now have a dizzying range of tonics and tinctures with which to enhance our drinks. Intense and often high in alcohol, a few drops of bitters can work wonders in whisky co*cktails.

What are Angostura bitters good for? ›

The bark is used to make medicine. People take angostura for treating fever, diarrhea, and spasms; and for preventing the return of malaria. Large doses of angostura are used to empty the bowels and cause vomiting. In foods, angostura is used in alcoholic beverages.

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