Tommy's Margarita
Tequila, lime, and agave nectar—a clean, modern take on the Margarita without orange liqueur.
27%
ABV
easy
Difficulty
rocks
Glass
Flavor Profile
History & Heritage
“Julio Bermejo developed this stripped-down Margarita at his family's San Francisco restaurant, Tommy's, in the late 1980s. By replacing orange liqueur with agave syrup and insisting on fresh lime and 100% agave tequila, Bermejo shifted attention to the spirit's purity and helped spark a global tequila renaissance. The drink became a bartender's handshake and was eventually recognized by the IBA as a modern classic.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
Optional: salt half the rim
Garnish with lime wheel
Glassware
Served over ice in a rocks glass
Garnish
Fresh lime wheel
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
out of 10
Sour
out of 10
Bitter
out of 10
Strong
out of 10
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use 100% agave tequila—the drink is built to showcase it
Adjust sweetness based on your agave and lime quality
Skip the salt rim to let the agave shine
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Tommy's Margarita.
3:2:1 Ratio
Adjusts to 3 parts tequila, 2 parts lime, 1 part agave for more tartness.
Changes
Añejo Tommy's
Swaps in aged tequila for vanilla and oak tones.
Changes
Mezcal Tommy's
Replaces tequila with mezcal for a smoky edge.
Changes
Spicy Tommy's
Shaken with muddled jalapeño for a fiery kick.
Changes
Pineapple Tommy's
Adds fresh pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Spicy Cucumber Cooler
A modern classic embodying the garden-to-glass movement, featuring the dynamic interplay between cooling cucumber and piquant jalapeño heat in a refreshingly complex tequila cocktail.
Mexican Mule
Tequila bucks the Moscow Mule template—earthy agave, zesty lime and fiery ginger beer over ice in a frosty copper mug.
Mezcal Tommy's
A modern classic that elevates its parent cocktail, the Tommy's Margarita, into a more complex and contemplative experience by substituting mezcal for tequila.