The Tommy's Margarita follows a slightly different approach than the original and calls for only three ingredients: Tequila, lime, and syrup.
Omitting the orange liqueur first sparked a debate about whether or not the drink deserves the name Margarita. Yet, as soon as the IBA recognized and classified it as a New Era Drink, discussions calmed down.
Quick Facts Tommy's Margarita
- Method: shaken
- Flavor profile: sour, dry
- How to serve it: over ice
- Best glassware: rocks glass
- Alcohol content: ~ 20% ABV, 19.5 grams of alcohol per serving
Read who invented this simplified version of the classic Mexican drink, and learn how to make it at home and to perfection.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 oz Reposado Tequila
- 1 oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
- 0.5 oz Agave nectar
Instructions
- Salt rim a chilled glass and set it aside.
- Add all ingredients into your cocktail shaker with plenty of ice.2 oz Reposado Tequila, 1 oz Freshly squeezed lime juice, 0.5 oz Agave nectar
- Shake until the drink is well chilled and strain over ice into your cocktail glass.
Nutrition
Ingredients for Tommy's Margarita
Pretty similar to the original, it's about the details when making this tequila cocktail:
- Agave Syrup: this version is made with agave syrup instead of regular simple syrup. The original recipe uses syrup made of Blue Weber Agave only. That's the same type used for making tequila and further enhances the spirit's taste.
- Tequila: the key ingredient for every Margarita, also in a Tommy's. Usually, a silver type of tequila, also called Plata, is used. Although, I prefer a slightly aged Reposado in this case. Either way, make sure it's 100% agave.
- Lime juice is an essential component. As opposed to the classic Marg, I prefer aged lime juice for this version.
- Salt for the rim: preferably fleur de sel or sea salt
How to Make it - Best Practices
A Tommy's Margarita has a much more pronounced agave taste than the citrus-forward original version. That also means using fresh lime juice is even more important here.
We like to age our lime juice, which means, we squeeze it 2 to 3 hours before mixing the drinks. This aging time reduces the bitter notes and smoothens the sour bite while maintaining the natural, fresh zesty taste.
Shake this drink for at least 15 seconds, and make sure to use plenty of ice for the process. The tequila has center stage, and you want your drink ice cold. - Also, be generous with the ice when serving Tommy's Margarita.
History of Tommy's Margarita
Although the name suggests that the drink got invented by a "Tommy", it was, in fact, not. The inventor of the cocktail is Julio Bermejo. He created the simplified version of a Margarita in the 1990s while working at his parent's restaurant Tommy's.
The restaurant is located in San Francisco and is famous for its enormous selection of agave spirits. So if you happen to be in the area and are into tequila or mezcal, this place is an absolute must.
When Julio Bermejo discovered agave nectar, he was intrigued as the ingredient was not very common in those days. He experimented a bit and came up with a Margarita recipe that solely works with the sweetness of agave nectar. No additional sugar, no orange liqueur.
Agave syrup was way more expensive than combining syrup and orange liqueur, but Bermejo just loved the result.
More Margarita Variations
You are up for more variations of the Mexican favorite? Grab your shaker and mix up some of these creative takes on the Margarita: