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Morning Margarita Recipe: The Best Breakfast Cocktail

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This morning margarita recipe, with tequila, fresh orange and lime, plus a splash of crème de cassis (that turns it berry-kissed) is gorgeous in the glass and is the kind of cocktail that tastes like a weekend.

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Post last updated April 17, 2026.

a morning margarita with a lime garnish

This beautiful margarita is a lighter, more refreshing take on a classic margarita, made with fresh lime juice and fresh-squeezed orange juice instead of heavier mixers, plus just one shot of tequila so it feels like a treat—not a commitment. The splash of crème de cassis at the end adds that subtle berry note that makes people stop mid-sip and say, “wait…what is that?”

If a tequila sunrise and a classic cocktail had a laid-back brunch moment together, this would be it. It’s the kind of drink that feels right at home during Cinco de Mayo, but honestly, I’ll take any excuse to make it—especially on a hot summer day when something cold and citrusy feels like the right way to start the day.

And maybe that’s why I keep coming back to it. It’s simple, it’s a little playful, and it turns an ordinary morning into something just a bit more fun—whether you’re hosting brunch or just in the mood for a fun twist on your usual margarita.

a morning margarita with a hand pouring creme de cassis in the glass

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • 1 orange – Fresh orange juice is key; it gives the drink that soft, morning-ready flavor
  • Kosher salt – For the rim, balancing the citrus and sweetness. I always like to use Morton Kosher salt
  • 2 limes – You’ll use fresh lime juice plus a lime wedge for garnish
  • 1 shot tequila – Keeps it light and crisp
  • Splash of creme de cassis – Adds color and a layered fruity finish
all the ingredients to make a morning margarita including tequila and limes

Make It a Pitcher

Hosting brunch or celebrating Cinco de Mayo? This is an easy one to scale up.

To make a small pitcher (about 4 servings):

  • 2 cups fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 4 shot tequila
  • 2–4 tablespoons creme de cassis (to taste)

Stir everything together in a pitcher and chill well. When ready to serve, pour over ice in salt-rimmed glasses and add an extra splash of creme de cassis to each glass for that signature layered look.

Morning Margarita Recipe

What to Serve With It

Obviously this is a natural brunch drink, if it is still a bit chilly outside you could offer a hot double orange Kahlúa coffee in addition to the morning margaritas.

Churro French toast casserole is awesome for serving a crowd, especially with a side of Ponche-braised breakfast sausage or brown sugar honey jalapeño bacon, both of which that pair well with the citrusy notes of the drink, while a fresh Mexican Fruit Salad adds a light touch to the table.

If you are serving a round of these citrusy margaritas for happy hour, you’ve got to try my choriqueso pinwheels or jalapeño cheesy crackers to go with. The refreshing flavors of the cocktail cut through the rich, cheesiness of these delicious snacks.


Morning Margarita Recipe

Celebrate Something!

Or honestly, just celebrate the fact that it’s morning and you’ve got fresh orange juice and tequila on hand 🍊🍹 Make yourself one of these bright, refreshing Morning Margaritas and let me know what you think!

Snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @holajalapeno and#holajalapeno so I can see, or leave a comment below (don’t forget that ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating!). And if you want more easy, seasonal recipes like this, sign up for my weekly newsletter—there’s always something good waiting for you there.

a margarita with creme de cassis being poured into the glass

Morning Margarita Recipe

Morning Margarita Recipe

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Fresh squeezed orange juice and a splash of creme de cassis lighten the classic margarita making it perfect for sipping any time of day.

Ingredients

  • 1 orange
  • kosher salt
  • 2 limes
  • 1 ounce silver tequila
  • splash creme de cassis

Instructions

  1. Cut orange in half. Squeeze one half into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cut the other half into wedges. Take one wedge and run it along the rim of a glass. Dip the glass in salt and set aside.
  2. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime into the cocktail shaker. Cut the other lime in wedges for garnish.
  3. Add tequila to cocktail shaker, seal, and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is beaded with sweat.
  4. Pour drink into prepared glass. Garnish with orange and lime wedges add a splash of creme de cassis over the top and enjoy.

Notes

    1. Crème de cassis tip: Start with 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon—it’s potent and can take over fast. Add more only after you taste.
    2. Make it a pitcher: Multiply everything by the number of drinks, shake/stir in a pitcher with ice, and add cassis to each glass at the end so everyone gets that swirl.
    3. Tequila note: Silver/blanco keeps it crisp; reposado will taste warmer and a little more “oaky.”
    4. No shaker? Use a mason jar with a tight lid, or stir really well with plenty of ice until the drink is very cold.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 210Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 319mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 7gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

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© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican-American / Category: margarita

Dia de Los Muertos Mezcal marigold margarita recipe

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A Marigold Mezcal Margarita is the perfect cocktail to celebrate the symbolic Day of the Dead flower, with marigold syrup, mezcal, and fresh lime juice.

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This recipe was first posted in 2016 and has been updated with new, clearer instructions, and step-by-step video.

