Ingredients
- 1 wedge lime for rimming
- 2 tsp flaky sea salt on a plate, for the rim
- 60 ml blanco tequila 100% agave
- 30 ml blue curacao Bols or Senior Curacao
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- 15 ml triple sec optional, can skip
- 1 wheel lime garnish
Instructions
- Run the lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass and dip in flaky sea salt.
- Fill the glass with ice (carefully, don't knock the salt off).
- Add tequila, blue curacao, lime juice and triple sec (if using) to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim.
Notes
Where it came from
The Blue Margarita appeared in the 1980s and 1990s as American beach bars and pool bars chased the colour-cocktail trend. Blue curacao had been a tiki-bar staple since the 1960s; mixing it with tequila and calling it a margarita was a natural step. The drink hit peak popularity in the late 1990s when retro neon aesthetic was everywhere.
Like the Blue Hawaiian and the Blue Lagoon, the Blue Margarita is mostly about looks. The flavour is a regular margarita with a bit more orange (curacao is orange-flavoured). The food colouring does the rest. Order one at a beach bar and you’re placed firmly in the photograph.
Why blue curacao
Blue curacao is curacao liqueur (made from the dried peels of the Laraha citrus fruit on the island of Curacao) tinted electric blue with food colouring. The flavour is essentially the same as triple sec or orange curacao, slightly more bittersweet, but the blue is the point. It mixes seamlessly with tequila and lime to make the same balanced margarita, but blue.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The blue curacao
- Use
- Bols Blue Curacao or Senior Curacao of Curacao
- Try
- Hiram Walker Blue Curacao for a budget option
- Skip
- Bottom-shelf “blue liqueur”, often more food colouring than flavour
The tequila
- Use
- 100% agave blanco: Espolon, Olmeca Altos, Cazadores
- Try
- Reposado for a smoother, vanilla-tinged version
- Skip
- Mixto tequila, ruins the balance
The triple sec
- Use
- Skip it if your blue curacao is good quality. Add 15ml Cointreau if you want extra orange depth.
- Why
- Blue curacao is already orange-flavoured. Doubling up is optional.
Variations
Other Margarita variants.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
You’ll lose the blue colour but you can use regular triple sec plus a drop of blue food colouring.
Vodka makes a Blue Lagoon variation. Rum makes it a Blue Hawaiian cousin.
Bottled lime juice in a pinch, but fresh is meaningfully better.
Blend everything with 1 cup crushed ice for 30 seconds.
Add a drop of blue food colouring. Stops short of being radioactive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Blue Margarita?
Tequila, blue curacao, fresh lime juice and optional triple sec, served over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. Standard build is 60ml blanco tequila, 30ml blue curacao, 30ml fresh lime juice and optionally 15ml triple sec.
What gives the Blue Margarita its colour?
Blue curacao. It’s a citrus liqueur made from dried Laraha orange peels (from the island of Curacao) and tinted electric blue with food colouring. The flavour is essentially the same as orange curacao or triple sec, but the colour is the point.
Does the Blue Margarita taste different from a regular Margarita?
Slightly. Blue curacao has a touch more bittersweet orange character than standard triple sec. The colour is the bigger difference. If you swap blue curacao for triple sec at the same volume, the drink balance stays roughly the same.
Do I need both blue curacao and triple sec?
No. Blue curacao is itself an orange liqueur in the curacao/triple sec family. Many recipes use only blue curacao. Adding a half-shot of triple sec on top gives you extra orange depth and a slightly less sweet drink, but it’s optional.
What kind of tequila is best for a Blue Margarita?
Blanco (silver) tequila is the standard, clean and citrus-forward. Reposado works for a smoother, vanilla-touched version. Avoid mixto (non-100% agave) tequila, which is harsh.
How strong is a Blue Margarita?
About 18 to 21 percent ABV in the glass. Roughly the same strength as a regular margarita, depending on whether you add the optional triple sec. The blue colour can hide the punch.
Can I make a frozen Blue Margarita?
Yes. Blend the tequila, blue curacao, lime juice and triple sec with 1 cup of crushed ice for 20 to 30 seconds until smooth. Pour into a chilled, salt-rimmed margarita glass.
What food goes with a Blue Margarita?
Mexican food: tacos, ceviche, fish tacos, chips and guacamole. Also great with grilled seafood, especially shrimp. The salt rim and lime cut through richness.
