A margarita mix is a party drink that can be enjoyed with or without alcohol. There are a variety of boutique producers such as William Sonoma™ El Cholos, Mr. T’s or Tommy’s that have good prepared mixes on the market. For a quick party margarita mix, there are some versions sold with tequila already in the mix. It is best to get the brands that require refrigeration as they are flash pasteurized and have a fresher taste.

For the more adventurous, preparing your own margarita mix can be half the fun. These can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until needed. Then there are the purists that prefer preparing all ingredients at the time the drink is being made.

Several kinds of juices and natural flavors are blended together and sold specifically as margarita mix. The common ingredients in the prepared mixes are lemon or lime, tangerine or orange, and Velvet Falernum, which is a thick, sweet cane syrup with a mix of almond, ginger and lime. Most margarita mixes that are premixed are very sweet and have extra sugar added.

The primary alcohol in margaritas is tequila, which is made from blue agave. Tequila is distilled from this high desert succulent plant in the lily family. It is important to use a good quality, averaged priced tequila, as a cheap version could create a bitter influence while the contribution of a high end sipping tequila would be lost in the margarita mix.

Connoisseurs of margaritas are very opinionated in their preferences. Bartending techniques include frozen, blended, or frothy drinks, often with fresh fruit added to the margarita mix. Some of the favorites are banana, coconut, kiwi, mango, strawberry or watermelon. Sometimes these icy blends are enjoyed without alcohol, called virgin margaritas. With a lime margarita, there is a ring of salt added to the rim of the glass to balance out the sweetness and enhance the flavor of the tequila.

Most purists prefer margaritas on the rocks. Most of these varieties require a finer grade of tequila, and do not use a margarita mix. Instead, they add triple sec, orange liquor and fresh limejuice, and of course the signature rim of salt. The ultimate Cadillac margarita also includes a Grand Marnier™ floater.

Margaritas have come to be associated with the tropics and Mexico. Making margaritas has become a pastime for fun and entertainment. There are as many varieties of margaritas as there are palates and everyone has their own version of the ultimate margarita. Jimmy Buffet inspired the enthusiasm for margaritas in his hit song “Margaritaville,” and has since open restaurants of the same name in Key West and New Orleans.