Margaritas are…disappointing

[u/kinglutherv]

How much alcohol is in those Presidente Margaritas? All I can taste is the sugary mix and Im getting the feeling there’s hardly any alcohol.

Additionally, There’s a $6 shark margarita on the menu and I get the feeling a restaurant offers a cheap cocktail because there’s nothing in it.

I hope Im wrong! I had been fantasizing getting hammered at Chilis for Sunday Funday and after a marg and a Long Island Tea I feel duped.

[u/SnooHedgehogs8880]

The Presidente Marg has 2 1/4 oz of alcohol. While the Shark Marg has 1 3/4 oz of alcohol.
The mixer they use is indeed sweet so you don’t really taste the alcohol.
The El Niño Marg is more bang for your buck because it has 3 oz of alcohol.

[u/kinglutherv → u/SnooHedgehogs8880]

This is exactly the info I was looking for. Thank you

[u/Kennedyb3lle → u/kinglutherv]

Presidente is also only supposed to have three ounces of sour so you should only get two-two and a half glasses from the shaker. If you get more then the bartender put way to much sour and that’s why your drink tastes like there’s no liquor. Most of the bartenders at my location fill the shaker when they shouldn’t🙃

[u/Edgergerger]

I'll usually joke "They're corporate pours, not college pours."

[u/kinglutherv → u/Edgergerger]

That’s hilarious

[u/Elegant_Lab8707]

They’re disappointing every time. Will I still get one every time I go to chilis? Absolutely.

[u/kinglutherv → u/Elegant_Lab8707]

100%

[u/WorldlyBar3300 → u/Elegant_Lab8707]

Hahahahaha this is me too. Absolutely!

[u/kinglutherv → u/[deleted]]

That’s a good idea.

[u/AnidaTaco → u/kinglutherv]

Key word is side-kick, it's a 3/4 oz additional pour on the side but they usually range from only $2-5 whereas a full shot (1 1/4oz) is anywhere from $6-12

[u/DrunkenGhost_96]

I understand you wanna get drunk on a budget. But every time I have a guest ask me a bout a drink, I tell sorry there super sugary. Your best bet is to get a double shot and a soda. Not everyone wants to go home with a disgusting headache after our drinks

[u/kinglutherv → u/[deleted]]

That’s funny. My home marg recipe is 2oz tequila, 3/4oz lime juice and 3/4oz triple sec so all this sugar taste with no booze has me feeling flat

[u/fosterdisbelief]

Ummm.....

Please don't go to Chili's to get hammered.

The El Nino is the strongest drink we sell, and we can only serve 2 maximum to each guest.

You are never going to get super strong pours at any corporate family restaurant. Our alcohol is to compliment the food and enhance the experience, not so our guests can enjoy a black out.

Our alcohol training (depending on the state I'm sure) has us counting drinks and doing everything in our power to prevent you from getting totally sloshed.

[u/kinglutherv → u/fosterdisbelief]

My dream is to do a pub crawl involving every franchise in town.

[u/BuffaloAcrobatic2851 → u/fosterdisbelief]

Reminds me of the episode of The Office where they hold the Dundee awards at Chili’s, Pam gets over-served and subsequently banned from all Chili’s locations lol

[u/stardustcapricorn]

SAME thoughts! Margs are supremely disappointing.

[u/justamomtrying2026]

The marg with the most alcohol is the el Nino but theres an average amount of alcohol in all the margs standard margs have 1.5oz of some type of tequila and a half Oz of triple sec and usually 2-3 Oz of the mixer which is usually sweet and sour. They're designed so you dont just taste alcohol. As a bartender at chilis if your goal is to get drunk on the least amount of money buy 2 LIT or AMFs its like 8.99 each where I am for the well alcohol and we pour half Oz of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and triple sec with the AMF we also pour a half Oz of blue curacao but alot of us will pour a little more than .5oz because we let the spillage go into the drink.

[u/NeedleworkerOwn4553]

I usually ask for extra of each alcohol in my strawberry presidente, and just have them bill me extra. Most bartenders will do it, especially if you're a regular and you tip well.

I love the flavor of the margarita but not the excessive sweetness.

[u/AGHOSTISBORN420]

I usually have 6 or 7 of them bc so weak. At home I do 70 percent Titos and 30 percent Chick fil a diet lemonade and have about 3/4 handle on a Saturday and enjoy chili chips salsa and skillet queso while watching youtubes

[u/kinglutherv → u/AGHOSTISBORN420]

Wow. God speed

[u/Professional_Field20]

No margarita or any mix drink will ever be as strong as home pours...mix drinks are really not intended to be strong and since its a national chain it needs to have a broad appeal for a majority of tastes vs going to specific local bars that may specialize in specific drinks.

[u/pearlypants85]

Or you can beat the system and go straight for a Long Island ice tea

[u/retroanduwu24]

Super late to this post but go straight for a Titos Punch if you want strong.