Margarita lovers who fancy themselves connoisseurs of the classic cocktail might be ready for a tasty upgrade: the Cadillac margarita. A classic margarita is made with young silver (blanco) tequila and Triple Sec orange liqueur, but for the Cadillac of margaritas, only premium spirits will do!
What is a Cadillac margarita?
Simply put, the spirits in a Cadillac margarita have all been upgraded. You’ll need reposado tequila, which is aged in oak whiskey barrels for anywhere from 2 to 12 months. The orange liqueur is swapped out, too, for Grand Marnier, a decadent cognac flavored with bitter orange. The result is a margarita with a deep, beautiful flavor with hints of caramel and vanilla. It’s like no margarita you’ve had before.
Find more ways to upgrade a traditional margarita.
Cadillac Margarita Ingredients
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- Tequila: Choose only the best tequila for this cocktail. Look for aged reposado tequila. We recommend Espolón, which is aged in new oak barrels, or long-aged Clase Azul.
- Grand Marnier: Most margarita recipes use a type of orange liquor like Triple Sec or Cointreau, but Grand Marnier is saved for upscale cocktails. Buy it from the store, or make Grand Marnier at home.
- Citrus juice: Squeeze the lemon and lime juice fresh for the best flavor and aroma.
- Superfine sugar: This type of sugar dissolves more easily in no-cook recipes, like cocktails. No one enjoys sipping on a smooth cocktail and suddenly getting a crunch of a hard granulated sugar crystal.
Directions
Step 1: Create the base
In your favorite pitcher, combine the tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, lemon juice and superfine sugar. Stir everything together until the superfine sugar is dissolved.
Step 2: Prepare the glasses
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Take out four cocktail glasses. Moisten the rims of the glasses with the four lime wedges. Sprinkle the salt on a plate, and dip the rims in the salt. Finally, fill the glasses with the ice.
Editor’s Tip: You can salt either half of the rim or the full rim—it’s up to you and your guests’ preferences!
Step 3: Pour and serve
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Pour the Cadillac margarita evenly into the four glasses.
Editor’s Tip: We like to finish the drinks with fresh citrus wedges or dehydrated citrus wheels.
Recipe Variations
- Make a frozen margarita: Prefer a blended marg over one on the rocks? We got you! In a blender, combine the tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, lemon juice, sugar and 2 cups ice. Cover and process until smooth.
- Use different citrus juices: Instead of lemon or lime juice, use fresh orange or blood orange juice instead. The oranges pair well with the Grand Marnier, and we love their gorgeous hues!
- Line with a Tajin rim: Are you a spicy margarita lover? Switch out the salt rim for a Tajin rim.