Head to head

Spicy Margarita vs. Tommy’s Margarita

Spicy Margarita and Tommy’s Margarita side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference

Tequila, lime and agave in both. The Spicy Margarita adds Cointreau and a slice of chili and uses only a little agave; Tommy’s leaves out the orange liqueur and leans on agave nectar, so it is far sweeter and higher in calories.

By the numbers

Both have tequila, lime juice and agave syrup. Only the Spicy Margarita has red chili pepper and triple sec. In parts, a Spicy Margarita is 2 tequila, 1 triple sec, 1 lime and ¼ agave; a Tommy’s Margarita is 2 tequila, 1 lime and 1 agave. By volume, the Spicy Margarita is 47% spirit, 24% liqueur, 24% citrus and 5% syrup and sugar; the Tommy’s Margarita is 50% spirit, 25% syrup and sugar and 25% citrus.

The Spicy Margarita is the stronger drink in the glass (16.7% ABV against 12.7%) and holds more alcohol (1.52 standard drinks against 1.35). The Tommy’s Margarita has more calories (about 268 against 199) and more sugar (28.4 g against 10.7 g). Both are shaken and served in a rocks glass.

Spicy Margarita

Sours · Tequila

Strength: 16.7%
Std. drinks: 1.52
Calories: 199
Sugar: 10.7 g

1 sliceRed chili (jalapeño or Fresno), seeded
1½ ozBlanco tequila45 ml
¾ ozCointreau23 ml
¾ ozLime juice23 ml
1 tspAgave syrup5 ml
A pinchSalt (optional)

Shaken, served in a rocks glass. About 5½ oz (162 ml) in the glass. Garnish: A lime wedge, and a Tajín rim if you like.

The ratio · 2 : 1 : 1 : ¼

TequilaTriple secLimeAgave

Full Spicy Margarita recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Tommy’s Margarita.

Tommy’s Margarita

Sours · Tequila

Strength: 12.7%
Std. drinks: 1.35
Calories: 268
Sugar: 28.4 g

2 ozTequila60 ml
1 ozLime juice30 ml
1 ozAgave nectar30 ml

Shaken, served in a rocks glass. About 6½ oz (188 ml) in the glass. Garnish: A lime slice.

The ratio · 2 : 1 : 1

TequilaLimeAgave

Full Tommy’s Margarita recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Spicy Margarita.

On the ratio map

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

More head to heads

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