Tommy's Margarita
Fresh, bright and unmistakably agave-forward, Tommy’s Margarita strips the Margarita back to three ingredients: tequila, fresh lime and agave syrup. With no orange liqueur, the tequila takes centre stage while agave syrup provides a smooth sweetness that naturally complements the spirit.
Tommy's Margarita Recipe
- Tequila blanco 60 ml
- Lime juice 30 ml
- Agave syrup 15 ml
- Fresh lime 1 slice
- Ice 250 g
Make it properly
- Chill a rocks glass while preparing the cocktail.
- Add the tequila, fresh lime juice and agave syrup to a shaker with 150 g ice.
- Shake firmly for around 10–12 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Fill the chilled rocks glass with 100 g fresh ice.
- Strain the cocktail over the fresh ice.
- Finish with 1 lime slice and serve immediately.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD TOMMY'S MARGARITA?
The defining difference is the absence of orange liqueur.
A classic Margarita combines tequila, orange liqueur and lime. Tommy’s Margarita replaces the orange liqueur with agave syrup, creating a simpler, more tequila-focused drink. IBA
It is still recognisably part of the Margarita family in modern cocktail culture, but structurally it is closer to a tequila sour because it contains spirit, citrus and a non-alcoholic sweetener rather than a liqueur.
Your recipe, ready to save.
Download a compact recipe card and use the QR code to return to the live builder whenever you need to scale the quantities.
TOMMY’S MARGARITA RECIPE, INGREDIENTS & TIPS
Tommy’s Margarita is one of the simplest ways to showcase good tequila. Instead of balancing tequila and lime with orange liqueur, it uses agave syrup—the same plant family at the heart of tequila production. That changes the character considerably. There is no orange flavour competing with the spirit, so the tequila becomes much more prominent. Fresh lime provides acidity while agave supplies just enough sweetness to bring everything together.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR A TOMMY’S MARGARITA
Use a tequila labelled 100% agave. The IBA specifically calls for 100% agave tequila, which matters particularly in Tommy’s Margarita because there are so few other flavours to hide the character of the spirit. IBA
Blanco tequila gives the drink a fresh, crisp and direct agave character. Reposado also works and introduces a softer, slightly richer profile; Difford’s current recipe specifies reposado tequila. Difford's Guide
Use fresh lime juice for clean acidity and agave syrup for sweetness. Agave syrup integrates easily into the shaken drink and reinforces rather than obscures the tequila.
HOW TO BALANCE A TOMMY’S MARGARITA
With only three liquid ingredients, small adjustments make a noticeable difference.
60 ml tequila gives the drink a strong agave foundation, while 30 ml fresh lime juice provides plenty of acidity. 15 ml agave syrup rounds out that acidity without making the cocktail overly sweet.
The concentration of agave syrups can differ, so sweetness can be adjusted slightly to suit the particular syrup and limes being used.
THE STORY BEHIND TOMMY’S MARGARITA
Tommy’s Margarita was created by Julio Bermejo at his family’s Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco. Difford’s Guide dates its creation to around 1987–88. Difford's Guide
Bermejo replaced the orange liqueur found in a conventional Margarita with agave syrup, placing much greater emphasis on the flavour of quality tequila. The cocktail subsequently spread far beyond the restaurant and became an internationally recognised modern classic. Difford's Guide
Today it is included on the IBA official cocktail list in the New Era category.
TECHNIQUE
Shake the tequila, lime and agave syrup vigorously with ice. Agave syrup is relatively viscous, so proper shaking helps integrate it completely while chilling and diluting the cocktail.
Use 150 g of the total 250 g ice for shaking, then strain over 100 g fresh ice in the serving glass.
Avoid simply transferring the shaker ice into the glass. Fresh serving ice melts more slowly and gives the finished cocktail a cleaner presentation.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
100% Agave Tequila
Choose a tequila with enough agave character to remain at the centre of the cocktail. Blanco gives a brighter profile, while reposado produces a slightly rounder drink.
Agave Syrup
A smooth cocktail agave syrup provides sweetness while complementing the tequila rather than introducing another flavour.
Fresh Lime
Freshly squeezed lime provides the acidity and citrus aroma that give Tommy’s Margarita its refreshing character.
TIPS & VARIATIONS
Adjust the agave carefully. If your limes are particularly sharp, a little more syrup may be useful. If they are softer and sweeter, use slightly less.
Try reposado tequila. It produces a rounder version with subtle aged notes while keeping the fundamental tequila-lime-agave combination intact.
Skip the orange liqueur. Adding triple sec or another orange liqueur moves the drink back towards a conventional Margarita.
Keep the serving ice fresh. Shake with one portion of ice and serve over new ice for better temperature and dilution control.
SERVE IT PROPERLY
Serve Tommy’s Margarita in a rocks glass over fresh ice with a lime slice.
A salt rim is not necessary. The current IBA specification calls for a lime slice and does not specify a salt rim, keeping the focus firmly on tequila, lime and agave.
Questions about the Tommy's Margarita
What is in a Tommy’s Margarita?
Tommy’s Margarita combines 100% agave tequila, fresh lime juice and agave syrup, shaken with ice and served over fresh ice.
What is the difference between a Margarita and Tommy’s Margarita?
A classic Margarita uses tequila, orange liqueur and lime. Tommy’s Margarita removes the orange liqueur and uses agave syrup as the sweetener instead.
Does Tommy’s Margarita need a salt rim?
No. A salt rim isn't required, and the current IBA recipe does not specify one.
Should I use blanco or reposado tequila?
Both work. Blanco gives a brighter, fresher agave profile, while reposado makes the cocktail slightly richer and rounder. The IBA specifies 100% agave tequila without stating an ageing category, while Difford’s uses reposado.
Why does Tommy’s Margarita use agave syrup?
Agave syrup provides the sweetness normally contributed partly by orange liqueur while keeping the flavour profile focused on tequila and lime.
How many Tommy’s Margaritas can I make?
Choose 6, 12, 24 or 48 cocktails and the quantities you need are calculated automatically. Select your preferred products and remove anything you already have.
Is Tommy’s Margarita an official IBA cocktail?
Yes. Tommy’s Margarita is currently included in the International Bartenders Association’s New Era category. IBA See the IBA’s official Tommy’s Margarita recipe for its official specification.