Tommy's Margarita: The Version That Made Tequila Worth Sipping

Built on the same structure but stripped of the one ingredient that gets in its way. If you have ever found tequila challenging, this is the recipe that changes that.

Tommy's Margarita was created in the early 1990s by Julio Bermejo at Tommy's Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco — a city that was, at the time, taking tequila considerably more seriously than the rest of the world. Bermejo made two changes to the classic Margarita recipe. He replaced triple sec with agave nectar, removing the orange liqueur that had always competed with the tequila's own character. And he specified blanco tequila — unaged, direct from the still — on the grounds that the point of the drink was to taste the agave, not to hide it. Both changes were correct. The result is the version that bartenders make for themselves when they're not making drinks for anyone else.

METHODOLOGY

1. Combine the tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker with a generous scoop of ice.

2. Shake hard for twelve seconds. Tommy's Margarita benefits from good dilution — the shake both chills the drink and integrates the agave nectar, which is thicker than simple syrup and needs the extra agitation.

3. Place one large clear ice cube in the rocks glass. Strain the drink over the ice.

4. Rest a thin lime wheel on the rim. Serve immediately.

Why agave nectar and not triple sec

The classic Margarita uses triple sec — usually Cointreau or a similar orange liqueur — as its sweetener. The orange flavour is pleasant, but it introduces a second competing element into a drink that is supposed to be about the tequila. Agave nectar sweetens the drink without adding a flavour of its own, which means the tequila's agave character becomes the dominant note. The result is a Margarita that tastes more of what it's actually made of — which is, by most definitions, a better cocktail. The ratio matters: 60ml tequila to 30ml lime to 15ml agave nectar is the established Tommy's ratio. If the agave nectar is particularly viscous, dilute it slightly with warm water before using (1:1 with water) so it integrates more easily in the shake.

Codigo 1530 Reposado 75cl Tequila

GBP 65.00

El Tesoro Blanco Tequila 75 Cl

GBP 45.00

Codigo Blanco 75cl

GBP 43.00

Patron Silver Tequila 1litre

GBP 58.00

Patron Silver 75cl

GBP 47.00

On tequila selection — the choice defines the drink

Tommy's Margarita was built around blanco tequila because blanco is the purest expression of the agave plant — no oak ageing, no additional flavour, just the spirit as it comes off the still. The quality of the tequila matters more here than in almost any other cocktail, because there is nothing else in the glass to compensate for a poor base spirit. Patrón Silver (recommended) — one of the most consistently well-made blancos available in the UK. Clean agave character, light citrus, a slight pepper finish. Made in the Highlands of Jalisco from 100% Blue Weber agave. The standard by which most blancos are judged. El Tesoro Blanco — a slightly more rustic and agave-forward expression than Patrón, made using a tahona (a traditional stone wheel) to crush the agave rather than industrial rollers. The result has more texture and weight in the glass. Produces a slightly fuller Tommy's Margarita with more agave presence. Código 1530 Blanco — the most elegant of the three. Código uses stainless steel tanks throughout, producing an unusually clean and precise blanco with a floral, almost delicate agave character. Makes a lighter, more refined Tommy's — excellent for those who want the drink as a sipping cocktail rather than a session pour.