We’ve been on a bit of a Margarita kick lately. It all started as a small craving for a salty/sweet tequila drink while planning a taco night a few weeks ago, and eventually grew into a regular fixture in our post-work dinner prep time in the kitchen. Up until this point, we’d actually never even purchased a bottle of tequila, but thankfully our home bar is now happily stocked with a bottle of tasty 100% agave tequila. (Full-disclosure: aside from the 100% agave part, we selected our bottle – the Espolon – because of the label, but if you’ve seen the photos below, you probably already guessed that.)

I blame it on my love for all things sweet and salty, and the fact that margaritas are exceptionally easy to make, but the ease of whipping them up and the ability to recite the proportions from memory is one of the inspirations behind the list of Our Essential Cocktails that we shared last week.

We tried a couple of recipes from our cocktail books, but we ended up liking the one below, adapted from Bon Appetit, for its simplicity and the fact that it doesn’t require any extra sugar or agave. And while a salted rim is not for everyone, we personally can’t imagine a margarita without it.

Margarita (makes one drink)

1 1/2 oz. tequila
1 1/2 oz orange liqueur (we use Cointreau)
1 1/4 oz lime juice
Lime slice (optional, for garnish)
Salt (optional, for rim)

Combine tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until the shaker is frosty. Pour into a ice-filled glass. Enjoy!

Photos by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.