One of the best things about a margarita is its versatility. You can play around with flavors by adding fruits and syrups, turn it into a margarita made with lemon juice, or make a guilt-free option with the best sugar-free simple syrup or a low-calorie margarita mix from Skinny Mixes–you can even change up the liquor in a margarita. One crowd-favorite rendition is the vodka margarita. also known as a “vodkarita,” which swaps out tequila for vodka in the beverage, making the drink smooth and easier to customize.

Can You Make a Margarita With Vodka?

You could argue that a margarita without tequila is simply not a margarita. While that’s technically true, there’s no strict rule about only using Mexican liquor. You can swap tequila with different spirits, especially if you don’t have access to good tequila.

Classic Margarita Versus Vodka Margarita

A classic margarita is made using three parts tequila, two parts orange liqueur (triple sec), and one part lime juice. It’s made by mixing the three ingredients in a shaker, then straining it into a salt-rimmed glass. A vodka margarita is made of the same ingredients in the same ratios, except with vodka instead of tequila, and it’s prepared the same way.

Vodka Margarita Versus Kamikaze

People who know their cocktails can tell that a vodka margarita is similar to a Kamikaze. Both drinks are made of the same ingredients. However, while a vodka margarita follows a three-two-one ratio like a classic margarita, a Kamikaze mixes the ingredients in equal parts. A Kamikaze is often served in a martini glass, although it was originally meant to be a shooter served in shot glasses.

What Does a Vodka Margarita Taste Like?

A vodka margarita tastes like a regular margarita if you take the citrus up a notch. Thanks to the clear profile of vodka, the flavors of the orange liqueur and the lime juice are highlighted, making the drink distinctly tart and citrusy. It also goes down smoother because it doesn’t have the same bite you’d get from the classic version.

How to Make Vodka Margarita

Making a vodka margarita is the same as making a regular margarita, except you use vodka in place of tequila. Before you mix the drink, prepare your glass. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt, then set it aside.

Place three parts vodka, two parts orange liqueur, and one part lime juice in a cocktail shaker, then fill it with ice. Shake the mixture until cold before straining it into the glass with the salted rim. Add ice and serve.

Easy Vodka Margaritas With Skinny Mixes

If you only have a bottle of vodka but want the experience of a "vodkarita,” get yourself Skinny Mixes’ skinny margarita mix. You can even choose from different margarita flavors from a bright passionfruit hibiscus margarita to a spicy jalapeño one! 

Not only can you enjoy the flavors of a vodka margarita as if you made it from scratch, but you also do so without the guilt that comes with excess sugar and calories. This is because Skinny Mixes’ cocktail mixes are zero-sugar and low-calorie–so your next margarita night can be guilt-free!