How To Take The Salted Rim Of Your Margarita To The Next Level

Blended or on the rocks, the margarita has become one of America's top cocktails, according to a consumer survey by Nielsen CGA. Recognized for its refreshingly tart blend of tequila, orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau), and lime juice, the beverage is either shaken or blended with ice and served in a salt-rimmed coupe glass. While infusing your own tequila or choosing a funky fruit purée can break mundane margarita monotony, so can a reinvented salted rim. 

It's hard to say exactly when the margarita was created, but Liqour.com explains that it could have been crafted in the 1940s for a partying socialite, or it could have also been a tequila-forward riff on the citrusy Daisy cocktail. Nevertheless, the margarita has since earned the affection of many, thanks to its electrifying flavors and its uniquely salty border. But why does the drink have a salted rim? 

The reason why margarita glasses are lined with salt is based on science. Thrillist reports that salt can reduce bitterness, stimulate taste receptors, and boost saliva, making the cocktail taste more delicious. Even though kosher salt is the norm, switching up your salt-rimming routine might grant you the title of margarita-making-pro.

A survey by Shane Co. stated that only 13% of margarita drinkers don't like seasoning on their cocktail glass, which means that the majority prefer some sort of coating. While the classics are classics for a reason, Real Simple suggests playing with some heat and adding a bit of chili powder to your salt mixture or swapping the salt completely for a tangy Mexican-spiced Tajin rim. 

Along with using different spices (ginger, pepper, cinnamon, smoked salt, etc.), you can also create a citrusy salt rim with lemon, lime, or orange zest. You can even crush candies for a sweet reinvention of the margarita rim! 

Regardless of what you choose, it's essential that your mixture sticks to the glass. While rubbing a lime wedge around the rim and dipping it in a plate of salt is common, Vinepair shares that you should only rim the outer area of your glass so that seasoning won't fall into your drink and distort flavors. Wet a paper towel with water or lime juice and rub along the outer rim before turning your glass sideways and rolling in your mixture. 

With a bunch of creative ideas to transform your next cocktail, why not try a spice-rimmed margarita tonight?