Three ingredients, nothing to hide behind — the purist's Margarita that lets the tequila speak.
Mixto tequila (which can contain up to 49% non-agave sugars) has a harsh, chemical quality that's masked in a standard Margarita by the triple sec and sweetened mix. In Tommy's, there's nowhere to hide — the tequila is the entire flavour base.
Use at minimum a decent blanco like Espolon or Olmeca Altos. If you can, try it with a reposado (El Tesoro, Fortaleza) — the oak-aged complexity adds a dimension that makes the simple recipe feel anything but simple.
Add 3 thin jalapeño slices to the shaker and muddle before adding everything else. The cleanest version of a spicy tequila drink.
Replace the tequila with a joven mezcal. A different drink entirely — the agave smoke is front and centre. Use a touch more agave nectar as mezcal tends to be drier.
Add a small squeeze of grapefruit juice (¼ oz) alongside the lime. The grapefruit bitterness adds complexity without changing the spirit of the drink.
Replace the agave nectar with honey syrup (1:1 honey and warm water). The floral quality of good honey against a floral blanco tequila is exceptional.