We wouldn’t dream of limiting margaritas to any single season, but something about the spring and summer months seems especially fitting for margarita nights. After all, if you can find a mix you love, there’s nothing easier. Just add tequila!
In anticipation of a season of patio happy hours, our team set out to identify a go-to margarita mix. These were the particulars of the experiment: We collected eight bottles of margarita mix — original lime flavor only. All were name brands widely available at large grocery retailers around the South. No store brands were included in our experiment. Read on to see which ones we liked best!
On a mission to find a go-to margarita mix for summer, our team gathered eight options and tasted them all. Image: Alissa Harb
8 Margarita Mix Brands: RANKED!
THE WINNER: Tres Agaves
While taste-testing is nothing if not subjective, the results of our experiment were clear — Tres Agaves Organic Lime Margarita Mix was the winner. Produced by popular tequila brand Tres Agaves, this mix stands out in its simplicity. It’s made of only four simple, organic ingredients: agave nectar, lime juice, filtered water, and Vitamin C. It’s a nice balance of sweet and sour, with neither taste overpowering the other. The best part? This margarita mix is available at most liquor stores and major grocery retailers, including Kroger, Publix, Walmart, and Target.
Tres Agaves Organic Margarita Mix costs around $8.99 for a one-liter bottle and is widely available at major retailers. Find it near you! Image: Tres Agaves
SECOND PLACE: Agalima Organic
Agalima Organic came in at a close second! Though similar to Tres Agaves in color, ingredient list, and price point, Agalima was a bit more on the tart side. If you prefer your margs with a heavy bite of lime, this may be the one for you. We also loved that the ingredient list was short and sweet, with no artificial flavors or sweeteners. We scored ours at Publix, but it is also widely available at liquor stores.
Agalima Authentic Margarita Mix retails at about $8.99 for a one-liter bottle, depending on the location. Find it near you! Image: Agalima
THIRD PLACE: Lefty O’Doul’s and Zing Zang
It’s a tie! These two mixes may look familiar for reasons you can’t put your finger on right away. On the right, you’ll find Zing Zing, a brand beloved in the South for its signature Bloody Mary Mix. On the left, you’ll find Lefty O’Doul’s, developed in the 1950s by baseball player Francis Joseph “Lefty” O’Doul and served at his San Francisco sports bar.
This is an interesting pair. The folks who prefer Zing Zang were fond of its very mild flavor — “almost weak, but in a good way” — while Lefty O’Doul’s Key Lime Mix packed a distinctly sweet-and-sour punch. If you find yourself on either end of the spectrum in your margarita preferences, you should explore one of these two brands! You can get your hands on Lefty’s at Kroger, and Zing Zang at most liquor stores and major grocery retailers in the South.
Tied for third place, we have Lefty O’Doul’s (which packs a distinct sweet-and-sour punch) and Zing Zang (which has a much milder flavor). Each brand goes for about $5 for a one-liter bottle. Find retailers near you that carry Lefty’s HERE, and retailers that carry Zing Zang HERE. Images: Lefty O’Doul’s + Zing Zang
HONORABLE MENTIONS
The remaining four mixes were somewhat polarizing. Each received a favorable vote (or two), but the results were underwhelming overall. However — we wouldn’t turn them down in a pinch.
Mr. & Mrs. T, Jose Cuervo, Powell & Mahoney, and On the House were the four brands least favored by our team. But, we certainly wouldn’t turn them down in a pinch! Images: Amazon
While tasting eight margarita mixes in one afternoon was an ambitious undertaking, we highly recommend this activity for a group of friends. Choose three to four mixes to stir up in pitchers with your favorite tequila and plenty of ice. Invite guests to sample each mix, then doctor up a full pour of their favorite with fresh limes and a salt (or sugar) rim. Serve with chips, salsa, and guac for a happy hour occasion, or make a meal of it with a full spread of Mexican fare.
Cheers!
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If homemade margaritas are more your speed, you’ve GOT to try this Frozen Watermelon Margarita recipe. And, last month, we tried store-bought pimento cheese brands — find out how they ranked!
