Heading down Mexico way and celebrating National Margarita Day is a great excuse to party hacienda-style and experiment with some of the best blanco tequilas from Jalisco.

One of the most popular and enduring cocktails, the margarita's 'wheels of fortune' are its limes - the key ingredient that marries with the tequila and orange liqueur to create the sweet and tangy flavours we love so much.

Whether they're floating in a rock glass with plenty of ice, or decorating the salted rim, an easy party trick is to place the limes in a microwave for 20 seconds to extract the most from your citrus fruit.

And despite most bars having their own version of a margarita, and mixologists wanting to play the field and rework the recipe, this simple classic isn't always easy to get right.

"Increasingly, more of our guests ask for margaritas nowadays - but they know what they want. They are looking for classic, well-made styles - following traditional principles," says James Manero, co-founder of The Natural Philosopher, London.

To help you master the margarita and try some tricks of the trade, here are six 100% blue agave blanco tequilas that can be sipped on their own over ice, but also taste delicious with lime juice, a salt rim and a measure of sweetness...

:: Tapatio Blanco Tequila (£29.99, 50cl, www.selfidges.com). A favourite in trendy restaurants and bars, Tapatio is spicy and full bodied with aromas of agave and tropical fruits, with more agave, vanilla and white pepper on the lingering finish.

:: Gran Centenario Plata Tequila (£29.50, 70cl, www.31dover.com). The bottle is inspired by the art deco style and this stand-out tequila has an oak influence with sweet agave and honey on the nose, a honeyed, creamy palate with pepper, toffee and citrus on the soft, full finish.

:: Riva Tequila Blanco (£31, 70cl, www.harveynichols.com). Fresh and youthful with flowery and grassy aromas, there's spicy agave on the palate with white pepper, sweet citrus fruit and a clean, crisp finish.

BARTENDER'S TIP: To salt the rim, dip the rim of the glass in lime juice and roll in a plate of sea salt. Aqua Riva Agave Syrup (£4.49, Waitrose) has a neutral flavour and makes a really good sweet alternative to triple sec.

If you find one of the below Tommy recipes too tart, add more syrup, or if it's too sweet, add more lime.

:: 1800 Silver Tequila (£29.25, 70cl, www.whiskyexchnage.com). 1800 takes its name from the first year tequila was produced and beguiling vanilla aromas are followed by a flowery, fresh, creamy palate with a hint of nougat and gentle spice on the earthy finish. Here's their recipe to try at home...

1800 TOMMY'S MARGARITA

50ml 1800 Silver, 2 teaspoons agave syrup, 20ml lime juice, f resh lime for garnish

Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake well and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

:: Tequila Patron (£35.90, 70cl, www.amazon.co.uk). Floral and fresh with light, citrusy notes, the pleasing sweetness, spice and mineral note on the delicate finish lends Patron well to this citrus serve that's refreshing and balanced...

PATRON TOMMY'S MARGARITA

35ml Patron Silver, 15ml agave syrup, 50ml fresh lime juice

Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients and shake well. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

:: Don Julio Blanco (£44.90, 70cl, www.alexanderandjames.com). Fresh with a delicate herbal nose, it has a citrusy, tropical character with lime and grapefruit leading to agave, pepper and a grassy, soft finish. Here's their recipe using Grand Marnier which kicks it up a notch...

MARGARITA LEGENDARIO

30ml Don Julio Blanco, 15ml fresh lime juice, 15ml Grand Marnier, salt, 1 lime wedge

Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients and shake well, then strain into an old-fashioned cocktail glass rimmed with salt and filled with ice cubes. Garnish with the lime wedge.

:: BEST BUY

Everybody's got the 'Fever'... Fever-Tree mixer brand has been officially recognised by bartenders around the world as the 'bestselling' and 'top-trending' tonic water, taking both titles for the second year running.

"The success of Fever-Tree seems so obvious as premium gin needs premium tonic," says Hamish Smith, editor of the World's 50 Best Bars.

Fever-Tree has a portfolio of 12 mixers available to buy in Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and their latest listing is Marks & Spencer (£1.69, 50cl, M&S).

:: LIQUID NEWS

Show me the Moet... Following its inaugural education and immersive pop-up last year, Champagne Moet & Chandon is returning to London with a Moet Academy pop-up at the Conde Nast College in Soho from March 21 to April 3, 2016.

The academy is designed to educate consumers about champagne and ticket holders will be taken on a tour through the entire champagne making process from vine to glass: From learning about the chalk terroir of the vineyards and the characteristics of the three grape varieties, to the blending of the base wines. This year will also see the introduction of an immersive 360 degree 'virtual reality' tour of the vineyards of Champagne.

"By bringing the magic of Champagne to the heart of London, we inspire consumers to create and share their own 'Moet moments'," says Julie Nollet, UK marketing & communications director. "The Moet Academy pop-up is an invitation to experience Moot & Chandon in an exciting, interactive way and benefit from the brand's rich expertise to learn more about Champagne in general."

Each Academy session will culminate with a tasting of the full Moet & Chandon collection - including the Grand Vintage 2006 Blanc, and an exclusive sneak preview of the soon-to-be-released Grand Vintage Rose 2008.

Tickets for a 90 minute session cost £45 and available now. Visit www.moetacademy.co.uk for more information.