The Ultimate Guide To Store-Bought Margarita Mix
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Just because margaritas are a summer drink doesn't mean you have to wait until the weather is warm to start planning to make and serve them. These cocktails are not only delicious, but they will also give you the perfect blend of sweet and sour with a bit of tang in each sip.
Don't want the hassle of making them yourself or cleaning up afterward? Try using a margarita mix instead. Or invest in a premade version that you can pour straight over ice. Since over a dozen options are available, you're sure to find one that satisfies your tastes. But if this is your first time buying a mix, all those choices may be overwhelming.
We're here to make things a little easier by guiding you through the most common options, with tips about how highly rated each one is and what characteristics you can expect. If you like your margaritas sweet, you'll want a different mix than someone who likes a more straight-up variety. And those who like to taste the alcohol in their drinks will prefer an option that won't overpower it.
Agalima Organic Mix
This organic margarita mix is made of only limes and agave nectar, according to Agalima. The limes are hand-picked and single-pressed, so if you like your mixes on the sweet side, Agalima Organic is the way to go. One reviewer said that "This definitely tastes as close to fresh-squeezed as I've ever tasted" in a pre-bottled mix (via Upscale Drinks). And because it's organic and all-natural, you can use it in a mocktail without any alcohol, though you will want to mix it with something. Straight out of the bottle, it's very sweet.
Try mixing it with orange juice or other varieties until you find a drink blend that works. If you mix it with alcohol, choose a high-quality one because the flavor will come through in your margarita. And if it's too sweet for you, try adding some fresh-squeezed lime, or use a salt rim on your glass. This mix is 130 calories per serving and comes in a beautiful glass bottle that you can reuse.
Ficks
Ficks margarita mix was crafted by college roommates who wanted more transparency in their alcoholic beverages (via Ficks). Their goal was to create a mix to blend with alcohol that enhances a drink's flavor rather than masking it in sweetness and chemicals. It's made with fresh fruit, giving you the flavor you want without all the added sugar that you don't.
It's only 35 calories per serving, and like Agalima, if you're taking a break or abstaining from alcohol, you can use this one straight over ice. You could also blend it with juices, but you may find that you don't need to.
One review site rated this option slightly lower than Agalima, which may be because of its short shelf-life after opening. It's only good for two weeks after busting it open. However, some excellent qualities were noted, including the fact that "it's not too sweet or tart" (via Upscale Drinks). Additionally, the mix uses real cane sugar and orange extract, which was a plus. You can order Ficks Margarita Mix from Amazon, but you may not be able to find it in local stores.
Mr. & Mrs. T's
If you're not a fan of Ficks, but want something low in sugar or calories, try Mr. & Mrs. T's. The margarita mix is made with agave nectar and cane sugar and comes in regular, skinny, and strawberry varieties, according to Mr. & Mrs. T.
Most reviewers liked this mix, but some found it either too sweet or not sweet enough (via Influenster), though they did have some suggestions. "Add a splash of O.J. for a bomb margarita," one reviewer opined. It's also an economical and readily available option as one reviewer found it locally for under $5 and said she'll always use this mix for margaritas (via Influenster).
Another reviewer thought it lacked some of the lime flavor they wanted but still recommended it, suggesting, "You can just use your own" (via Influenster). Otherwise, she found it the perfect mix of sweet and sour. Additionally, this mixer comes in a large bottle or individual serving-size cans, making them easy to bring to a party, picnic, or in a backpack for your next hiking trip.
Hella Cocktail Co.
Hella Habenero is the mix to use if you like your margaritas spicy. It's made from lime juice, red pepper extract, and cane sugar, lime, orange, and rosemary extract (via Hella Cocktail Co.). It has no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, either.
This mix is spicy, but not too spicy, and is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Total Wine. And while most people thought it had just the right amount of spiciness, some thought it could use a bit more.
If you like your drinks on the hotter side, consider adding Tabasco or sriracha sauce. Additionally, you could sprinkle some crushed red pepper into your drink. You could also grind it and rim your glass with it. Feel free to drink this one straight or add tequila. Without the alcohol, this mix is only 50 calories per serving. Add a spicy salt rim to this drink to give things an extra kick and serve with a slice of lime for some sweetness.
Brian Van Flandern's Smokin' Margarita
Want smoky instead of spicy? How about a gold medal winner? You get both with Brian Van Flandern's Smokin' Margarita mix (via American Cocktail Company). The brand offers this mixer that took multiple honors at the 2018 Sip Awards. It's made with organic limes, chipotle powder, and hickory salt. Mix it with tequila or try using whisky or vodka instead. Shake and serve over ice with lime, mint, or chili pepper.
This works particularly well during summer barbecues because the hickory salt brings a bit of a freshly grilled taste to your glass. Looking to make it more flavorful or festive? Mix chili powder and salt on the rim of your glass. Try it on the Fourth of July for a party that your guests will never forget.
