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Best Blender for Frozen Drinks like Margaritas and Daiquiris (2023)

If you’re a lover of frozen drinks like Margaritas and all things blended, having the best blender for frozen drinks is like going from a plastic Dixie cup for your drink to a high quality bar glass made just for your drink. It elevates the entire experience.

See, a frozen drink blender is specifically made to blend ice. And as you know, ice is pretty tough. This holds true whether you’re making spicy margaritas, daiquiris or any other types of frozen drinks or are working with frozen drink ingredients. And if you are looking for the best ice make for your home bar, check out the link!

And if you run a bar and try to use some cheap blender you found at a discount warehouse, you’ll end up replacing that thing every week or two. And in the end it becomes a lot more expensive than just buying a quality frozen drink blender meant specifically for blending ice for margaritas and other frozen drinks.

After all, any frozen drink recipe has ice, the only difference is if it’s blended or not. And if you’re a Ninja blender fan, take a look at my top picks for the best Ninja Blenders here.

And this is the same whether you’re running a professional operation, or you just have a small home bar set up. In the end, it does matter. In cost, time and frustration. And no, these aren’t the same as margarita machines.

Our Margarita Blender Reviews

Waring 32 oz Two-Speed Bar Blender

Waring 32 oz Two-Speed Bar Blender

Great Home Bar Blender!

• Waring makes a great light weight blender that can do well in any home bar environment. Cost effective and stylish, this stainless steel blender is not recommended for commercial use but comes in just under $150.

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This Waring blender has a 32 ounce capacity and a light-duty, 2/5 HP motor. Although marketed as a commercial unit, I feel it just doesn’t have a powerful enough motor for most bars, especially if you’re using this for more than just margaritas.

I also found that you need to hold the blender in place or it can easily slip off which means no off hands blending. A definite negative if you’re a bartender wanting to prepare your glass while blending.

This comes with a stainless steel pitcher that looks great, but means more maintenance to keep it looking nice. It also doesn’t allow for a customer to see the drink being made.

It is made in the USA which also means it should be much easier to get parts and service, a big plus over brands manufactured abroad and everything needs to be shipped.

• Capacity: 32 oz
• Horsepower: 2/5 HP
• Container Type: Stainless Steel

What I like: The stainless steel container is stylish and will last a lifetime if cared for properly. Would match well in modern kitchen designs where stainless dominates. Dishwasher safe. Made in the USA.

What I don’t like: The 2/5 HP motor just isn’t built for commercial settings but will do fine in a home bar. And although it is stylish, stainless also takes a bit more work to keep looking good. And this is a little noisy.

>> Learn More about the Waring (BB150S) 32 oz Two-Speed Bar Blender

Hamilton Beach 44 oz Commercial Two-Speed Blender – 908 Series

Hamilton Beach 44 oz Commercial Two-Speed Blender

One of the top 3 picks!

• A true commercial margarita blender this machine can cut through ice or frozen ingredients in a snap. This is perfect as a home or bar blender and the simple operation is a plus for most bartenders.

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This Hamilton Beach blender is a true commercial grade one that can do well with ice or anything frozen. Want to make banana daiquiris with frozen fruit, no problem.

This unit is simple to operate with just a low and high setting. Easy to use and uncomplicated means less problems. One of the best margarita blenders I’ve used and only out done by the Ninja brand. At just over $200 this is an excellent blender at a very fair price.

I literally have friends that have had theirs in their homes for 10 years or more.

This unit can blend a half-liter daiquiri in under 30 seconds. The crystal clear polycarbonate container ensures visibility during the entire blending process, which is good for operators and guests alike.

• Capacity: 44 oz
• Horsepower: 3/8 HP
• Container Type: Plastic

What I like: I love how simple this is to use. Especially in a busy bar environment. You don’t have to worry about employees messing with the nobs and buttons. And in simplicity there is also less to go wrong. Definitely a top pick.

What I don’t like: I do love a pulse button which this doesn’t have. Other than that, the size of the motor, pitcher and weight of the machine are great. Can’t really dis this blender.

