Margaritas are one of the most popular cocktails served at restaurants across the United States, and Chili’s Grill & Bar is no exception. As one of the largest casual dining chains in the country, with over 1,600 locations nationwide, Chili’s serves up tasty margaritas by the pitcher to millions of customers every year.
But what brand of tequila goes into those famous Chili’s margaritas? And does it vary by location or change seasonally? Let’s take a closer look at the tequilas used to make Chili’s margaritas and how they impact the flavor of this classic cocktail.
Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver Tequila
According to Chili’s official menu and ingredient information, the primary tequila used in their House Margaritas and other margarita varieties is Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver Tequila. This popular brand of tequila has been around since 1795 and is one of the best-selling tequilas worldwide.
Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver is a smooth, versatile tequila made from 100% blue agave. It offers notes of fresh agave, vanilla, and citrus. As a silver or “blanco” tequila, it is aged for a minimum of two months before bottling, just enough to soften the flavors while retaining the crisp agave taste.
Using Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila as the base spirit provides Chili’s margaritas with a light, clean flavor that complements the sweet and sour mix. It allows the fresh lime juice and orange liqueurs to shine through without overpowering them. This makes it an ideal mixing tequila for restaurant chains aiming for a crowd-pleasing margarita.
Sauza Gold Tequila
While Jose Cuervo Silver is Chili’s standard tequila for margaritas, some locations may opt to use Sauza Gold Tequila in select varieties like the Late Night Prime Rib Margarita. Sauza Gold is another very popular tequila brand frequently used by bars and restaurants.
As a gold or “joven” tequila, Sauza Gold is aged in oak barrels for at least two months, giving it light hints of oak and vanilla. It provides margaritas with a slightly richer, smoother taste compared to silver tequila. The hints of oak pair nicely with chili’s Late Night Prime Rib Margarita, which also features smoky mesquite syrup.
However, Sauza Gold is not Chili’s main go-to tequila. It may be used for specialty margaritas at some locations, while others stick with the Jose Cuervo Silver for consistency across all margarita varieties.
Patrón Silver Tequila
For their top shelf margaritas, some Chili’s locations upgrade to premium tequila brands like Patrón Silver. Patrón is an ultra-premium tequila produced in small batches from estate-grown blue agave. It is distilled and bottled by hand in Jalisco, Mexico.
Margaritas made with Patrón Silver feature pure, smooth agave flavors with notes of citrus and black pepper. Its high-quality production standards make this an excellent sipping tequila, though some Chili’s may choose to highlight its flavors in their premium margarita offerings.
Using Patrón does come at a price – about 4-5 times the cost of Jose Cuervo Tradicional. Therefore, Chili’s primarily reserves it for top shelf offerings rather than their standard House Margarita.
Availability of Tequila Varieties
Keep in mind that specific tequila brands and varieties available can vary somewhat across Chili’s locations. Availability depends on state and local liquor distribution networks. Individual restaurants may also tailor their margarita recipes based on local tasted preferences.
However, Jose Cuervo Especial Silver remains the core tequila used chain-wide in Chili’s original margarita recipe. It strikes the right balance of quality, taste, and cost for a popular casual dining chain serving margaritas in large volumes.
Tequila Type Impacts Flavor
The main tequila types Chili’s uses – silver, gold, and reposado – each contribute their own flavor profile to margaritas:
| Tequila Type | Aging Time | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Silver/Blanco | 0-2 months | Crisp, light, pure agave flavor |
| Gold/Joven | 2-12 months | Mellow, hint of oak |
| Reposado | 2-12 months | Soft, slightly oaky |
As you go from silver to gold to reposado tequilas, the flavors become a bit richer and more complex due to increased aging time in oak barrels. However, the core flavor of agave still comes through.
Premium Tequila Margaritas
For those looking to truly indulge, Chili’s also offers premium margaritas made with top-shelf tequilas:
| Margarita Name | Tequila Used |
|---|---|
| Patrón Margarita | Patrón Silver |
| Ambhar Margarita | Ambhar Plata Tequila |
| Herradura Margarita | Herradura Plata Tequila |
These ultra-premium tequilas like Patrón, Ambhar, and Herradura offer smooth sipping and intensely pure agave flavors. Chili’s leverages these top-shelf spirits to create speciality margaritas for tequila aficionados willing to pay a higher price point.
Frozen Margaritas
In addition to its classic on-the-rocks margaritas, Chili’s also serves up delicious frozen varieties blended with ice.
Frozen margaritas at Chili’s are made following the same recipes as the originals, using Jose Cuervo Silver as the base along with freshly squeezed lime juice, Triple Sec, and Chili’s margarita mix. The blend is then poured into a frozen, salted margarita glass.
Going frozen adds extra refreshment and a thicker, icy texture. But the key tequila and flavors remain the same as Chili’s signature margaritas.
Skinny Margaritas
Health-conscious customers can opt for Chili’s Skinny Margarita, made with Lunazul 100% Blue Agave Tequila, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, and soda water. At just 150 calories, it provides the bold tequila flavor without added sugars.
