Tommy's Margarita
- Glass
- Rocks
- Difficulty
- Easy
- ABV
- ~20%
Ingredients
- 2 ozblanco tequila60 ml
- 1 ozfresh lime juice30 ml
- ½ ozagave syrup15 ml
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube, or over fresh ice. The Tommy's Margarita is intentionally simple — no salt rim, no triple sec, no garnish required. The agave syrup amplifies the tequila's natural agave character in a way that triple sec never can. A lime wheel on the rim is all the garnish you need.
Sips & Tips
Technique
The Tommy's Margarita is a three-ingredient cocktail — there's nowhere to hide. Use the best tequila you can afford and squeeze the lime fresh. The agave syrup should be a 2:1 dilution (two parts agave nectar to one part water) for the right consistency. Shake hard to fully integrate the agave syrup.
Balance
The genius of Tommy's Margarita is the agave syrup — it amplifies the tequila's natural agave character rather than competing with it the way triple sec does. Use a quality blanco tequila with a strong agave presence: Fortaleza Blanco, Siete Leguas, or El Tesoro. The lime must be fresh. The ratio is 2:1:½ — tequila, lime, agave.
History
Tommy's Margarita was created by Julio Bermejo at Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco in the 1990s. Bermejo wanted to create a Margarita that showcased the tequila rather than masking it with triple sec. The drink became a touchstone of the craft cocktail movement and is now recognized by the IBA as an official cocktail. It's the Margarita for tequila lovers.
Tommy's Margarita is the Margarita stripped to its essence — tequila, lime, agave. Once you've had one, you'll understand why Julio Bermejo changed the game. Cheers.
Variations
Classic Margarita
Add ½ oz of Cointreau or triple sec and reduce the agave syrup to ¼ oz. The Cointreau adds orange complexity and a slight sweetness. Salt the rim with flaky sea salt. This is the more traditional Margarita format.
Spicy Tommy's
Add 3-4 slices of fresh jalapeño to the shaker before the other ingredients. Muddle gently, then add the tequila, lime, and agave syrup. Shake hard and double-strain. The heat from the jalapeño adds a spicy kick that plays beautifully against the agave.
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Tommy's Margarita
Glass: Rocks | Difficulty: Easy | ABV: ~20%
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz agave syrup
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube, or over fresh ice. The Tommy's Margarita is intentionally simple — no salt rim, no triple sec, no garnish required. The agave syrup amplifies the tequila's natural agave character in a way that triple sec never can. A lime wheel on the rim is all the garnish you need.