Updated May 2026.
A margarita is tequila, lime, and orange liqueur — the IBA card does not name a brand. Budget means the sticker, not a CRT class. Use 100% agave blanco at 40% ABV if you want agave in the glass; a 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink before the Cointreau. Mixto gold plus mix is a different drink. This is not a 2023 top-ten tasting.
Related: margarita tequila, blanco under $50, Cointreau vs Grand Marnier.
What the glass actually needs
| Job | What to buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit | 100% agave blanco ~40% | IBA class; NOM on the bottle |
| Orange liqueur | Cointreau 40% or labeled triple sec | Proof is label-dependent |
| Skip | Mixto gold + bottled mix | Different class |
An IBA-size 45 ml (1.5 oz) 40% tequila pour is one drink. Four margaritas are four drinks from the tequila alone, plus the liqueur. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Pour math: margarita drinks.
Sources
- IBA Margarita (prior project fetch): tequila, lime, orange liqueur — no brand.
- CRT blanco; 27 CFR 5.148. NIAAA (December 2025). No invented ranking or MSRP.