If you're not sure you want to commit to 16 ounces in case you don't like the flavor, don't worry. You can get a 4-ounce version so you can sample the mix before making a commitment.
Tres Agaves
Tres Agaves makes both a tequila and a margarita mix. The margarita mix contains only filtered water, lime juice, agave nectar, and Vitamin C (via Tres Agaves). It won gold medals at the L.A. Spirits Competition and the Beverage Testing Institute, and it has a user rating of 4.3 on the product's website. One highlighted reviewer said they loves recommending Tres Agaves Margarita Mix because it is a "perfectly balanced blend of agave and lime" (via Tres Agaves).
Though it is a fan favorite, some people found it overly sweet or a bit stronger than they'd have liked. One reviewer labeled it a sugar bomb (via Amazon), but other reviewers disagreed.
On the review site Influenster, one reviewer took the opposite point of view. While they usually dislikes pre-bottled mixes they noted, "This is the exception. It's certainly sweet, but it's a natural sweetness from fruit juice and is the closest I've been able to come to making restaurant-style margaritas at home" (per Influenster).
Owl's Brew
If you're wanting a margarita mix that is made of all clean ingredients, then try Owl's Brew tea-based mixers. When you're in the mood for a fruity margarita, then give Owl's Brew Watermelon Margarita mix a try. According to Postcards N Daydreams, this tasty, healthy mixer makes an excellent salty watermelon margarita. Or you could mix it with juice or sparkling water for a non-alcoholic version.
These tea-based mixes aren't just delicious, they are also calorie conscious. Each one contains only 35-40 calories per serving without alcohol, and the watermelon version makes for a truly unique flavor profile. They are all-natural, containing botanical ingredients, with no artificial flavors or added sugars.
Reviewers liked that it was fresh, flavorful, and in the case of the Wicked Margarita Mix, just a little bit spicy (via Amazon). The Wicked blend combines green tea, habanero, and lime. And if you like the margarita mixes, Owl's Brew also makes other varieties you can use. They even offer canned spiked teas that already have the alcohol in them if you're looking for something a bit different at your next picnic (via Bevnet).
Stirrings 5-calorie
Stirrings makes a few different types of margarita mix: Simple, Organic, and 5-Calorie (via Stirrings). They recommend blending them with tequila, triple sec, and using a rimming salt.
Total Wine shoppers gave the 5-calorie version great reviews, with an average of 4.7 stars out of 5. One reviewer claimed that this was "the best low calorie margarita mix. Great taste with the right amount of tartness" (via Total Wine). Other shoppers were a bit less enthused, claiming this wasn't as sweet as they'd have liked and that it tasted "a little diety." One recommended adding some sugar to get the flavor you want while keeping it low-cal.
This mix uses lime juice, and natural sugar, with no artificial ingredients (via Drizly). You can serve it over ice or blend it for a frozen margarita. One reviewer did complain that "it's not as limey" as they had hoped and found the mix sweeter than how they like their margaritas (via Drizly).
Morris Kitchen Citrus Agave
A fresh, zesty option for summer is a simple trip to the store away. Morris Kitchen describes this margarita mix as "tart lime balanced with organic agave nectar and a hint of orange" (via Morris Kitchen). It also contains cayenne, so your drink has a slightly zesty flavor. Consider blending this with tequila, mezcal, vodka, or rum (per Uncrate). Mix with seltzer or simply pour it over ice for a non-alcoholic version.
You can find this well-reviewed mix in stores or online. Reviewers at Mouth called this option an excellent choice for summer or Cinco de Mayo. The splash of orange in this gives it an unexpected flavor that you won't find in most mixes without adding triple sec or other orange liqueur. Consider cayenne pepper or smoked salt for rimming the glasses on these margaritas. Serve with slices of lemon, lime, orange, or all three. Keep the beautiful bottle for reuse once the mix is gone.
WithCo Agave
According to Cool Springs Wine & Spirits, this option has no preservatives and only contains natural ingredients in the form of agave nectar, lime juice, and orange oil. The agave balances out the lime juice, creating a delightful, easy-to-make margarita. Each WithCo's bottle lists the liquor it pairs with best on the back, the amount to use, and the order of assembly (via Quality Edit).
WithCo makes a wide variety of mixes, but the Agave Margarita scored high points when mixed with tequila or mezcal and rimmed with salt. One reviewer loved that this eliminated the tedious task of slicing and juicing limes typically associated with making homemade margaritas (per Quality Edit).
Each bottle makes 8-10 drinks. And while the pandemic may have given us more reasons and time to drink, now that we've discovered some new options, we can keep using them as we move forward. Mixes like these from WithCo make it that much easier.
Powell & Mahoney
Powell & Mahoney make three varieties of margarita mixes, including classic, skinny, and jalapeño (via Powell & Mahoney). The classic is a blend of lime juice, agave, and sugar that partners perfectly with tequila for a margarita.
