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Your go-to summer sipper is getting pricier—here’s why (and how to order smarter).
Your summer staple is getting a little… premium.
Margarita prices are climbing—here and nationwide. According to recent data, in NC, bargoers are shelling out an average of $9.80 per drink—a ~23% jump from 2022—while nationally, the citrus-forward ’tail clocks in at just over $10.50.
That squeeze comes down to a mix of factors: rising costs on imported spirits (tequila, by law, comes from Mexico), tariff pressure and a shift in drinking habits. Fewer people are ordering—but when they do, they’re opting for better ingredients. Translation: Your basic supply and demand—fewer, better margs at a higher price.
And behind the bar, that tracks. “You can definitely go to a bar and ask for a well drink and the price point should go down,” says Lily Ballance—owner of William & Company, a tequila-forward bar with a wide range.Think budget-friendly bottles like Jose Cuervo or Montezuma to small-batch, higher-end pours. But, she adds, once you move up the tequila ladder, the price climbs quickly—pushing $28–$35 for a 2-oz. pour—especially when paired with fresh citrus and a thoughtful build.
Still, Ballance says, the price has a payoff (read: better cocktail) if you spend where it counts. Think quality tequila (she points to Tapatio Blanco, Reposado and La Gritona as strong picks, with Altos as a solid middle ground) and cocktails built with real lime—not premade mixes.
“It makes a big difference,” she says. “The tequila, the lime, the fresh ingredients—and how it’s crafted—it’s really important. And it’s worth it.”
So while your go-to summer sipper might hit your wallet a little harder, that doesn’t mean you’re priced out. It just means the strategy has changed. Order well when you want easy. Upgrade when you want it to hit. Or split the difference with a midtier tequila and fresh ingredients—that’s where the value lives. Because if you’re paying 10 bucks anyway, it might as well be worth the salt.
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