May 19, 2026
We Tested 10 Margarita Mixes — the Best Store-Bought Pick Surprised Even Ex-Bartenders
Not all store-bought margarita mixes are created equal. These 4 winners delivered the best balance of tart lime, sweetness, and tequila-ready flavor. It’s not difficult to craft a good Margarita from scratch; the recipe is simple and the ingredients are easy to find.
It’s not difficult to craft a good Margarita from scratch; the recipe is simple and the ingredients are easy to find. But when making, say, a batch of drinks for a large group, pre-batched Margarita mix offers a major convenience.
Typically made with blanco tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and a sweetener like agave nectar, the Margarita we know of today was popularized in the 1930s. Eventually, brands like José Cuervo launched mixes aimed for use at home, offering a way to get a good drink in the glass without having to juice a dozen limes.
Many bartenders, though, would scoff at the use of a bottled Margarita mix, largely because many mixes are pasteurized before being bottled. This process of quickly heating and then cooling the mixture can alter the flavor and color of the mix. In particular, the fresh lime juice can turn somewhat bitter and dull. To compensate, many mixes are overly sweetened or feature artificial colors.
But some turn out a cocktail that tastes pretty close to one you’d make from scratch or find at a cocktail bar. To help you enjoy the convenience of a bottled Margarita mix without compromising on flavor, We tasted 10 Margarita mixes side-by-side.