Margarita fans, this cocktail is for you! The Tequila Daisy combines tequila, lemon, citrus liqueur, and soda for a delightful tart drink.
Switch up your margarita with the classic Tequila Daisy. The Daisy is a classic sour cocktail with 5 basic ingredients: a spirit, citrus juice, orange liqueur, a sweetener, and a splash of soda. The Tequila Daisy recipe uses tequila. It’s perfect for a hot summer day, an elevated cocktail hour, or as a dinner cocktail.
The History of the Tequila Daisy
The Tequila Daisy is a variation of a Daisy cocktail. The original cocktail was made with brandy as the base spirit and appeared in the 1862 edition of How to Mix Drinks by Jerry Thomas.1 This Brandy Daisy took on many variations with whiskey, gin, and other cocktails over the years. The Tequila Daisy appeared many years later, in 1936, in a small-town newspaper in Iowa. The paper’s owner, James Graham, wrote about drinking a Daisy made with tequila at a bar in Tijuana, Mexico.2
The basic Daisy cocktail recipe is a spirit, orange liqueur, citrus, sugar, and club soda. The Tequila Daisy is most likely the original Margarita. Especially since margarita is the Spanish word for daisy. It is typically served over ice in a tall, narrow glass. For this recipe, I served it in a chilled coupe glass to feel fancy.
Ingredients for a Tequila Daisy
- Tequila – A smooth, clean tequila blanco is best for a Daisy. It doesn’t overpower the other flavors or alter the color of the cocktail.
- Citrus Liqueur – Orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier, is the most common liqueur for this cocktail. However, you could also use a variety of citrus liqueurs like Marie Brizard’s Yuzu Liqueur or J.F. Haden’s Citrus Liqueur.
- Lemon Juice – Add brightness and acidity to the cocktail with a bit of fresh lemon juice. It helps balance the flavors of the cocktail.
- Simple Syrup – A 1:1 sugar syrup adds a bit of sweetness to the cocktail to balance out the sour citrus flavors.
- Soda – Top the Tequila Daisy off with a bit of club soda or soda water. This dilutes the drink and adds bubbles.
How to Make a Tequila Daisy Cocktail
The Tequila Daisy is a classic cocktail made with simple ingredients, but it’s still a treat for your taste buds.
Step 1 – Pour tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.
Step 2 – Add a handful of ice cubes to the shaker. Then firmly place the lid on the cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds to combine the cocktail ingredients and chill them.
Step 4 – Use a mesh strainer to double strain the cocktail into a chilled glass.
Step 5 – Top with a few ounces of club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel, sprig of mint, or lime wedges.
What Type of Glass Do I Use?
- Collins Glass – These glasses are similar to a highball glass, but are taller and more narrow. Usually, a Collins glass is used for drinks with more than one mixer and is served over ice. A traditional Tequila Daisy is served in a Collins glass.
- Coupe Glass – A coupe glass is a stemmed glass with a large bowl and wide mouth. This style allows the cocktail to breathe. The drinker also smells more of the ingredients, which enhances the flavor. Chill a coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes before pouring the cocktail into it.
Can I Batch This Cocktail?
Absolutely! Multiply the ingredients for the cocktail by the number of guests you have. Combine everything, except for the soda, in a large pitcher or jar. Pour out each glass and top with soda individually.
Try Another Delicious Cocktail Recipe
Tequila Daisy
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
- mesh cocktail strainer
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila blanco
- 1/2 oz triple sec
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz soda
Instructions
- Pour tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.
- Add a handful of ice cubes to the shaker. Firmly place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds to combine and chill the ingredients.
- Double strain into a chilled glass using a mesh cocktail strainer.
- Top with soda and garnish with a lemon wheel.
