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We only include runners-up when they\u2019re truly worth mentioning, and Filthy Margarita Mix is that<\/em> mix. It only has four ingredients \u2014 filtered water, fresh lime juice, organic blue agave nectar, ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C) \u2014 and was sooooo close, like half a point away, from taking the top spot. Similar to Powell & Mahoney, this mixed marg impressively resembled a from-scratch cocktail.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Some tasters found the level of lime a bit too strong, while others dubbed this mix the most refreshing of the group. \u201cIt went down very easily,\u201d says Blair, our shopping editor. Plus, and this was a nice after-the-fun fact, the pouches are just so totable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Best Fruity Margarita Mix: Zing Zang Mango Margarita Mix<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The name alone \u2014 Zing Zang \u2014\u00a0has energy<\/em>. What we did notice immediately was the bright orange hue of this Mango Margarita Mix. (It was impossible not to!) That vibrant shade comes from mango pur\u00e9e and beta carotene, the natural pigment that gives orange sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, and more their coloring. There are no artificial dyes or preservatives in this bottle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The smell was more muted (some people picked up notes of mango; others not so much \u2026 or at all). The flavor was another bright spot; while it lacked the distinct taste of the ripe fruit, it was still refreshing and pleasantly sweet with a creamy aftertaste.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Runner-Up: Stonewall Kitchen Pink Grapefruit Margarita Mixer\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The look. The smell. The flavor. All of it SCREAMED grapefruit, and had there not been at least two (and as many as four) people who \u201cdon\u2019t like grapefruit,\u201d the Stonewall Kitchen Pink Grapefruit Margarita Mixer could have easily nabbed the top spot. But everyone agreed: That pastel shade is undeniable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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True to its muse, Stonewall Kitchen\u2019s mixer was Tart with a capital T. It was noticeably less sweet than all other mixes in this category, even though the package instructions call for triple sec in addition to tequila (it was also the only mix that required any additional ingredients beyond tequila), with a nice citrus finish. \u201cIt\u2019d be a solid party or potluck contribution \u2014 and not one you\u2019d expect others to show up with,\u201d says Mara, our senior lifestyle editor, groceries. Just don\u2019t forget the triple sec!\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Best Spicy Margarita Mix: Hella Habanero Margarita Mix<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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This bottle proves looks matter, but they aren\u2019t everything. Hella\u2019s Habanero Margarita Mix was the lightest in color, which many people found off-putting. But the balance between the sweetness, citrus, and spice won nearly everyone over (there\u2019s always one, right?).\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Both self-proclaimed spice-averse and spice fans awarded Hella\u2019s mix 4s and 5s for its flavor \u2014 the lowest it received was a 3 (which we can\u2019t say for any other contender in this category). Brenda, our SEO director, summed it up perfectly: \u201cA solid standard margarita with a slightly spicy kick.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Runner-Up: Powell & Mahoney Craft Cocktail Mixers Jalape\u00f1o Margarita\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Do the people at Powell & Mahoney know margarita mixes or what? This Jalape\u00f1o Margarita mix was the spiciest of the group \u2014\u00a0by far \u2014 and received a #1 ranking three times more than all other mixes in this category.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Tasters could clearly get a whiff of the jalape\u00f1o, which all but one person commented on for better (\u201cwonderfully fragrant\u201d) or worse (\u201cdon\u2019t love it\u201d). It had \u201ca bit too much of a bite\u201d for some people, but for those who wished Hella\u2019s \u201cspice was more in-your-face,\u201d like Justine, our recipe production coordinator, Powell & Mahoney nailed it. \u201cI love how it lingers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How We Tested the Margarita Mixes<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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We held a blind taste test of 19 different margarita mixes across three categories \u2014 Classic, Fruity, and Spicy \u2014\u00a0and recruited 15 margarita fans, plus one \u201cTexas-level margarita enthusiast\u201d (so you know they\u2019re qualified), who work in our office to participate over two days (classic mixes on the first day, followed by fruity and spicy mixes on day two).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Unsurprisingly, everyone we spoke to said they drink their margarita mixes with alcohol, mainly tequila, which is how we sampled them too. Each mix was batched according to the package instructions by Thomas, our studio producer, who is also a veteran bartender with five years of experience working at various bars and restaurants across New York. We used\u00a0Sauza Hacienda Silver Tequila across all three categories (you know, to keep things consistent and because it\u2019s budget-friendly, 100% agave, and good for mixing \u2014 also because Thomas recommended it). Each margarita pitcher was assigned a letter to conceal the brand\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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With the exception of one brand, all the mixes simply called for the addition of tequila \u2014 although ratios varied slightly. One of the mixes, in both the classic and fruity categories, also listed triple sec as an ingredient in the recipe instructions, so we included it in those specific batches. We also had water and tortilla chips on hand for palate cleansing and snacking. We love snacks.<\/p>\n
Tasters rated each of the margarita mixes on a scale of one to five (1 = No, thanks; 2 = Meh; 3 = Pretty good; 4 = Really like; 5 = Yes, Please!) across three criteria \u2014 look, smell, and flavor \u2014 and included any specific observations, tasting notes, and general opinions worth mentioning. They were asked to rank their top three favorites across each category and to answer, arguably, the most important question of all: Would you buy this mix?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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This was a blind taste test, which means tasters had no knowledge of the brands being evaluated prior to, or at the time of, the tasting. It was held over two days and tasters were instructed to sample the margarita mixes in random order (to stave off palate fatigue and give any one mix an unfair advantage). The group of tasters included a mix of food professionals and margarita enthusiasts who work at The Kitchn and\/or Apartment Therapy Media (The Kitchn\u2019s parent company). All participated in the taste test voluntarily, and we thank them for being so generous with their time and feedback.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking of, each taster filled out a score sheet (without discussion or influence) ranking mixes across several criteria (listed above). The results were also tabulated without any visibility into the brands. Only after the numbers were finalized did we reveal which brands corresponded to the winners.<\/p>\n
Did your favorite margarita mix make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n