Always use freshly squeezed lime juice, never bottled—it makes the difference between a bright, vibrant margarita and a flat one. Fresh juice provides natural acidity and complex flavor that bottled simply cannot replicate.

Pre-chill your coupe or martini glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before serving to keep your up margarita at the perfect temperature longer without dilution from melting ice.

Invest in 100% agave tequila (preferably blanco or silver) rather than mixtos—the pure, clean spirit flavor shines through in an up margarita where there's nowhere to hide inferior ingredients.

Shake vigorously with ice for 10-15 seconds until the shaker is frosty, then immediately strain into your chilled glass to achieve the ideal cold temperature without over-dilution for an up serve.

Use high-quality agave nectar and adjust to your taste ratio of roughly 1:1 with lime juice—too much masks the tequila's character, while too little creates an unbalanced, sour drink.