May 19, 2026
I Tried 10 Store-Bought Margarita Mixes and the Winner Tastes Almost Homemade
Find out which ones are worthy of your tequila.
I take my margaritas seriously. I love drinking them, I love making them and I love sharing them. Over my years of squeezing, shaking and sipping, I’d like to think I’ve perfected the art of the from-scratch margarita, whether it be on the rocks or frozen.
At the end of the day, nothing beats a margarita made with freshly squeezed lime, quality orange liqueur and good tequila, shaken up and served with a pinch of salt and a fresh lime wedge, but there are moments when you might want to reach for a margarita mix. Let’s say you’re prepping for a large party or you find yourself headed to a vacation rental on the Jersey Shore and aren’t sure what equipment you’ll have in the kitchen, which was the situation I recently found myself in.
To find the best margarita mix for me and my cocktail-loving crew, I grabbed all the bottles I could find at the stores near me and gave them a test. After sipping my way through 10 different brands, I can absolutely confirm that not all margarita mixes are created equal. Some are barely drinkable unless you drown them in tequila, others taste like melted lime candy—and a few are so good they could trick your most cocktail-snobby friend into thinking you squeezed every lime by hand.
Before your next happy hour (or seaside vacation), take a look through my margarita mix ranking so you can grab a bottle that will keep the party going and save you tons of time. Cheers to that!