A margarita is a classic tequila cocktail that typically consists of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. It’s a refreshing and tasty drink that’s popular at Mexican restaurants, bars, and parties. But when making or ordering a margarita, how many ounces of liquid should you expect in a standard glass or serving?
What is a Standard Margarita Glass Size?
There are a few common glass sizes used for serving margaritas:
- Cocktail glass or margarita glass: 5-7 ounces
- Old fashioned or rocks glass: 8-10 ounces
- Pint glass: 16 ounces
The traditional margarita glass is the smaller 5-7 ounce cocktail-style glass. This is shaped like an upside down cone and is good for serving margaritas on the rocks or straight up without ice.
Bigger margarita glasses like pint glasses or rocks glasses are sometimes used, especially for blended or frozen margaritas. These can hold double the amount of a standard margarita glass.
So the most typical margarita glass size is 5-7 ounces. Let’s take a closer look at how much liquid this actually holds.
A 5 Ounce Margarita Glass
A 5 ounce margarita glass holds about 1/2 cup or 118 ml of liquid. To fill this size glass, you would need:
- 1 1/2 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- 1 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1 1/2 oz sweet and sour mix (optional)
That combines to total 5 ounces of liquid for a standard margarita recipe. The ingredients can be adjusted or substituted, but the total volume will still be around 5 ounces in a typical margarita glass.
Nutrition Info for a 5 Ounce Margarita
A 5 ounce margarita made with 1 1/2 ounces of tequila contains approximately:
- 150 calories
- 0g fat
- 8g carbs
- 0g protein
This nutrition information is based on a Margarita recipe made with silver tequila, triple sec liqueur, lime juice and sweet and sour mix. Results can vary depending on specific ingredients and brands used.
A 6 Ounce Margarita Glass
A 6 ounce margarita glass holds about 3/4 cup or 177 ml of liquid. To fill this slightly larger glass, you would need:
- 1 1/2 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- 2 oz lime juice
- 1 1/2 oz sweet and sour mix (optional)
That totals up to 6 ounces of liquid for a standard margarita recipe. Again, the ingredient amounts can be adjusted as desired to fill the 6 ounce glass.
Nutrition Info for a 6 Ounce Margarita
A 6 ounce margarita made with 1 1/2 ounces of tequila contains approximately:
- 180 calories
- 0g fat
- 9g carbs
- 0g protein
The extra ounce adds a few more calories and carbs compared to the 5 ounce version. As before, nutrition values are estimates only.
A 7 Ounce Jumbo Margarita Glass
Some restaurants serve margaritas in extra large “jumbo” glasses that hold 7 ounces or about 1 cup (237 ml) of liquid. To fill a jumbo 7 ounce margarita glass, you would need:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- 2 oz lime juice
- 2 oz sweet and sour mix (optional)
The recipe can be scaled up to total 7 ounces of liquid for the bigger glass size. The extra tequila and citrus juices give these margaritas an extra kick!
Nutrition for a 7 Ounce Jumbo Margarita
A 7 ounce jumbo margarita made with 2 ounces of tequila contains approximately:
- 220 calories
- 0g fat
- 11g carbs
- 0g protein
No surprise here, the larger 7 ounce serving packs more calories and carbs than a standard 5-6 ounce glass. Downsize to a smaller margarita or share one big one to cut back.
Typical Margarita Ingredients and Measurements
Now that we’ve looked at different margarita glass sizes, let’s summarize the typical ingredients and amounts used to make one margarita:
- Tequila: 1 1/2 – 2 ounces
- Orange liqueur: 1 ounce
- Lime juice: 1 1/2 – 2 ounces
- Sweet and sour mix (optional): 1 1/2 – 2 ounces
- Salt (for glass rim)
- Ice
Measurements can be adjusted based on glass size, personal taste and how strong you want the margarita to be. More tequila packs more punch! Orange liqueurs like triple sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier add sweetness.
When making margaritas at home, use a jigger to accurately measure out ingredients. Fill the glass with ice before pouring in the mixed margarita to chill and dilute it to the right consistency.
How Many Ounces of Tequila in a Margarita?
Now let’s focus on that key ingredient: tequila. How much tequila should go into a margarita?
These are the typical tequila amounts for different margarita glass sizes:
- Cocktail glass (5-7oz): 1 1/2 – 2 oz tequila
- Rocks glass (8-10oz): 2 – 2 1/2 oz tequila
- Pint glass (16oz): 3 – 4 oz tequila
A standard margarita made in a cocktail glass calls for 1 1/2 ounces of tequila. In larger glasses like pint glasses, you can go up to 3-4 ounces of tequila. But use caution when increasing tequila amounts – too much can make for an extremely potent and drunken margarita!
