Not that we ever need an excuse to drink a margarita, but if we did, National Margarita Day would be the perfect one. Whether you’re going out or making this delicious drink at home, we’ve got you covered so you can celebrate properly this February 22nd.
Pear & Cilantro Margarita at Link & Pin
Multiple Locations
Caramelized pear juice works perfectly with Reposado Tequila and Grand Marnier, while the herbal cilantro tones are a great balance to the sea salt and orange zest foam in this margarita. If you’d rather go classic, you can’t go wrong with the Link & Pin margarita either, where slight citrus sour gives way to sweet, salty and floral in an adaptation of one of the all-time favorites.
Fresona at La Capital
1910 South Blvd
This trendy Mexican restaurant in South End has lots of different margaritas to choose from, and they’re all incredible. If you like a sweeter margarita, you have to try the Fresona, made with strawberry, triple sec, fresh lime juice and Mi Campo Reposado.
Riptide ‘Rita at The Waterman
2729 South Blvd Suite D
Get the perfect blend of sweet and salty with the Riptide ‘Rita, made with Teremana Blanco Tequila, Hpnotiq, Cointreau, lime, agave, and a sea salt and sugar rim. If spicy is more your thing, try the Deck Hand, made with Lunazul Tequila, Licor 43, grapefruit, agave, and jalapeño.
Casa Margarita at Taco Boy
3700 South Blvd Unit 100
National Margarita Day is the perfect reason to head down to LoSo and try out the brand new Mexican restaurant Taco Boy! You simply can’t go wrong with the classic “Casa” margarita, made with tequila blanco, triple sec, fresh lime and orange juices, splash simple, and salt.
Dockside Margarita at Drift
315-M Lanyard Ln, Belmont
Sip the perfectly named Dockside Margarita with a view of Lake Wylie at Drift. This tasty margarita features exotico reposado tequila, pama pomegranate, lime juice, pomegranate juice and agave. It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect amount of boozy.
Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita at Mal Pan
4625 Piedmont Row Dr 115 D
Spicy margarita lovers rejoice with the Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita at Mal Pan! Made with Lunazul tequila, Patron Citronge, cucumber, jalapeño and house-made sour, this margarita is just the right amount of spicy with the coolness of a cucumber.
Opal Ocean at Sea Level NC
129 E 5th St
Grab a margarita to enjoy with your seafood at Sea Level NC. We love the Opal Ocean, made with Hpnotiq, Mezcal peach schnapps, agave, and lime, or the Ghost Pepper Pommarita, made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Pama, triple sec, ghost pepper syrup, pomegranate juice, and lime. Pro Tip: The Ghost Pepper Pommarita is also available at Sea Level NC’s sister restaurant, The Waterman!
Ghost at Church & Union
127 N Tryon St #8
Church & Union’s version of a margarita is a cocktail called Ghost, and it is delicious! Made with tequila, orange liqueur, lime, cucumber water, and cayenne pepper, this cocktail packs a punch. Plus, they also offer a Ghost mocktail, made with spiritless tequila, triple sec, cucumber water, and lime, for those that want a non-alcoholic option to celebrate the holiday.
Frozen Margarita at Puerta
1961 E 7th St
Puerta, a new Mexican spot in Elizabeth, has an extensive menu of margaritas to choose from in honor of National Margarita Day. We love the frozen option, made with El Jimador Tequila, hibiscus and agave.
Tequila Fix at Sixty Vines
1415 Vantage Pk Dr #100
Sixty Vines features lots of wine on tap, but did you know they also have a mean version of a margarita, too? The Tequila Fix is made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Regan’s orange bitters, mixed berry simple, and lime. It’s the perfect way to celebrate National Margarita Day!
Skinny Margarita at Taco Mama
2452 Park Rd Suite C
Taco Mama has all kinds of margaritas, from pomegranate to prosecco fizz, but one of their best is a simple skinny margarita. It’s the healthier version of a classic margarita, and it comes in a pitcher to share with friends (or drink yourself!)
