Ultimate Cadillac Margarita

The ultimate cadillac margarita recipe! What makes it an ultimate? The premium ingredients, of course!!  And the mixing!  I can attest that it is the best margarita ever!

This ultimate cadillac margarita is the number one recipe on my blog.

The History of my Cadillac Margarita

This is the ultimate Cadillac margarita!  Well, my version of it.  Here’s the thing.  When I worked at that Mexican restaurant all those years ago, this was the best margarita that you could purchase.  It had premium ingredients and it came with a side shot of Grand Marnier.

The above photo shows the empty side shot.  I floated it in the cocktail, although it didn’t stay afloat.  It delicately slinks down into the drink and if you stir the Cadillac margarita, it will produce a more golden drink!

I used to have the original restaurant glassware that this delish drink was served in but the glass was thin and as we’ve moved multiple times, it got broken somewhere along the line.

Okay, so what were those premium ingredients?  The restaurant used Cuervo 1800 tequila, triple sec and sweet and sour mix, with the above mentioned side shot of Grand Marnier.  The reason they sent it to you on the side was to give you the choice of either pouring it into your drink or doing it as a shooter.  Most people poured it into their drinks.

These truly were the best margaritas of their time.  And I see that although that Mexican restaurant is no longer represented here on the east coast, they are still prevalent on the west coast.  And they still serve this cocktail, although a different version of it.

Enough about the past.  Now for the present.  On to the recipe:

For many years I have taken my margaritas up a notch in the quality of ingredients.  My favorite tequila, thus far, is Patron Silver.  If you like tequila, you have to try this brand. I’ve had lots of different tequilas over the years but I keep coming back to this one. Why?  It is so smooth.  You can do a shot of this tequila and not have to eat the lime after.  It’s that good.

The Cadillac Margarita Ingredients and the Mixing

I absolutely love the packaging on the Patron Silver tequila.  It comes in a green box, with green tissue paper (you can see the green box in the background).  Each bottle is hand blown and has a handwritten number on it with a person’s initials, though I’m not sure if that person would have made the bottle or packaged the tequila.  Either way, I consider him/her a dear friend.

I use Cointreau instead of triple sec because it is a higher quality liqueur.  You just have to do a side by side sniff/taste test for yourself to judge the difference.  Besides, this is a Cadillac margarita – so the ingredients should be top shelf.

I use 4 ounces of fresh lime juice, which translated to 2 1/2 limes.  I also use simple syrup and together these ingredients constitute the sweet and sour of this recipe.

And last but not least, the Grand Marnier.  I love this liqueur.  It is made with cognac and orange.  Delish!

Okay, time to make the Cadillac Margarita.

I grab my shaker and fill it 3/4 way with ice.

Since I’m making 2 Cadillac margaritas, I measure out 4 ounces of tequila.

Into the shaker it goes!

Now for the Cointreau.

I measure out 2 ounces of the Cointreau and pour it into the shaker.

Squeeze It!

Now to squeeze the limes.  Here is the contraption I use.

I measure 4 ounces of lime juice and pour it into the shaker.

Now I measure out 2 ounces of simple syrup. I prefer the 2:1 ratio between the lime and simple syrup, because any more sugar than that, in my humble opinion, makes the drink too sweet.  And sweet is for chocolate!

I take two shot glasses and measure out 1 ounce of Grand Mariner per shot glass.

It’s time to salt the glasses.

I wet the rim of the glass with some lime juice, pour some kosher salt on a plate and dip the rim in the salt.  I keep the glass upside down for a moment and shake it a little before I place it right side up because I don’t want the salt to fall into the glass.  In my opinion, too many bartenders aren’t careful with the salt and that makes for a salty drink.  Blech!

I cap my shaker and shake away for 30 seconds!!  I stick a few big cubes in the glasses and pour the Cadillac margarita equally between the two glasses.  Mustn’t play favorites.

Here are the Cadillac margaritas without the shots poured in.

This photo is with the lime wheels garnishing the sides of the glasses and the Grand Marnier poured in.  Gives it a nice glowy look!

Here is the original photo of the Cadillac margarita.

Here’s the vertical view of the Cadillac margarita.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe.  I do love my margaritas and there was a time when that was all I would drink when I went out to eat.  I have since expanded my horizons.

I would love to hear what kind of tequila you like and why, so leave me a comment.  🙂

Tips on Making the Cadillac Margarita

1. Use the BEST ingredients you can afford.  Premium ingredients equals a more delicious drink
2. Always make your own sweet and sour.  I prefer a 2:1 ratio – two parts sour to one part sweet – once you try that, if you decide you like it sweeter, add a bit more simple syrup
3. Always serve the Grand Marnier on the side, especially when you serve to guests.  It’s quite impressive when they pour their own GM in the Cadillac margarita themselves
4. Salt the rim, but don’t overdo it!  Sometimes, after I salt the rim, I take my finger and clear a spot so if someone doesn’t want to taste the salt they can use that spot to sip
5. Do NOT pour the liquid in such a way that it hits the salt.  You do not want the salt to get poured into the glass

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

5 from 10 votes

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Ultimate Cadillac Margarita

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

This ultimate Cadillac margarita is a mixture of premium liquors and delicious because of it!  This is the best margarita I've ever had.

Course: Cocktail

Cuisine: Cocktails

Keyword: cadillac margarita

Servings: 2 cocktail

Calories: 396 kcal

Author: Elaine @ Dishes Delish

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Patron Silver tequila or other brand
• 2 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
• 4 ounces fresh lime juice
• 2 ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounce Grand Marnier divided

Tools, Garnish and Glassware

cocktail shaker

lime wheels for garnish

salt

highball glasses or margarita glasses

Extra ice

Instructions

1. Fill your shaker 3/4 full with ice

2. Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and simple syrup

3. Wet rim of glass with water or lime juice
4. Dip glass into plate of Kosher salt

5. Pour 1 ounce of Gran Marnier into each shot glass, set aside

6. Cap shaker and shake for 30 seconds

7. Add extra ice to both glasses and pour contents of the shaker equally between the two glasses, being careful not to pour it over the salted rims

8. Put lime wheels on the rim of the glasses

9. Set shots of Gran Marnier beside glass of margarita

10. Serve
11. Pour Gran Marnier into margarita or do it as a shot
12. Lick some salt off rim
13. Sip drink
14. Sigh
15. Smile
16. Enjoy

Recipe Notes

Tips on making the Cadillac margarita

1. Use the BEST ingredients you can afford.  Premium ingredients equals a more delicious drink
2. Always make your own sweet and sour.  I prefer a 2:1 ratio - two parts sour to one part sweet - once you try that, if you decide you like it sweeter, add a bit more simple syrup
3. Always serve the Grand Marnier on the side, especially when you serve to guests.  It's quite impressive when they pour their own GM in the Cadillac margarita themselves
4. Salt the rim, but don't overdo it!  Sometimes, after I salt the rim, I take my finger and clear a spot so if someone doesn't want to taste the salt they can use that spot to sip
5. Do NOT pour the liquid in such a way that it hits the salt.  You do not want the salt to get poured into the glass

Nutrition Facts

Ultimate Cadillac Margarita

Amount Per Serving (1 cocktail)

Calories 396

% Daily Value*

Sodium 22mg 1%

Potassium 84mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 43g 14%

Sugars 39g

Vitamin A 0.6%

Vitamin C 20.6%

Calcium 0.8%

Iron 5.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.