My key lime margarita is the only cocktail you'll want to drink while key limes are in season! It's sweet and sour and ready in just a few minutes whether you're making it by the glass or a whole round to sip with friends.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my piña colada margarita, too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy - You only need five minutes and five ingredients to craft this cocktail at home. And I have a few hacks in case you don't have bartender tools included below!
Light and Refreshing - Mexico is the largest producer of key limes using keey limes in margaritas is actually common and provides authentic flavor that's tart and punchy with fragrant aroma that makes anything you create with them a sensual experience. The taste is more delicate than the Persian limes we find year-round in US grocery stores. And this recipe includes pitcher instructions so you can share the love with your crew.
Flavored margarita recipes are some of my favorite drinks to shake up on hot summer days. Check out my hibiscus mezcalita, sweet tea margarita with orange, spicy passion fruit margaritas, and blood orange mezcal margarita next!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Key Limes, of course! Fresh-squeezed key lime juice is best but you can get away with concentrated key lime juice from a bottle, if need be. Buy a whole bag of 'em and make my tangy key lime pie or key lime pie ice cream for dessert!
Tequila, also of course! I prefer blanco tequila in this drink because it has prominent agave flavor with citrusy notes that play nicely with key lime. My second choice for this cocktail is tequila reposado.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Orange Liqueur - Use any brand of orange liqueur you like and have available, like Cointreau, triple sec, or even Grand Marnier for an extra boozy kick.
Sweetener - I have tried this recipe with a variety of sweeteners, including maple syrup, agave nectar, simple syrup, and zero-sugar options like monkfruit and liquid stevia. They all work well but with the last two, I recommend dialing back the amount by half and taste testing from there.
Frozen Key Lime Margarita Recipe - Just toss all the ingredients (except the salt) into a blender and pulse until smooth.
Mocktail - Want it non-alcoholic? Make a virgin key lime margarita with a zero-proof spirit expression like Seedlip Notas de Agave. Or follow my margarita mocktail recipe, which is even simpler!
How to Make a Key Lime Juice Margarita
- Step 1: Run a halved lime around the rim of your glass then dip it in coarse salt.
- Step 2: Add all the other ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice.
Pro Tip #1
If, by chance, you don't have a jigger to measure out the liquids, a plain old shot glass can work instead. And if you don't have a cocktail shaker, stir the drink in a highball glass then pour it through a mesh strainer or colander!
- Step 3: Shake up the ingredients then strain into your prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Step 4: Garnish with key lime and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
To batch this key west lime juice margarita, add six ounces of tequila, three ounces, key lime juice, three ounces orange liqueur, and three ounces sweetener to a pitcher filled halfway with ice. Stir until chilled. Serves four.
More Favorite Fruity Cocktail Recipes
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I hope you'll enjoy this simple key lime margarita recipe soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Best Key Lime Margarita
Equipment
Ingredients
- coarse salt optional
- ice
- 1 ½ ounce blanco tequila or tequila of your choice
- ¾ ounce key lime juice from about three key limes
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce simple syrup or liquid sweetener of your choice
Instructions
- Prepare the Glass: Run the juicy part of a lime around the rim of your cocktail glass then dip it into coarse salt to coat the rim. Fill glass halfway with ice.coarse salt, ice
- Make the Cocktail: Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice then pour in tequila, key lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.1 ½ ounce blanco tequila, ¾ ounce key lime juice, ¾ ounce orange liqueur, ¾ ounce simple syrup
- Seal and shake until chilled to the touch (about 10 seconds), then strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with spent key lime half or
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