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

Marigolds are the symbolic flower of Dia de los Muertos

More specifically, Cempasúchil, which is a Mexican marigold that is native to Mexico. These tall-stemmed queens that are strewn into wreaths, and constructed into brilliant arcs surrounding altars in Oaxaca and all over Mexico for Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Their blossoms can be as big as 6-inches and grow wild in the Oaxacan countryside through October leading up to Día de los Muertos celebrations on November 1 and 2. They have a fragrant scent and bright orange color that is said to awaken the senses of the dead and bring joy to the living.

Their symbolism makes them perfect for a Day of the Dead cocktail which we made for our Dia de los Muertos Fiesta. Dried marigolds make a beautiful syrup and their floral, slightly bitter flavor go smashingly with smoky mezcal. This is definitely one of my favorite cocktails.

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

One reader, Meg, commented: “Gah, this cocktail was SO good!!! I’m going to have to make another batch for the weekend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

Marigold Blossom Is This Month’s Challenge Ingredient!

Every month we hold a Challenge Ingredient Recipe Contest where we feature a Mexican ingredient that is common in Mexico but may be unfamiliar in the US and abroad. This month’s ingredient is dried marigold flowers also known as Cempasúchil. This particular variety of Mexican marigold is often confused with Calendula which is in the same family, but Calendula are native to Africa and are a different genera.

Dried Cempasúchil are easy to find online and are completely edible. Any leftover flowers can be steeped in hot water with a little honey for a soothing tea.

To enter the contest you need to make the marigold margarita recipe (see below for non-alcoholic version), take a picture of it, email me the picture at kate@holajalapeno.com, then leave a comment below as well as a star rating.

At the end of the month, 1 winner will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!

You can find all the contest details here and you can browse all the previous recipe challenges here like last month’s chiles en nogada recipe.

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What You’ll Need To Make This Marigold Margarita Recipe

  • Granulated Sugar: To make the marigold syrup.
  • Dried marigold flowers: These are edible flowers that give this cocktail a gorgeous yellow hue and musky-sweet flavor.
  • Mezcal: Smoky mezcal goes perfectly with the Mexican marigolds and I just love using it in margaritas. Try my cucumber mezcal margarita too!
  • Lime juice: Fresh squeezed lime juice is essential for a good margarita.
  • Kosher salt: For rimming the glass.
Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

My New Favorite Mezcal

One of my newest mezcal discoveries is Mezcal Yuu Baal. It has undertones of smoke, but not in your face like some. It also is lightly fruity, like maybe kiwi? Whatever it is, it goes lovely with this cocktail; gentle enough to let the marigold essence come through. 

If you prefer tequila, here are my 10 favorite añejo tequilas or get really fancy and make it with Cristalino tequila.

A fun marigold salt rim makes this cocktail extra special but what about rimming the glass with homemade tequila salt? Yum!

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

How To Make a Marigold Mezcal Margarita

First you’ll need to make the simple syrup. This is how we start so many margarita recipes, like our tamarind margaritas or our blackberry limonada margaritas. marigold simple syrup. Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and stir in the flowers. Let steep at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours.

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

Pour about 1/4 cup of salt on a shallow dish. Crumble a few marigold petals into salt and then rub the salt and flowers together.

Cut lime in half. Take one lime half and cut into thick slices. Rub one lime slice around the edge of a rocks glass or a margarita glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the marigold salt and fill the glass with ice.

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Squeeze the remaining 3 lime wedges into the shaker, add mezcal and syrup. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with crumbled marigold flower and a lime wedge.

And party time!

Mezcal Marigold Margarita Recipe

Non-Alcoholic Variation

Lucky for us, there are quite a few really good zero-proof tequilas out there. To make this cocktail a mocktail swap the mezcal for one of these:

  • Seven Giants Non-Alcoholic Reposado Tequila: Yes, this is made in Scotland, but it is remarkably good. All the blue agave notes and a slightly herbal tang with none of the alcohol.
  • Seedlip Notas de Agave: Vibrant and refreshing, made from a blend of prickly pear, lime, and agave flavors, with a slight heat finish from the flavor of peppercorns.
  • Aplós Arise Tequila Style Alternative: This is an adaptogen-infused beverage which promotes an elevated mood without the alcohol. It has of agave flower, lemon verbena, and black Sarawak.

Serve With:

Día de Los Muertos requires a special meal, serve these symbolic margaritas with

A marigold margarita with a salt rim

Marigold Mezcal Margarita Recipe

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Marigolds are a symbol of Dia de los Muertos. Dried marigolds are said to cure any number of skin irritations and digestive issues. They are a bit bitter on their own but make a delicious golden syrup. They also can be steeped with water and drank as tea. You can buy them here.

Ingredients

For the Syrup:

For the Margarita:

Instructions

For the syrup:

  1. Combine the 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Once boiling, remove from heat, stir in 1 cup flowers, cover and let steep at least 15 minutes but up to 2 hours.
  2. Strain and set aside to cool completely. This can be made up to a week in advance.

