Top-Shelf Cadillac Margarita
This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.
This top-shelf Cadillac Margarita is a premium cocktail that defines sophistication. Savor the opulent blend of Don Julio Reposado tequila with the sweetness of triple sec, and the tangy brightness of key lime juice. We round off this luxurious drink with a splash of Grand Marnier.
📌 Pin Top-Shelf Cadillac Margarita
👩🏻🍳 Why This Recipe’s a Keeper
- Best Cadillac Margarita on Either Side of the Border: Living 6 months a year in California and the rest of the year in Mexico, our family went on a search for the best top-shelf Cadillac Margarita recipe out there – I can tell you that this is it. This is the BEST one you’ll ever come across. Make sure to save this essential recipe.
- Premium Ingredients: Using top-shelf Don Julio Reposado Tequila ensures a high-quality base for the Cadillac Margarita, offering rich flavors of agave and oak that elevate the cocktail.
- Balanced Flavors: The combination of triple sec, key lime juice, and simple syrup creates a perfectly balanced cocktail with a harmonious blend of sweetness, tartness, and acidity.
- Luxurious Touch: Adding Grand Marnier as a float adds a touch of luxury and sophistication to the Cadillac Margarita, enhancing its flavor profile with hints of orange and complexity.
- Customizable Strength: The addition of cold water allows for the customization of the Margarita’s strength, ensuring it can be enjoyed at the desired potency without sacrificing flavor.
- Timeless Classic: The Cadillac Margarita is a timeless classic cocktail. With fresh key lime juice and a well-balanced sweetness, this Margarita recipe offers a refreshing and flavorful drinking experience that’s perfect for any occasion.
🛒 Ingredients
For Cadillac Margarita
- Don Julio Reposado Tequila: This premium tequila brings a smooth, complex flavor with notes of oak and agave. It’s the backbone of this top-shelf Margarita, providing depth and richness to the cocktail.
- Triple Sec: Adds a bright citrus sweetness to the Margarita. It balances the tartness of the lime juice and enhances the overall flavor profile.
- Key Lime Juice: This freshly-squeezed juice contributes a vibrant, tangy acidity to the cocktail. It provides a refreshing, zesty flavor that complements the tequila and triple sec. Key limes are the same as “Mexican limes”. They’re small and round, like golf balls.
- Simple Syrup: Homemade or store-bought. It’s used to sweeten the cocktail and balance the acidity of the lime juice. It ensures that the Cadillac Margarita has the perfect level of sweetness without being overly tart.
- Cold Water: This is dded to the Margarita to dilute the mixture slightly and ensure that the cocktail is not too strong. It also helps to chill the drink without watering it down too much. We prefer using bottled (or purified) water, not tap water.
- Grand Marnier: Or Cointreau Noir.
For Rimming and Garnishing
- Tajin or Margarita Salt: For rimming the cocktail glass.
- Key Limes: Cut them into wheels or wedges for garnishing.
📖 Recipe Steps
Recipe Prep: Rim the cocktail glass. Run a wedge of lime around the outer rim of a 10-ounce glass. Dip the rim into Tajin or Margarita salt. Right now it’s trendy to thickly rim just half the glass. Fill the glass halfway full of ice. Set it aside.
- In a cocktail shaker or mason jar, add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup and water.
- Add ice. Firmly attach the lid to the container. Shake well to combine.
- Pour the Margarita into the prepared glass. Drizzle Grand Marnier over the top.
- Garnish the drink with a fresh slice of lime. Serve immediately.
🍹 More Mexican Margaritas
- Margarita Pitcher Recipe (for a crowd)
- Spicy Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita
- Pineapple Margarita
- Frozen Cranberry Margarita
- Blue Margarita
- Classic Lime Margarita Mix
Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review from a flavor tester: “Sipping this Cadillac Margarita was like embarking on a sensory adventure. The refined flavors left me with a sense of pure indulgence. It’s a sophisticated cocktail that’s unforgettable.”
If you agree this recipe is a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
PrintTop-Shelf Cadillac Margarita
- Total Time: 5 Minutes
- Yield: 1 Margarita 1x
Description
Treat yourself to this top-shelf Cadillac Margarita. Crafted with premium tequila and the finest ingredients, it’s a cocktail that embodies luxury and sophistication in every sip.
Ingredients
For Cadillac Margarita
- 1 ounce Don Julio Reposado Tequila
- 1/2 ounce triple sec
- 1/2 ounce key lime juice, freshly-squeezed
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup, homemade or store-bought
- 1/2 ounce cold water
- 1 cup ice
- 1 splash Grand Marnier (or Cointreau Noir), divided
For Rimming and Garnishing
- Tajin or Margarita Salt, for rimming
- Key limes, cut into wheels or wedges for garnishing
Instructions
Recipe Prep: Rim one 10-ounce cocktail glass. Run a wedge of lime around the outer rim of the glass. Dip the wet rim into Tajin or Margarita salt and set it aside. (Right now it’s trendy to thickly rim just half the glass.)
- In a cocktail shaker or mason jar, add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup, and water.
- Add ice. Firmly attach the lid to the container. Shake well to combine.
- Pour the Margarita into the prepared glass. Drizzle Grand Marnier over the top.
- Garnish the drink with a fresh slice of lime. Serve immediately.
Equipment
Notes
About Key Limes: These are the same as “Mexican limes”. Unlike regular, oblong-shaped limes, key limes are round like golf balls and have a smooth skin. And they have a very distinct taste – which is necessary for a true top-shelf Cadillac Margarita. If you can’t find key limes for juicing, the next best thing is a bottle of “Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice”. In California, you can find this product at Walmart. Look for it in the juice aisle.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: Mexican