>> Learn More about the Hamilton Beach (HBB908) 44 oz Commercial Two-Speed Blender – 908 Series

Waring 48 oz Bar Blender – Margarita Madness Series

When it comes to blending margaritas, bars typically serve them blended or on the rocks. This 48 oz bar blender is part of the Margarita Madness series from Waring, which speaks to its ability behind the bar. This easy-to-use blender features a toggle switch for low and high speeds. The 1½ HP motor crushes ice instantly for the perfect texture.

• Capacity: 48 oz
• Horsepower: 1½ HP
• Container Type: Plastic

>> Learn More about the Waring (MMB142) 48 oz Bar Blender – Margarita Madness Series

Vita-Mix 48 oz Frozen Drink Machine

When you have a powerful blender behind the bar, blending margaritas, daiquiris and other frozen drinks becomes a treat rather than a chore. This Vita-Mix bar blender features a powerful 2 HP motor with high and low speed control. Crush ice, blend beverages and mix dense ingredients like margarita mix without worrying about the blender overheating. Plus, the manual operation offers bartenders more control when blending custom drinks.

• Capacity: 48 oz
• Horsepower: 2 HP
• Container Type: Plastic

>> Learn More about the Vita-Mix (5004) 48 oz Drink Machine Two-Speed Blender

Vita-Mix 64 oz Vita-Prep 3

In the bar, it often pays to have greater control over your blender speed and power. When you need options like these, look no further than this model from Vitamix. Mixing, pureeing and even crushing ice is faster and easier with this 3 HP blender, which has 10 speeds to suit your blending application. Plus, you can watch it all happen through the clear plastic container.

• Capacity: 64 oz
• Horsepower: 3 HP
• Container Type: Plastic

>> Learn More about the Vita-Mix (1005) 64 oz Vita-Prep 3

Vita-Mix 64 oz BarBoss

Vita-Mix offers a bar blender with the capacity and power to tackle any type of blended beverage. The 2 HP motor crushes a full 64 ounces of ice cubes in merely three seconds. The large container size lets bartenders make more beverages at once for increased productivity. Plus, the timed blending and automatic shut-off features make this blender a blessing behind any bar, especially when bartenders need to manage several tasks at once.

• Capacity: 64 oz
• Horsepower: 2 HP
• Container Type: Plastic

>> Learn More about the Vita-Mix (5028) 64 oz BarBoss

Choose the Right Capacity

There’s no need in buying a blender that’s far too big, nor something that isn’t going to be big enough. So look at the size of the jar or cup and see how much liquid it holds.

Most frozen drinks are anywhere from 12 to 20 ounces of liquid. So if you’re using this for a home bar setup, you can get away with a blender that holds twenty ounces or more. But as a commercial user, you should be looking at somewhere around forty ounces, this will allow you to make multiple drinks quickly. Most commercial blender have forty eight ounce jars.

Generally speaking, you should not fill the blender more than three-quarters full, to reduce the chances of splattering liquids.

Choose the Right Container Material

Make sure your blender is made from durable materials and it some how matches your surroundings. If you’ll have this on your kitchen counter and your refrigerator is made of stainless steel, then just stick to that and get a stainless blender.

Personally I really like glass blenders, they’re durable and I can see when I’ve blended enough. And in a bar setting it’s nice that people can see the fresh ingredients your placing into the blender. And that they’re getting a “full shot” of liquor.

But this doesn’t discount a stainless or plastic blender.

Plastic is also durable, and a lot cheaper than glass and stainless. They work just fine, and like the glass they are see through. the biggest problem is these types of blender jugs will start to break down and scratch over time. The walls of the blender jug will become cloudy as a result. At home, this isn’t a big problem. But it does look a bit unprofessional in a commercial setting.

Understand the Blender Base

The base of the blender is where the motor is housed and all your buttons are. But there’s more to a base than just buttons and motors.

First, the base needs to be heavy enough to keep the blender grounded while blending your drinks. Meaning if the base is too light, it’s easier for the blender to tip. A base of at least five pounds is desirable. The blender base should weigh about five pounds to provide a sufficient foundation for the blender.

Also if you’re able to physically inspect your blender choices, look for bases where the buttons are securely placed in the base housing. Or better yet, are completely sealed and don’t allow any liquid to ever enter the housing at all.

This is usually the primary “color” of the the blender as well. So again, make sure it matches your surroundings.