Chili’s uses value-priced Lunazul tequila for these skinny margaritas rather than the pricier Jose Cuervo. Lunazul offers impressive quality for its low cost, distilled from estate-grown agave in Jalisco.
The agave nectar slightly sweetens the drink as a lower-calorie alternative to triple sec or margarita mixes. Overall, Chili’s Skinny Margarita provides an intriguing option for those looking to enjoy the margarita experience without going overboard on calories.
Margarita of the Month
Chili’s often features a special Margarita of the Month made with seasonal ingredients. Past selections have included February’s XOXO Margarita, May’s Cinco ‘Rita, August’s Electric Beach Margarita, and October’s Chili-O-Ween Margarita.
These unique margaritas allow Chili’s mixologists to get creative and highlight flavors aligned to holidays or times of year. However, they typically stick with the trusted Jose Cuervo Silver tequila as the foundation for even these specialty drinks.
Consistency Across Chili’s Locations
One of the keys to Chili’s success has been providing consistent menu offerings across all locations. Their margaritas are no exception. While some locations may tweak recipes or try limited-time flavors, you can generally rely on Chili’s margaritas made with Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver Tequila wherever you go.
This allows the chain to train bartenders system-wide on a standardized margarita recipe. It also sets customer expectations – a Chili’s margarita in Chicago should taste similar to one in Miami. This approach has helped Chili’s become the go-to casual dining bar and grill for dependable margaritas from coast to coast.
House Margarita Recipe
While the exact recipe is proprietary, Chili’s provides these approximate ingredients and ratios for their famous house margarita:
- 2 parts Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila
- 1 part triple sec
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- Chili’s Margarita Mix
The secret margarita mix contains sugars, lemon and lime juices, and preservatives. Combined with the liquors and fresh lime juice, it delivers Chili’s signature balance of sweet, sour, and savory tequila flavors.
Jose Cuervo Partnership
As the top-selling tequila for decades, it’s no surprise Jose Cuervo is the tequila of choice at Chili’s nationwide. In fact, the two brands have maintained a strong partnership for over 35 years.
Jose Cuervo actively supports Chili’s with point-of-sale materials, posters, table tents, banners, and merchandising materials promoting Chili’s margaritas. The brand also sponsors Chili’s Margarita of the Month program.
This long-running partnership provides Chili’s with continued access to Jose Cuervo tequila and merchandising support. For Jose Cuervo, it ensures placement in one of America’s most popular casual dining chains, which drives huge volume of sales.
Tequila Sales at Chili’s
Thanks to their famous margaritas, Chili’s sells a staggering amount of tequila every year. The chain goes through over 480,000 gallons of Jose Cuervo tequilas annually. That translates to around 2.7 million bottles used chainwide in their margaritas!
In total, Chili’s serves approximately:
- 9.6 million House Margaritas
- 490,000 Presidente Margaritas
- 230,000 Mexican Martini Margaritas
This makes Chili’s the #1 seller of margaritas in the United States. And those millions of margaritas sold each year add up to massive profits for both Chili’s and Jose Cuervo.
Tequila Trends
Premium and ultra-premium tequila brands have seen explosive growth in recent years, more than doubling their US sales between 2002 to 2013. Patrón drove much of this growth through marketing campaigns positioning tequila as a high-end spirit.
This rising trend toward pricier tequilas has impacted Chili’s as well. While Jose Cuervo Silver remains their well tequila, they’ve expanded premium selections to drive higher check averages. Their Patrón, Ambhar, and Herradura margaritas fetch up to $4-5 more per drink.
However, Chili’s has been careful not to alienate core customers used to their standard House Margarita. Their strategy balances capitalizing on premium tequila growth while retaining an accessible value offering.
Future Outlook
Don’t expect Chili’s winning margarita recipe to change anytime soon. Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila will continue driving millions of margarita sales annually at locations across America.
That said, we may see more restaurants experiment with higher end spirits or unique flavors for specialty margaritas. The classic Chili’s original made with Jose Cuervo will remain the staple – but new varieties can attract craft cocktail enthusiasts and generate buzz on social media.
Chili’s will also leverage emerging tequila trends to introduce more high-priced Patrón or Casamigos varieties. However, the bulk of volume will come from the dependable, crowd-pleasing House Margarita that made Chili’s famous.
Wherever your local Chili’s is located, you can expect freshly made margaritas with Jose Cuervo’s crisp, agave taste blended to perfection. When paired with Chili’s sizzling fajitas or molten chocolate cake, that cool, sweet margarita goes down far too easily!
Conclusion
Chili’s popular margaritas owe their signature taste to Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver Tequila. This dependable Mexican spirit provides a light, smooth base that allows the fresh citrus and sweet flavors to shine. While some locations may use specialty tequilas in premium margaritas, Jose Cuervo remains the chain’s #1 tequila for making millions of margaritas enjoyed by guests every year.
The long-standing partnership between Chili’s and Jose Cuervo ensures every restaurant has access to this top-selling tequila. Standardized training and recipes result in a consistent margarita experience across all Chili’s locations. Whether enjoying a House Margarita in Arizona or a President Margarita in Florida, you can expect that cool, smooth Jose Cuervo taste blended to perfection.