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San Francisco (Tommy's Mexican Restaurant) · Mexican-American

Tommy's Margarita (Tequila, Lime & Agave — No Triple Sec)

The purist's margarita: just 100% agave tequila, fresh lime and a little agave nectar — no orange liqueur. Cleaner, drier and more tequila-forward, a modern San Francisco classic that lets good tequila shine.

By Table & Traditions Editors

Published July 11, 2026

A Tommy's margarita over ice in a simple glass with a lime wheel, clean bright light.

Julio Bermejo created the Tommy's Margarita at his family's San Francisco restaurant, Tommy's, in the late 1980s. His idea was simple and radical: drop the orange liqueur and sweeten instead with agave nectar, the same plant the tequila comes from. The result is cleaner, drier and more tequila-forward — a drink that showcases good 100% agave tequila rather than masking it, and now a modern classic in its own right.

Yield
Makes 1
Prep
3 min
Cook
0 min
Total
About 3 min
Difficulty
Easy

Tommy’s Margarita is the purist’s version: 100% agave tequila, fresh lime and agave nectar — no orange liqueur at all. Created by Julio Bermejo at San Francisco’s Tommy’s in the late 1980s, it’s cleaner, drier and more tequila-forward, a drink that lets good tequila shine instead of hiding it.

Drop the liqueur, add agave

Sweetening with agave nectar — from the same plant as the tequila — instead of triple sec keeps everything in one flavour family and lets the spirit lead. Thin the agave 2:1 with water so it mixes easily.

Use tequila you like

With only three ingredients, the tequila is the whole show. Blanco keeps it bright; reposado adds soft oak.

One of the margaritas

The stripped-back heart of the margarita family — from here, the classic, Spicy and Cadillac are all easy steps.

Ingredients

Makes
1
  • 60 ml (2 oz) 100% agave tequila This is the star, so use one you enjoy — blanco for bright, reposado for rounder.
  • 30 ml (1 oz) fresh lime juice
  • 15 ml (1/2 oz) agave nectar Ideally thinned 2:1 with water to an agave syrup so it mixes easily. Adjust to taste.
  • lime wheel to garnish; salt rim optional
  • ice

Method

Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.

  1. Optionally rim a rocks glass with salt, then fill with ice.

    Why: A salt rim is traditional but optional — many drink a Tommy's unrimmed to taste the tequila cleanly.

  2. Shake the tequila, lime juice and agave syrup with ice for 10–15 seconds until cold.

    Why: With only three ingredients, a hard shake and proper chill are what make it taste complete.

  3. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

    Why: Fresh ice keeps it cold without the shaker's shards over-diluting the drink.

A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.

Variations

  • Reposado Tommy's

    Use a reposado tequila for a rounder, softly oaked drink with more depth.

  • Mezcal Tommy's

    Swap in mezcal, or split tequila and mezcal, for a smoky version.

  • The margarita family

    Add orange liqueur for the classic, jalapeño for a Spicy, or a top-shelf float for a Cadillac.

Serving & Storage

The margarita for tequila lovers and anyone avoiding extra liqueur. Clean enough to sip and appreciate the spirit.

Pairs with: Tacos, Ceviche, Guacamole, Grilled fish.

Storage: Make to order; a three-ingredient fresh-lime drink is best shaken and served immediately.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 drink (~110 ml))

Calories
180
Protein
0 g
Carbs
12 g
Fat
0 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
11 g
Sodium
0 mg

Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a Tommy's Margarita different from a classic one?

A classic margarita uses orange liqueur (triple sec or Cointreau) for sweetness and citrus. A Tommy's drops the liqueur entirely and sweetens with agave nectar instead. The result is drier, cleaner and more tequila-forward — you taste the spirit rather than the orange.

Why agave nectar instead of sugar or liqueur?

Agave nectar comes from the same plant as tequila, so it sweetens the drink while keeping everything in one flavour family. Thinning it 2:1 with water into a syrup helps it blend smoothly when shaken cold.

Does it need a salt rim?

It's optional. Because the Tommy's is built to showcase the tequila, many people skip the salt to taste the spirit cleanly. A salt rim is still traditional and welcome if you like it.

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Further reading