The biggest mistake I make at restaurants is asking, "What's your most popular margarita?" While not always true, the cheapest one is usually the customer's choice (for obvious reasons), and I usually get some watered-down version. Otherwise known as the "house margarita," you may find these on happy hour menus or offered as a bottomless option for a reason. I see a splitting headache in your near future.
Margaritas are also personal. It depends on what tequila you like or if you like them sweet, spicy, tart, with mint, garnish or smoky salt. Restaurants now hire mixologists (fancy bartenders with some knowledge of chemistry) offering all sorts of top-shelf margaritas to quench your thirst. So on my hunt for the best "ritas in town, I found lots of options and awesome flavors.
I would not have pegged Lucile's Stateside Bistro as a margarita stop. I've always come for their martinis and brunch (clearly not at the same time…I would be knocked onto my biscuits). They offer five top-shelf margaritas people love. Bartender Joey Jackson said Numero Uno is customers" top-shelf favorite. It has Patron Silver and Patron Citron, Limoncello and their margarita mix. All of Lucile's margaritas have their mix in it, which is 100 percent fresh lime juice, simple syrup, Gran Gala orange liquor, and more tequila. No wonder this is a favorite. It has three types of tequila in it.
Their Señor Rita is my favorite. This spicy and tart margarita packs a punch. It has pomegranate liquor, blood orange juice, Tabasco, and Herradura tequila topped with their mix. The cosmo-pink color is deceiving.
Yes, Joe T.'s margaritas are strong. An experience at Joe T.'s could be likened to Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I am not sure if that qualifies for a top-quality margarita, but one called Tino's Special just might. It has Julio Silver tequila, Cointreau and Grand Marnier topped off with their famous and secret margarita mix. The Tino's Special is named after Martin Munoz, the man behind the bar right when you walk onto the patio. He's always there, smiling and attentive.
Every Thursday the Joe T.'s family gets together and taste tests new tequilas to go into their premium margaritas, which are the above-mentioned Tino's Special; Joe T.'s Top Shelf margarita; and The Skinny made with Patron Silver tequila, Cointreau, agave nectar, club soda and fresh lime, which one owner said was smoother yet stronger. Their mix is a secret, but they were willing to share that it has lots of fresh lime juice.
The Original's potent lime cocktails aren't for the faint-hearted. My pick is the El Hefe, which has Patron Silver, Cointreau, sweet n" sour and fresh lime juice. It is not as syrupy as the Mas Fina, which is also great, but has Jose Cuervo Gold, Gran Gala, and fresh lime juice. I like how simple they keep their recipes.
Hacienda San Miguel has the best premium margarita in Fort Worth. It doesn't go down like kerosene, while still strong, packed full of flavor and refreshing.
"The misconception people have out there is if it burns, then it is strong. Most alcohol is 80 proof," General Manager Mike White said. So with good tequila and the right ingredients, these cocktails don't need to strip your throat and cause your blood sugar to spike. White also said a lot of people assume it doesn't matter what tequila they put in their drink, but it is the most important ingredient.
I couldn't drink their "Perfect Margarita" fast enough, so I got a second one. The rim was lined with this delicious smoky chipotle salt, which I licked clean (next time I will order a side of chipotle salt).
"We get everything from the plant itself. The tequila and sweetener both come from the agave plant. No sweet and sour, no simple syrup, no high fructose corn syrup," White said.
Yucatan Taco Stand's house margaritas are almost clear; they are so refreshing. It still has a lot of flavor without being "watered down." Plus, it is a low-calorie drink. On happy hour, you can get one of these for $4 and tacos for $2 each, and you're set. But if you want to kick it up a notch, get one of their premium margaritas for $9. These are excellent. I like the classic premium with jalapeño. It has Partida Blanco tequila, agave nectar, lime juice and "half the calories of your normal margarita."
The greatest thing about this place is you can make your margaritas custom. "We are open to tweaking your margarita per request," Bar Manager Kati Castellanos said. They have 103 different tequilas to choose from and a variety of ingredients like fresh mint, pineapple, serrano chili peppers and jalapeños.
While Revolver's margaritas are the most expensive ones I've encountered, they are delicious. One of my favorite activities is to sit at one of their tiny tables with a friend and order their "Revolver Margarita" and some guacamole while taking in the glowing atmosphere. They also have a special margarita for $15 that changes depending on what's in season. The last few times it was serrano chili and pineapple. It was so good, I've tried to replicate it at home without luck.
The Tavern has fantastic food, so I thought just maybe their margarita would cut the cake. It cut the cake right through. I was surprised there was only one margarita, with homemade sweet and sour with whipped egg whites, triple sec and house El Zarco tequila. It was tart, sweet but not too sweet and made with good tequila, not to mention it was served in a large glass.
So the best margaritas in Fort Worth are your own variation of quality ingredients and good tequila, but remember that quality is key.
