By now, the Margarita has been reimagined a hundred times over. But where the Margarita riffs of the past typically kept things simple—swapping out tequila for mezcal, for example—or strayed irretrievably far from the original, the Margaritas of the future take a more thoughtful approach. Defined by culinary influences, maximalist aesthetics and indigenous ingredients, here are three takes that stretch the format to its outermost limits.
This take on the Infante, itself a riff on the Margarita, adds acid-adjusted pineapple juice and orgeat to the mix, courtesy of Sydney’s Cantina OK!. But the real showstopper is the checkerboard pattern made from lime leaf tincture sprayed atop the cocktail, alongside a kitschy cherry and pineapple wedge. It’s the Margarita, all dressed up.
Cantina OK!’s
Holiday OK!
READ MORE
READ MORE
The Margarita has become an American classic, and what’s more American than leftover pizza straight from the fridge? For this “margherita” Margarita, New York’s Double Chicken Please infuses tequila with burnt toast and Parmesan cheese, then combines it with lime-basil cordial and clarified tomato water. To garnish, an edible rice paper print of a hand holding a slice of pizza nods to the notion of “eating” one’s drink.
Double Chicken Please's Cold Pizza
READ MORE
READ MORE
At Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia, most of the bar’s ingredients come from its own farm. For its take on the Margarita, a native fruit called lulo, which tastes like a blend of citrus, pineapple and kiwi, meets viche, a sugar cane distillate from the Colombian Pacific coast. The drink is a quintessential example of how the template can be used to showcase indigenous ingredients.
Alquímico’s
Petronio
READ MORE
READ MORE
Hover over a drink to learn more.
Editors: Talia Baiocchi, Chloe Frechette, Jess Mayhugh, Mary Anne Porto
Copy Editor: Catherine Sweet
Engagement: Kaitlin Bray, Irina Groushevaia
Special Thanks: Amanda Arnold, Patty Diez, Emperatriz Garcia, Allison Hamlin, Scott Hocker, Jack Schramm, Ellie Krupnick, Laurel Miller, Kara Newman, Alonso Ruvalcaba, Robert Simonson, Yunior Vasquez, Tyler Zielinski
Creative Director: Lizzie Munro
Senior Designer: Maggie Rossetti
Illustrator: Andy Bourne
Photographers: Lizzie Munro, Shannon Sturgis, Morgan Ione, Brianna Balducci, Alana Dimou, Emmanuel Rosario, Alquímico
Photo Editor: Liina Paavonpera
Credits