A soft serve margarita from Cazuela’s Mexican Cantina. Credit: Cassandra D’Angelo | Sports Photo Editor.

The ingredients may be simple, but finding the perfect margarita around campus is a bit more complicated.

With many restaurants offering their own takes on the classic cocktail, three margaritas from different campus spots were put to the test based on flavor, sweetness, price and overall restaurant experience.

The competitors chosen were Cazuelas Mexican Cantina, Boom Boom Tacos Tequila & Mezcal and Plaza Mexican Grill.

For a side-by-side comparison, all three margaritas were ordered to go and the same drink was ordered from each restaurant: a lime margarita on the rocks. Each margarita was ordered through its respective restaurant’s website.

Cazuelas Mexican Cantina

Located at 1545 N. High St., Cazuelas Mexican Cantina is arguably the most popular spot for margaritas on campus, setting high expectations as the first contestant. The Gateway location was chosen because of its close proximity to the other two contestants, allowing for a faster pickup route.

Ordering through Cazuelas’ website was seamless. Payment was completed online, followed by a confirmation email with an estimated pickup time. For $10 before tip, one jumbo margarita to-go came in a 20-ounce clear plastic cup, which felt fairly priced.

Upon arrival, a staff member said that in order to take a margarita home, you had to order a food item off their specialty or appetizer menu. This policy was not advertised online, nor did the website prevent the purchase of a single margarita for pickup. Nevertheless, after ordering a menu item, the margarita was taken home.

Cazuelas’ margarita had the perfect amount of sweetness, though it may be too much for the average margarita consumer.

The drink was the palest in color, a light yellow and looked the most like a classic margarita. The lime taste was subtle and was overpowered by the sweetness of the rest of the drink.

Although the sweetness was enjoyable, those who prefer a classic margarita may wish it had more of a classic lime flavor and sourness. While it didn’t have the fresh, punchy lime flavor, Cazuelas’ margarita was the most well-balanced in terms of alcohol content. The tequila had a prominent flavor but was not too strong, creating the perfect balance of liquor and flavor.

Boom Boom Tacos, Tequila & Mezcal

Located at 201 Chittenden Ave., Boom Boom Tacos, Tequila & Mezcal is tucked away next to The Ugly Tuna Saloona. Like Cazuelas, Boom Boom’s website was easy to navigate and sent a confirmation email with an estimated pickup time.

Unlike the other two competitors, Boom Boom’s online menu offered only a pitcher of margaritas instead of the classic jumbo size. Instead of one large pitcher, the margarita was split into three clear plastic 20-ounce cups, for $20.99, before tax and tip.

While Boom Boom’s margarita was slightly darker in color than Cazuelas’, it tasted drastically different. Boom Boom’s margarita was significantly less sweet than Cazuelas’ and was the most tart of the three.

Although sour, the margarita lacked an overpowering lime flavor and tasted more like a sour mix. For those who don’t love the taste of tequila, but still want to enjoy a margarita, Boom Boom is the perfect spot, as the tequila flavor was the least noticeable.

Plaza Mexican Grill

Known for its elevated patio, Plaza Mexican Grill, located at the corner of North High Street and Chittenden Aenue at 1644 N. High St., was the third and final competitor. Just like Cazuelas and Boom Boom, Plaza’s website was straightforward and painless. One 20-ounce jumbo lime margarita came out to $9 before tax and tip, making it the cheapest option of the three.

While the margaritas at Cazuelas and Boom Boom were both light yellow, Plaza’s was a bright lime green, which was fitting, as it offered the strongest lime flavor.

Although the lime flavor was strong, Plaza’s margarita wasn’t nearly as sour as Boom Boom’s nor as sweet as Cazuelas’, making it a solid balance between the two.

While the initial flavor was enjoyable, Plaza’s margarita had the strongest alcohol content, making it ideal for someone who prefers a more prominent tequila taste.

The winner

While all three margaritas offered something different, the award for best margarita on campus goes to Cazuelas Mexican Cantina.

The other two margaritas were extremely enjoyable, but Cazuelas had the best flavor-to-tequila ratio. Although Cazuelas took the crown, Boom Boom’s margarita deserves an honorable mention, as it is best suited for someone looking for something on the lighter side, while Plaza is the best option for someone wanting a margarita with a little more punch and flavor.