Vodka Margarita

I love tequila, but like many people, I may or may not have had a rough night with it when I was in college. I still make tequila drinks fairly often, but I also like to swap out the tequila for vodka for a less intense margarita cocktail.

There are so many beautiful specialty margaritas, like my blood orange margarita recipe. They are gorgeous and fun to make. But they can be a bit more work.

🧾Ingredient Notes

• Vodka- Use any brand you like. I recommend a mid-range brand like Tito's or Ketel One or a local brand from your own area.
• Cointreau - Cointreau is a type of triple sec. Generic triple secs can be substituted but Cointreau is the brand I recommend.
• Fresh Lime Juice- You can use fresh squeezed or bottled plain lime juice. I do not recommend Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice as it is more high fructose corn syrup than lime juice.

🍹 How to Make a Margarita with Vodka

This cocktail has three simple steps. Let's get started.

Salt Rim

The easiest thing to do is pour your kosher salt on a small saucer or plate. Use a lime wedge to dampen the rim of your glass. Dip the top of the glass into the salt on your plate. The salt will stick to the lime juice.

Note: You can use a traditional margarita glass, a rocks glass or a highball glass to serve a vodka margarita.

Shake

In a cocktail shaker, combine your favorite vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds. You will know it is chilled because the outside of the shaker will frost over.

Serve

Place ice in your slat-rimmed glasses. Strain the margarita when pouring to remove any stray seeds or pulp from the lime juice. Garnish with lime wedges.

Sit back relax, have some chips and salsa.

💭 Vodka Margarita Variations

Spicy Vodka Margarita

Add two to four slices of fresh jalapeno to the cocktail shaker and muddle before adding the ice and other ingredients. Make as usual. Add additional jalapeno slices as a garnish.

You can also do the same chili-lime salt rim I use in my mezcal paloma if you are feeling festive.

Frozen Vodka Margarita

Place the vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice in a blender with 3 to 4 cups of ice. Blend on high until slushy. Serve in a glass with a salted rim. And if you like your margarita cocktails definitely check out my popsicle gin and tonic.

Low Alcohol Margarita (i.e. Margarita without Triple Sec)

Want a drink but not so much alcohol? No problem! Skip the Cointreau and add an equal amount of fresh squeezed orange juice instead.

Vodka Margarita Pitcher Recipe

Perfect for a large gathering! Combine the following qualities in a large pitcher and stir well before serving.

• 3 cups vodka
• 1 cup Cointreau
• 1 ½ cups lime juice
• 3 cups of ice

As an alternative, you can also make this coconut lime margarita with vodka instead of tequila.

💬Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make margaritas with vodka?

Yes. Vodka is great substitute for tequila if you are craving the citrus of a margarita but do not have tequila on hand, or you simply do not care for the taste of tequila.

Do you put a salt rim on a vodka margarita?

The original purpose of a salt rim on a margarita was to counteract the bitterness. When using orange liqueur or fresh citrus I recommend using a salt rim. It is part of what makes a margarita a margarita.

Can you use Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice in a margarita?

It is not recommended. Margaritas do not typically contain sweeteners such as simple syrup. Rose's has more high fructose corn syrup than lime juice, so it is not recommended for margaritas.

What is the difference between Cointreau and triple sec?

Triple sec refers to a type of dry orange liquor. Typically between 15 and 30 proof. While Cointreau is a name brand of triple sec that is 40 proof.

Grand Marnier is often referred to as Cointreau alternative but is actually a Curacao- triple sec hybrid made from Cognac. I do not recommend it for vodka margaritas because of the heavy cognac taste.