The Margarita is undeniably one of the most popular cocktails in the U.S. With an easily modified recipe, the drink has a near-endless number of variations that offer unique flavor profiles, introduce a different spirit, or even bring beer into the equation. But if there’s one version of the classic that continues to enrapture the American drinking public, it’s the Skinny Margarita.
Popularized by former reality star Bethenny Frankel — who later went on to start the Skinnygirl brand — the Skinny Margarita hit the cultural zeitgeist in the late 2000s and has been holding drinkers captive ever since. But despite its ubiquity, no one can seem to agree on what ingredients actually go into the cocktail, which presents a particular challenge for your bartender and can potentially result in you ending up with a drink that isn’t exactly what you wanted. So what should you order instead?
To clear up the Skinny Margarita confusion, VinePair tapped Janice Bailon, head bartender at Brooklyn’s Latin spirits-focused cocktail bar Leyenda.
“In the late 2000s, we saw this big shift into ‘skinny culture’ drinks-wise, and the marketing of this culture has been incredibly problematic,” Bailon explains. “Essentially, it just meant no sugar added, so really, the Skinny Margarita should be just a classic Margarita made with tequila, lime, and Cointreau. But for a lot of people, it can mean several things.”
At Leyenda, Bailon is typically asked to make at least two Skinny Margaritas per day, though on weekends, that number can get
