Tommy’s Margarita cocktail recipe

The Tommy’s Margarita is a tasty riff on the classic Margarita cocktail, and it’s become an icon in its own right. So, what’s the difference? The Tommy’s sticks to the original ingredients of tequila and lime, but swaps out triple sec for agave syrup – a sweetener made from the same plant that produces tequila. This switch creates a cocktail that’s a touch lighter and smoother than the original, and unlike the classic Marg, it’s typically served on ice. 

Translated from Spanish, Margarita means ‘daisy’ – likely named for being a tequila-based version of a daisy cocktail, which has the base elements of spirit, citrus and sweetener. Daisy cocktails were popular in the early 20th century, but the Tommy’s Marg came into existence much later – not until the early 1990s at Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco.

It’s believed the restaurant’s Julio Bermejo created the cocktail almost by accident after making subtle changes to their house Margarita. His parents – the venue owners – had already removed triple sec due to costs, but Julio didn’t rate the sugar syrup they replaced it with. He tried agave syrup instead and used fresh lime juice – a rarity at the time. Customers loved it, and word of mouth spread through San Fran and beyond. 

Bright and refreshing, this is a perfect drink year-round, and this is one of the best Tommy’s Margarita recipes you’ll find – tried and tested by our team of drinks experts. This is one cocktail that’s well worth having in your cocktail arsenal.

Give this three-ingredient cocktail another flavour dimension by adding the traditional salt rim to your glass. Simply run a lime wedge around the edge of your glass until it's fully coated. Then pour some salt flakes onto a dish, tip your glass over and twist it around in the salt like a cookie cutter until you have a decent coating. If you prefer a kick of chilli, be sure to use Tajin seasoning instead of salt.  

For other spins on the classic Margarita, try the spicy Jalapeno Margarita a Passionfruit Margarita for a tropical twist, the Strawberry Margarita or, if it's a particularly warm day and you’re ready for some icy refreshment, go for the Frozen Watermelon Margarita.