There’s nothing quite like a chilled margarita on a hot summer’s day. Sitting outside, sprawled out on your favorite outdoor furniture, with the classic beverage within arm’s length, is as close to paradise as one can get without going on vacation.
But some fans of the drink or those wanting to try it may not want tequila to be its main ingredient. Using these tips for making the best non-alcoholic margarita guarantees a final product that rivals anything Tom Cruise did in Cocktail.
A Tequila Substitute
The primary ingredient of a margarita is tequila. The agave plant-based liquor from Mexico has been a staple of the chilled drink for eons. However, it’s not necessarily a must-have when you don’t want to feel the effects of 80-120 proof alcohol.
Fortunately, several tequila alternatives are at your disposal, the most obvious being non-alcoholic tequila. You probably wouldn’t want to drink non-alcoholic tequila straight from the bottle, but it is an ideal substitute for mixing drinks à la margarita.
Add Bitters
Another alternative to spice things up is adding bitters. Technically, bitters do contain alcohol and are potent if you were to drink it straight from the bottle. Therefore, if you’re a hard pass on your mocktail containing alcoholic components, you can forgo this advice.
Nevertheless, a dash of bitters contains traces of alcohol unnoticeable to the trained tongue. A few spritzes of your preferred choice have less than one percent of alcohol, implying you would need to drink 20 bitters-aided margaritas to have the same effect as a standard glass of wine.
Use a Margarita Mix
A traditional margarita contains lime juice and orange liqueur to give it its distinct taste. But you can cut your shopping list in half if you use a margarita mix. Several Margarita Man flavors will take your mocktail up a notch, including several fruit flavors and the ever-so-lovely Dreamsicle that will bring back wonderful childhood memories of eating the orange sherbet snack.
Something Sweet
As tasty as one of our margarita mixes can be for your mocktail, there is one last thing you can do if you want your drink sweet. Agave nectar—or agave syrup—has a rich taste that’s even more noticeable than sugar.
The agave plant generally contains multiple health benefits, but when it’s broken down into syrup, its benefits go by the wayside. There’s nothing wrong in adding the sweetener to one mocktail to tickle your tastebuds, but it’s probably best if you use it sparingly unless you want the biggest sugar rush of your life.
Salt the Rim
No margarita is complete without the subtle touch of salt along the rim of the glass. A margarita without salt is like a hot fudge sundae without hot fudge—it’s quintessential. The flaky salt boosts the drink’s tastiness, meshing seamlessly with the sweet and sour flavors of the other ingredients.
Following these tips for making the best non-alcoholic margarita ensures you have the perfect summer cocktail without any negative side effects the day after. Westchester Margarita Man is your go-to source for authentic flavors to concoct a delicious drink. With all the flavors we provide, you will never run out of new recipes to try!