• Chrome base. These old style blenders are making a come back and they do look great. I personally love chrome and glass blenders. But understand chrome, just like an old car bumper can start to pit and tarnish if not taken care of. You’ll need to keep your blender super clean to maintain that shiny new chrome appeal.
• Stainless steel base. Stainless steel blender bases are the best choice for a commercial setting. Brushed stainless steel is a good option since fingerprints and drips are harder to see. They look great in a home bar or commercial one and should last a long time if you take care of it. Just one tip, never use bleach to wipe down stainless steel, it will cause it to tarnish or rust quickly.
• Plastic base. Plastic blender bases can be acceptable as long as there is enough weight to the base to keep it from tipping. The best part of plastic is you can get just about any color you want. Perfect for home use. But in a commercial setting they look a bit tacky and will quickly get scratched.

Choose the Right Power

Typically this is what you’re paying for in a blender, the motor. Powerful motors like those on a Ninja or Vita-Mix blender are what separates a great frozen cocktail blender from one that will burn out quickly.

The most important way to tell how much power a bar blender has is by its wattage or horsepower (HP), although HP is more common and simpler to identify.

For comparison, one unit of HP is equal to over 745 watts, according to U.S. units of measure. So if the blender boasts 1500 watts of power, that’s about the equivalent of just over two horsepower, which for a blender is a good size.

For most margaritas or vodka whiskey cocktails anything between one to two horsepower should be strong enough to blend properly and consistently. But definitely go with the two horsepower if you do a lot of margaritas with dry powdered margarita mix, or use frozen ingredients for things like daiquiris.

If you’ve ever smelled smoke while blending, this means your motor isn’t strong enough to handle what’s being blended. There’s too much torque on the motor. If you keep blending, it won’t be long before you burn out the motor.

Choose Speed and Programmability Options

In addition to horsepower, speed and programmability are important features to many restaurant operators. This has to do with how fast the blender blends as well as what settings are available.

Speeds. Most bar blenders have an “On/Off” switch if nothing else and are considered single speed blenders. Two speed blenders will also have a “High/Low” switch.

For me, I like a blender that has a “pulse” option. This is simply a button you hold down in order to turn the blender on. Making a frozen margarita only takes about ten seconds of blending. So pulsing is just an easier way for me to quickly blend a drink.

Then of course you can get with up to ten speeds if you really want one. But for margaritas it doesn’t make sense. And the more options your blender has, the more complicated and easier it is for something to break or go wrong with it. Here simple is a good thing.

Programmability. Some of the more technologically-advanced bar blender models have programming options, in which the user can program certain blender speeds and times associated with different buttons. Bartenders may find it useful to use programmed speeds and times for different drinks. In the case that a drink needs 20 to 30 seconds to blend, having a timed program that stops automatically can allow the bartender to step away and prepare the glass for the drink, allowing him or her to pour the drink immediately after it is done blending. Most bar blenders are not this advanced, although some are equipped with manual timers with automatic shut-off options for increased convenience.

Margarita Blender Buying Chart

I’ve added a chart so you can quickly glance and see which blenders are best for your specific needs. For home use any of these benders will mix your margaritas to perfection. But in a commercial setting I’d advise you get nothing less than a medium duty blender. Anything less and your machine just isn’t going to last long.

Blender  Capacity (oz)	Blender Type	Recommended Blender
32	Light Duty	Waring BB150S Bar Blender
32	Medium Duty	Hamilton Beach HBB250S-CE
32	Heavy Duty	Vitamix 62824 Drink Machine
40	Medium Duty	Waring BB300
48	Light Duty	Hamilton Beach HBB908 bar blender
48	Medium Duty	Waring BB150 Margarita Blender
48	Heavy Duty	Waring MMB142 Margarita Madness
48	Heavy Duty	Vita-Mix Blending Station
64	Heavy Duty	Vita-Mix 5028 Bar-Boss

Why No Margaritaville Blenders?

I didn’t include the now infamous Margaritaville concoction makers here because for me, these are not blenders. or, they are blenders, just more complicated and expensive. But if you really want one of these, check out my Best Margarita Machine article and be sure to read my part on why I think the best blender for margaritas is such a better option than one of these machines.