Tequila Proof and Ounces
The alcohol proof of the tequila also impacts the strength. Bottles labeled as 80 proof tequila contain 40% alcohol. So 1.5 ounces of 80 proof tequila contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol.
100 proof tequila contains 50% alcohol, so 1.5 ounces of 100 proof tequila has about 0.75 ounces of pure alcohol – making it stronger than the 80 proof.
To balance taste and potency, stick with 80 proof tequilas for most margaritas. And measure your pours carefully, especially in party batches!
Volume of Margarita Ingredients
Getting the right volume and ratio of margarita ingredients is important for good flavor balance and consistency. Here are some typical ingredient volumes for different margarita glass sizes:
5 Ounce Margarita
- 1 1/2 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- 1 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1 1/2 oz sweet & sour mix (optional)
8 Ounce Margarita
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- 2 oz lime juice
- 2 oz sweet & sour mix (optional)
12 Ounce Margarita
- 3 oz tequila
- 1 1/2 oz orange liqueur
- 3 oz lime juice
- 3 oz sweet & sour mix (optional)
The recipes can be tweaked as needed. More lime juice adds tartness while more orange liqueur gives sweetness. Play around with the measurements until you find your perfect margarita ratio.
Frozen and Blended Margarita Ounces
Thick blended or frozen margaritas require some recipe adjustments. Here are some tips for these icy drinks:
- Use an 8-16 ounce glass. Small glasses can overflow when blending.
- Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of ice to the recipe.
- Increase tequila to 2-3 ounces for an 8 ounce drink.
- Add 1-2 ounces of water or ingredients like fruit purees or yogurt for thicker texture.
- Blend on high for 20-30 seconds until smooth.
Blended margaritas have a thicker, icy consistency that requires a larger glass. Allowing room for ice cubes, fruit or other mix-ins prevents overflow. The extra ingredients also dilute the drink slightly, so you can go heavier on the tequila for flavor.
Making Pitchers of Margaritas
When making margaritas for a crowd, it’s easiest to mix up a big batch in a pitcher and pour into glasses as needed. Here’s how to calculate ingredients for pitcher quantities:
For a 2 Quart Pitcher…
- 12 oz (1 1/2 cups) tequila
- 8 oz (1 cup) orange liqueur
- 12 oz (1 1/2 cups) lime juice
- 12-24 oz (1 1/2 – 3 cups) water, ice or sweet & sour mix
For a 3 Quart Pitcher…
- 18 oz (2 1/4 cups) tequila
- 12 oz (1 1/2 cups) orange liqueur
- 18 oz (2 1/4 cups) lime juice
- 18-36 oz (2 1/4 – 4 1/2 cups) water, ice or sweet & sour mix
This makes enough margarita mix for about 10-15 servings. Scale the recipe up or down as needed. Add extra ice, fruit slices or juice to fill the pitcher. Shake or stir well before pouring into glasses over fresh ice.
Tips for Making Perfect Margaritas
Here are some additional tips for making top-notch margaritas at home:
- Use fresh squeezed lime juice for the best flavor
- Select a good-quality tequila, preferably 100% agave
- Add a splash of orange juice or liqueur to balance tartness
- For extra flavor, muddle some lime and orange slices
- Wet the rim of the glass and dip into coarse salt
- Fill glasses with fresh ice before pouring margaritas
- Garnish drinks with lime wedges or slices
- Store any leftover margarita mix in the fridge for up to 3 days
With the right ingredients and proportions, you can shake up tasty margaritas to enjoy any time of year. Just be sure to drink responsibly and arrange a designated driver or rideshare.
Standard Glass Sizes for Margaritas
To wrap things up, here’s a quick recap of typical margarita glass sizes and how many ounces they hold:
| Glass Type | Size in Ounces |
|---|---|
| Cocktail/Margarita glass | 5-7 ounces |
| Old Fashioned/Rocks | 8-10 ounces |
| Pint glass | 16 ounces |
The classic margarita glass holds 5-7 ounces of cocktail. But different glass types can range from 8 ounces up to 16 ounces for larger servings. Adjust ingredient quantities and recipes accordingly for the glass size you are using.
Conclusion
A standard margarita made in a 5-7 ounce cocktail glass will contain about 1 1/2 to 2 ounces of tequila, depending on the recipe. For larger margarita glasses, you can scale up the tequila to 2-4 ounces. Remember to adjust all the ingredient amounts to fill the glass properly. With the right tools and ratios, mixing up delicious margaritas for any occasion is easy and fun!
