Margarita, No Triple Sec

You’ll notice that this cocktail is missing one particular ingredient crucial to a classic margarita recipe. Orange liqueur (often Cointreau or another triple sec) typically brings sweetness to tequila’s most ubiquitous drink. But some margarita lovers feel the liqueur overpowers the flavor of good tequila. To compensate, this version deploys simple syrup, which smooths things but lets the spirit and the tart lime juice shine. The resulting margarita (without triple sec, thank you very much) is fresher tasting, with a brightness that sings of summer. Drink up.