Rockin’ Chair Margarita at Napa Restaurants
110 Perrin Pl & 1310 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill
At both Napa on Providence and Napa at Kingsley, you can enjoy the delicious Rockin’ Chair Margarita. Made with sauza blanco tequila, triple sec, passion fruit purée, and jalapeño simple syrup, this drink is the perfect balance of sweet and spice.
Patron Cadillac Margarita at Que Onda
Multiple Locations
For those who enjoy the finer margaritas in life, the Patron Cadillac Margarita at Que Onda is a great pick. Made with Patron reposado, Grand Marnier, blossom citrus, and orange this is truly the Cadillac of margaritas.
Blood Orange Margarita at SouthBound
2433 South Blvd
What’s better than a sweet Blood Orange Margarita paired with salty chips and dip? This tasty drink is made with Hornitos, blood orange puree, lime, and agave and can be found at the Charlotte staple, SouthBound.
Pineapple Margarita with Tajin at RuRu’s Tacos & Tequila
715 Providence Rd
True to its name, RuRu’s Tacos & Tequila has lots of tequila based beverages to try out on National Margarita Day (and beyond). We can’t recommend the pineapple margarita with a tajin rim enough. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.
Thrifty Margarita at El Thrifty
1115 N Brevard St Unit 100
We love the Thrifty Margarita because it’s completely customizable. The base is Lunazul Blanco, triple sec, lime juice and simply syrup, but then you can choose if you want it frozen or on the rocks. Plus, you can add a variety of flavors like lime, strawberry rhubarb, mixed berry, kiwi kumquat, and pineapple guava, for a unique drink every time.
Margarita Furiosa at 800° Carolinas
6815 Phillips Pl Ct
Pair your pizza with a margarita at 800° Carolinas. The Margarita Furiosa has Don Julio Blanco, lemon, lime, simple syrup, muddled jalapeño and strawberry to make a tasty cocktail. And, if you’re only in the mood for a quick drink, you can get this as a “mini” which is half the size of a regular cocktail.
Barrel Aged Margarita at The Garrison
314 Main St, Pineville
If you’re looking to celebrate National Margarita Day in the Pineville area, stop by The Garrison for one of the best margaritas in town! The Barrel Aged Margarita is made with Lunazul Reposado, Cointreau, lime juice and agave.
Best Margaritas to Make at Home
Classic Margarita
If you’re staying home but still want to celebrate the holiday, it’s easy to whip up a classic margarita. Add four ounces of tequila, two ounces of triple sec, and one and a half ounces of lime juice to a shaker, combine, and pour over ice. Garnish with a lime and salt rim, and you’ll have yourself a delicious drink in under five minutes.
Jalapeño Margarita
For those that want a little spice in their life on National Margarita Day, a jalapeño margarita can be made in no time by just altering the classic margarita recipe a bit. Add four ounces of tequila, two ounces of triple sec, one and a half ounces of lime juice, and about half a jalapeño pepper sliced thinly (or more, if you like it extra spicy) to a shaker. Combine, then garnish with lime and additional jalapeño slices.
Strawberry Margarita
This recipe from Love and Lemons teaches you how to make a strawberry margarita by using a strawberry puree. It instructs you to take about 10 strawberries, blend them, and strain. Then, combine two ounces of silver tequila, one ounce of orange liqueur, one ounce of lime juice, half an ounce of simple syrup, and two ounces of the puree in a shaker. Combine and pour over ice for a sweet cocktail.
Skinny Margarita
For a lower calorie margarita option, try a skinny margarita. Take four ounces of a low-calorie tequila, like Espolon Blanco, two ounces of orange juice, and a splash of lime juice for all the flavor without the added calories of a traditional margarita.
Frozen Blue Moscato Margaritas
If you want to try a recipe that’s a bit more complex this National Margarita Day, these Frozen Blue Moscato Margaritas from Delish are as incredible as they look (and extra boozy!) You’ll need sugar, salt, limes, moscato wine, blue curaçao, tequila, triple sec, and blueberries.
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alex Maloney. You can find more of her Charlotte-related content on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
