Skip to main content
Epicurious
Bon Appétit

Margarita Without Triple Sec

Three Margaritas with salted rims and lime garnishes
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini

You'll notice that this particular margarita recipe is missing one ingredient that's crucial to a classic margarita. Orange liqueur (often Cointreau or another triple sec) typically brings sweetness to this drink, balancing the tart lime and tequila. The trouble is, that liqueur can mask the flavor of great tequila—and sometimes we really want to taste the tequila. To compensate, this version incorporates simple syrup, which smooths things out but lets the spirit and the lime juice shine. The resulting margarita is fresher tasting, with a brightness that sings of summer. Drink up.

What you’ll need

Read More
Paloma Slushy
Frozen into a slushy, the classic tequila and grapefruit cocktail becomes even more refreshing.
Bicycle Bandit
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
Hugo Spritz
With elderflower liqueur, mint, and prosecco, the effervescent Hugo spritz cocktail is a hit year round, but particularly on warm nights.
Sea Breeze
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Beergarita
The beergarita perfectly encapsulates laid-back summer sipping in a single pitcher, combining the familiarity of a margarita with the effervescence of beer.
Spicy Mango Margarita
Blend frozen mango, blanco tequila, and lime juice into these cooling margaritas. A Tajín rim adds a spicy-salty kick.
Violet Vodka Slushy
Crème de violette is an exuberantly floral violet liqueur that gives vibrant color to this fun frozen cocktail.
Kimchi Bloody Mary
The kimchi brine is the secret hero here; just a splash of it brightens the cocktail while deepening it with a little funky je ne sais quoi.