A Cadillac margarita puts tequila, orange liqueur, and lime in the same glass. This version uses reposado tequila and Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge in a straightforward 2:1:1 formula. Shake it with ice, serve over fresh cubes, and choose a half salt rim if you want a salted sip without committing to one every time.
At the default 1x setting, the recipe below makes one 180 mL batch before ice: 90 mL tequila, 45 mL Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, and 45 mL lime juice. The proportions are unchanged. You can divide the mixture into smaller pours; the serving controls scale the complete batch.
What goes into this Cadillac margarita
Reposado tequila. Use a bottle labeled reposado that you enjoy. The recipe leaves the brand open. Changing bottles can change the result, so note which one you use if you want to repeat a favorite combination.
Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge. This refresh specifies the Cordon Rouge expression. The producer identifies it as a blend of cognac and bitter-orange liqueur, with 51% cognac. That product identity matters: another orange liqueur is a variation, even if you pour the same amount. See Grand Marnier’s product descriptions for the distinction between expressions.
Fresh lime juice. Squeeze the juice, remove seeds, and measure it. The amount a lime yields varies, so use the measured juice rather than a fixed number of fruits. There is no separately added syrup in the base recipe.
Shake it together or add the liqueur last
The earlier recipe added Grand Marnier after shaking the tequila and lime. This refreshed method shakes all three ingredients together for a single mixed drink. The producer’s own Grand Margarita method also combines its ingredients in a shaker, although its formula includes agave nectar and uses different amounts.
If you prefer the earlier presentation, reserve the liqueur amount shown for your selected batch size and pour it slowly over the drink after straining. Keep it within the recipe’s total, rather than adding an extra pour. A lasting visible layer is not promised; stir if you want the ingredients combined.
Cadillac Margarita
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker large enough for ingredients and ice
- Strainer
- Liquid measure with suitable milliliter markings
- Large rocks glass with room for the drink and ice
- Citrus juicer or hand press
Ingredients
- 90 mL reposado tequila
- 45 mL Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
- 45 mL freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice cubes enough to fill the shaker and serving glass
- Coarse salt as needed for optional half rim
- 1 lime wedge to moisten optional rim
- 1 lime wheel optional garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the glass. For a half rim, moisten half the outside edge with the lime wedge. Dip that section into coarse salt, keeping salt out of the glass. Add fresh ice cubes.
- Measure the liquids. Add the reposado tequila, Cordon Rouge, and lime juice to the shaker, using the quantities shown in the ingredient list for your selected servings.
- Add ice and shake. Fill the shaker with ice, leaving enough room to close it securely. Shake for about 10 to 15 seconds.
- Strain and serve. Strain over the fresh ice. Add the optional lime wheel and serve promptly. For two smaller portions, divide the shaken drink between two ice-filled glasses.
Notes
Adjust one thing at a time
Taste depends on your ingredients and preferences. These are starting suggestions for your own comparison, not results from a completed tasting.
- If it tastes too tart: try 5 mL of simple syrup made with equal weights of sugar and water. Stir, taste, and record the addition. A concentrated syrup or undiluted agave nectar will not give the same result at the same volume.
- If it tastes too sweet: try 5 mL more lime juice, stir, and reassess before adding more.
- If you want less salt: use a half rim or leave the rim bare. Our salted-rim guide covers application options.
- If you want a smaller drink: halve the default 180 mL batch to 45 mL tequila, 22.5 mL Cordon Rouge, and 22.5 mL lime. Use a smaller glass, with enough ice for shaking and serving. This reduces the portion; it keeps the same ingredient ratio.
For a more useful comparison, keep the bottles, glass, ice, and shaking method consistent while changing one ingredient amount. The ingredient-measuring guide explains practical measuring tools. Any syrup or juice adjustment changes the base recipe, so the Flavor Key above no longer describes that variation.
A note on serving size
The full formula contains 135 mL of alcoholic ingredients before lime juice or melting ice. Treat it as a substantial pour and choose the smaller portion when that suits the occasion. Exact alcohol content depends on your bottles, and a finished-drink strength estimate would also require dilution information.
When you make it, keep a short note of your bottles and any adjustment. Use those notes to decide what you would keep for your next margarita.