SALUD!
We test the best supermarket margaritas – the best is only £3.90 and tastes fresh and punchy
One is as classy on the inside as it is on the outside
THE cocktail season is upon us – and No1 this summer is the margarita.
Hailing from Mexico, it combines tequila, triple sec and lime juice, served with a garnish of salt on the glass rim.
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New research shows the refreshing tipple is set to be the mixed drink of the season in the UK, knocking previous favourite the negroni from the top spot.
And cocktail brands and supermarkets have made it easier than ever to enjoy, with pre-made versions.
Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin samples and rates a selection.
Olmeca Altos
750ml, £15, Sainsbury’s
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LOOKS pricier on the shelf but you are getting a bigger bottle here so there is not just one serving, but five.
Ideal for parties or if you just want to keep a pre-mixed bottle of the Mexican tipple in the fridge ready for summer.
Altos is a premium tequila brand in its own right so you will splash far more cash with just a bottle of the spirit.
But with this you will get a quality agave liquor and several, awesome, authentic 15% ABV pours out of it that need nothing doing, bar ice and your preferred garnish.
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You can enjoy the zesty sip neat or on the rocks.
And when you do the maths, it is much cheaper than the leading can brand as well.
I tested all supermarket custard creams… winner was a scrummy snack with tasty filling and biscuit that cost just 50p
Rating: 5/5
Moth
125ml, £3.90, Tesco/Sainsbury’s/Morrisons
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MOTH is the original and best canned version of this cocktail and this is a tin that hits every button a good margarita should.
Made with clear tequila, triple sec and lime, it is fresh, sharp and punchy and looks perfect decanted into a glass with a frosting of salt around the rim.
But with all these new alternative cocktail contenders on store shelves it now feels a bit pricey, despite the punchy 14.9% ABV.
Margaritas are deceptively simple to make but hard to perfect.
Despite not being the cheapest, this is brilliant, flavour -some booze made by real experts – and it tastes it.
Rating: 4/5
M&S Margarita Cocktail
250ml, £2.50, M&S & Ocado
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CANNED cocktail expert M&S knows how to mix a drink to enjoy on the go and it did just that with this South American-themed tinned tipple.
This margarita is as classy on the inside as it is on the outside.
Crisp, clean and citrusy, it is made with a double measure of tequila silver so it is definitely punchy and packs a decent boozy kick.
It’s perhaps more lemon than lime-scented on the citrus front despite containing four per cent lime juice but it is still easy to sip.
This is your new gin-in-a-tin replacement for that post- work, summer evening, train ride home or weekend-away celebration.
Rating: 3/5
Served
250ml, £3.25, Tesco
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WITH its eye-catching can and pocket-friendly price, this comes in at just over £3 for a single can and ticks a lot of boxes.
For an equivalent drink at a bar you could easily pay three times the price.
This marvellous margarita, which comes from the drinks range owned by singer Ellie Goulding, contains a double measure of tequila.
When you slurp, it tastes immensely zesty and refreshing with a great balance of flavour.
This tin uses “wonky” limes to reduce waste so it’s good for the planet too.
Perfect for a picnic and for daytime drinks thanks to the lower ABV of 8%.
Rating: 4/5
Tribeology
250ml, £2.70, Sainsbury’s
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F you are happy with a lighter, more lemony style of margarita with a slight spritz, this is a pretty and perky canned cocktail that is cheap as chips.
Contains tequila, orange liqueur and a dash of salt alongside a light sparkling base and is 8% ABV.
The mix itself is not particularly authentic, which might mean cocktail purists won’t be keen.
But as tinned tipples go, it feels simple and sunny and that’s no bad thing.
A nice, mildly fizzy summer drink which works well if you fancy something refreshing to sip on the go.
A good one to take to the park or to pack for a picnic.
Rating: 2/5
Wonderland
125ml, £3.90, Tesco
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THE tiny tinny from big-brand name Brewdog, boasts a higher 14% ABV at an expensive price.
All of this hints that it’s going head to head on the shelves with superior rival Moth – and it does a good enough job.
Made with Casa Rayos, a premium tequila brand, with a welcome splash of triple sec, lime and salt, there is tons of flavour going on.
So it’s a lot of class poured out in the glass.
The brand says it deliberately packaged the drink in larger-style cans so you can shake it.
It’s just a shame it looks so cheap for the steep price tag.
Rating: 3/5
Extra Special
700ml, £8, Asda
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THIS supermarket-own shaker from Asda is a suspiciously low-priced tipple given it is nearly as big as a bottle of wine – but despite that, it is definitely still drinkable.
With Mexican tequila listed as the main alcoholic ingredient, it is heavy on the lime when you glug and a little on the simple side, despite also containing a dash of chilli.
Only 10% ABV and it does feel a bit thin so I’d probably use it as a base for making my own pitchers of spicy Margaritas and add an extra splash of tequila to beef it up.
Great price though.
Rating: 2/5
Funkin
200ml, £2.25, Morrisons
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AS Funkin is an indie brand that infuses nitrogen into its cocktails for a more textured tipple, I had high hopes for a creamy, premium-tasting product when I cracked this open.
Sadly, on sipping I discovered this was not to be.
While it is fairly cheap for a single can, it is also bitter, not fresh, with fake lime flavours.
At a low 5% ABV the end result left it smelling like a public loo which is really not what you want from your summer tipple.
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With so many other options available on the market I would suggest saving your taste buds and swerving this.
Rating: 1/5