The skinny version has the same ingredients as the classic with fewer calories. The classic has 120 calories per serving, while the skinny has only 50 calories per serving. The jalapeño version comes in right in the middle at 90 calories per serving and combines roasted jalapeño, agave, and lime juice for a sweet and spicy margarita (via Powell & Mahoney).
It's also an affordable option that's highly reviewed. Bottles of the classic flavor are available at Target for under $10 at the time of this writing, and those who have purchased it liked the fresh taste and that it used real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. One reviewer liked the intense lime flavor but admitted they had to "cut it with spring water as it is very intense" (via Target). Another reviewer complained there was too much sugar in this mix and thought it tasted chemical-y (via Target).
Master of Mixes
It should be no surprise that a company called Master of Mixes makes more than just a margarita mix. And they make more than just a classic margarita mix, too. There's also a light version, a strawberry, blood orange, and mango variety as well. The classic version blends key lime juice from a limited growing region in Mexico, essential citrus oils, pure agave syrup, and simple syrup. The only sugar you'll find in the light version is the naturally occurring variety from the limes. The strawberry and mango varieties include fresh lime juice and their respective fruits, while the blood orange version is made from single-pressed oranges from Italy (per Master of Mixes).
On the review website Influenster, customers appreciated this mix's fresh flavor and affordability. One reviewer praised the taste of this mix saying it was a "10/10 that was better than expected." At the same time, however, another reviewer commented that the mix tasted overly sweet and didn't recommend buying it.
Zing Zang
Zing Zang is available in bottles or cans that resemble Mountain Dew, but unlike the soda, this margarita mix is all-natural. According to Zing Zang, no high fructose corn syrup is ever used in their mix, which combines the usual suspects of lime juice and agave nectar with key lime and grapefruit. The brand took gold at the 2021 Sip Awards and won a Consumer Choice Award (per Zing Zang).
Add an ounce and a half of tequila or mezcal to 4 ounces of mix and garnish with lime and a possible salt rim. Adjust your ratios if you prefer your drink sweeter or stronger. Sam's Club shoppers appeared to either love or hate this brand, though one commenter said that they've "Tried all the margarita premixes, and I find Zing Zang to be the best" (via Sam's Club). Overall, the people who rated this mix highly found it economical and delicious. But the brand had its detractors, too. One reviewer complained that the mix was bitter. They "thought the bottle had gone bad," so they bought another bottle only to repeat the negative experience (via Sam's Club).
Cutwater
According to Whiskey Caviar, Cutwater makes a margarita mix that combines tart citrus with a hint of sweetness and salt, while also using natural cane sugar and limes. Besides its classic mix, Cutwater also makes canned, premixed versions of margaritas. And these cans come in wide varieties. In addition to a traditional lime margarita, the brand also produces a pineapple and spicy pineapple version, along with a strawberry, peach, and mango.
Review site The Pursuit of Cocktails noted that this mix was on the less-sweet side and rather boozy. They mentioned that the Lime Margarita wouldn't be their first choice when drinking Cutwater Cocktails or using the brand's mixes. Additionally, they noted that in the Cutwater Lime Margarita variety, the flavor was more tart than sweet, and with a 12.5% ABV, "It is stronger than a lot of the canned cocktails on the market" (via The Pursuit of Cocktails).
Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffet may have invented Margaritaville, but that doesn't mean you need his permission or company to visit. Especially not with Margaritaville brand bottled mixes. The classic version comes in two different sizes, a 1-liter, and a 1.75-liter (via Margaritaville). Additionally, they also offer a mango margarita mix.
Both require nothing other than mixing with some tequila and serving over ice or blended. Garnish with lime and use a salt rim, if desired, and you have been instantly transported to someplace just a little bit better than the office you spent all day in.
On the review site Influenster, one commenter said, "It has amazing flavor and is just the right amount of sweet" (via Influenster). Other customers raved about the cost and flavor of this mix, cautioning that it sells out very quickly. Though there were a few disagreements. In one review, a commenter complained that the mix tasted "like Sweet'n Low or any of those artificial sweeteners" (via Influenster).
Jose Cuervo
No margarita mix list would be complete without a Jose Cuervo product. This is the only one on our list that comes only in a premixed variety. So, all you need to do is pour it over ice.
The margarita mix comes in a couple of different flavors. The Liquor Brothers describes the flavor of the traditional version as a tart lime that mellows into a lemony agave blend and finishes with sweet orange and the taste of tequila. The brand also offers a mango version, similar in style and flavor to the original but also includes triple sec and mango flavors (via Stepngo Market).
Those who weren't fans of the Jose Cuervo tequila brand didn't care for this, but most people who reviewed the original rated it highly (via Influenster). Most drank it straight, but some mentioned kicking it up a notch with a splash of Grand Marnier or other liqueurs.