This Bottled Margarita from a Taylor Swift-Loved NYC Restaurant Is the Only Cocktail I’m Sipping This Holiday Season

When it comes to cocktails, I lean toward the sparkling side. An Aperol spritz is my usual warm-weather choice, while a Negroni sbagliato feels more suited for fall and winter. Recently, however, Via Carota — the most-hard-to-get-into restaurant in NYC and a favorite of Taylor Swift — offered me the chance to try their new ready-to-drink Classic Margarita cocktail. I’m already a huge fan of their sparkling cocktail range, so I thought why not forgo the fizzy drinks and mix things up with something different. After a few sips of the zingy, refreshing beverage, I had a revelation: This margarita just might be my new go-to cocktail for all-year round.

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Classic Margarita is the latest addition to Via Carota’s range of bar-quality bottled beverages. There’s the classic cocktail collection, which includes a signature Manhattan, an Old-Fashioned, and even an espresso martini, and the sparkling line, which features bubbly favorites like a Paloma and French 75. Via Carota’s Classic Margarita is made with an agave base, has citrusy notes of lime, lemon, and orange, and is meant to be served chilled or over ice. Packaged in a beautiful decorative cut-glass bottle, Via Carota’s Classic Margarita costs $39 and serves four.

I’m not usually a huge margarita fan because most of the ones I’ve had at bars or restaurants are a bit too sweet for my liking. That said, Via Carota’s Classic Margarita has just the right amount of sweetness, and the zesty citrus blends add a little extra pucker to each sip. I also love the convenience of this cocktail, since I don’t need to leave my apartment to enjoy a good drink. I just keep a bottle in the fridge, pour some in a glass, and I’ve got a perfect margarita in seconds. While I don’t like margaritas served in a glass with a salted rim, I do prefer drinking this margarita with something salty on the side, like tortilla chips, my favorite zesty Italian crackers, or cheese. It’s a light, bright cocktail that really can be enjoyed on any occasion, any time of year. 

If you’re looking for a really impressive go-to cocktail that takes no effort to make, you can’t go wrong with Via Carota’s Classic Margarita. Besides stocking up on bottles for myself, I’m planning to spread a little cheer, and gift it to friends and family who are hosting me at holiday parties and dinners this season. And if Via Carota fan Taylor Swift should invite me to her holiday party, she’ll be getting one too. 

Buy: Via Carota Craft Cocktails Classic Margarita, $39