For the drink:

  1. Pour about 1/4 cup of salt on a shallow dish. Crumble 2 marigold flowers into salt and then rub the salt and flowers together.
  2. Cut lime in half. Take one lime half and cut into thick slices. Rub one lime slice around the edge of a rocks glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the marigold salt and fill the glass with ice.
  3. Fill a shaker with ice. Squeeze the remaining 3 lime wedges into the shaker, add 1/4 cup mezcal and 2 tablespoons syrup. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with crumbled marigold flower and a lime wedge.

Notes

  1. Syrup Swaps: If marigold flowers aren’t available, you can substitute with dried chamomile or calendula for a similar floral note, though the flavor will be slightly different.
  2. Serving Suggestion: This cocktail is perfect for Día de los Muertos gatherings or any fall celebration. Garnish with extra marigold petals for a beautiful, golden touch.
  3. Flower Safety: Be sure to use food-grade, pesticide-free marigold flowers for culinary use. Only edible varieties like Tagetes erecta (cempasúchil) are safe for consumption.
  4. Non-Alcoholic Version: Omit mezcal and add sparkling water and extra lime juice for a festive mocktail or try one of the non-alcoholic tequilas listed in the post.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1034Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 646mgCarbohydrates: 272gFiber: 4gSugar: 237gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican-American / Category: cocktail

All photos courtesy of This Mess Is Ours

25+ Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Recipes {Margaritas + More}

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If you’re hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, make a cocktail that’s sure to be the highlight of the party. From classic margaritas like cucumber mezcal margaritas to authentic sangria, find your next delicious cocktail from this collection of 25+ Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Recipes!

Post first published on May 1, 2014 and last updated with new content on May 1, 2024.

An overhead image of micheladas being made on a wood table with a bottle of beer.

I love a good party and Cinco de Mayo gives us a great excuse to invite over family and friends and celebrate Mexican culture with delicious food like barbacoa tacos, borracho beans, chips and salsa, tamales, and a big slice of tres leches cake for dessert.

By the way, have you tried this Chile Colorado yet?

But beyond the delicious savory eats and good times, aren’t we all most excited about the Cinco de Mayo drinks?

I’ve been known to craft one, if not two, traditional Mexican drinks for a get-together, especially if it’s a Cinco de Mayo celebration. And if you want to be dubbed THE official mixologist this year, look no further for recipe inspiration! I’ve gathered 25+ of my favorites and included them all below.

Drinks that are made from simple ingredients, have a perfect balance of brightness, booze, bitter, and sweet, can be scaled up or down to make a pitcher if necessary, and are simply refreshing on a warm day top the list.

I particularly love these tequila libre cocktails. They scream spring, are light and refreshing, and are made with homemade rhubarb lemonade that can double as a non-alcoholic option. Have an abundance of fresh berries? What better way to use them up than these spicy raspberry margaritas.

A Cinco de Mayo cocktail recipe: Spicy Raspberry Margarita

Success Tip: Pre-batching is your friend! Instead of shaking or stirring individual cocktails to order (which gets chaotic fast), prepare a large batch of your signature drink in advance that way you can enjoy the party instead of playing bartender.

✨ Love or hate mixing up cocktails? What’s your #1 frustration when it comes to drinks? Let me know in the comments below? ✨

25 Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Recipes

1. The Original Cadillac Margarita

Kicking things off with a classic. This simple, 4-ingredient cocktail leans a bit on the sweet side with Grand Marnier and agave syrup but is well balanced with lots of fresh-squeezed lime juice for (in my humble opinion) the perfect margarita. Garnish with a lime wedge and you’re good to go!

A Cadillac Margarita on top of a napkin on a black table.

2. Strawberry Hibiscus Palomas

Sweet-tart strawberries meet vibrant hibiscus in this refreshing twist on the classic Paloma. Tequila’s bite, zesty grapefruit juice, and a hint of floral sweetness come together for a cocktail that sings of summer.

Several strawberry Paloma cocktails next to fresh strawberries.

3. Tequila Sunrise

This simple cocktail makes a great brunch drink or easy-going sipper with blanco tequila, orange juice and homemade grenadine (which is way easier to make than you’d think).

A tequila sunrise in a coupe glass on a wood table with an orange slice.

4. Super Simple Spicy Margarita

You’d never guess how easy it is to make everyone’s favorite spicy margarita recipe. Silver tequila, fresh lime juice, jalapeños, agave (or simple syrup), and Cointreau orange liqueur are all you need!

An overhead image of a margarita with a bird toothpick holding a dried lime

5. The BEST Paloma Recipe

The most popular cocktail in Mexico. This is the classic recipe: reposado tequila, freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit juice and the only way to make Palomas—with Squirt grapefruit soda. The ultimate refreshing summer cocktail.

An overflowing glass of Paloma with some lime shavings on a wood table.

6. Sparkling Blood Orange Margaritas

Fizzy and sweet with a rose hue to steal your heart. Use a mandolin to make the thin blood orange and lime wheel garnish. There is literally nothing you won’t love about this Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita Recipe. The best part is how absolutely effortless it is to make!

Several margaritas with lots of blood orange slices and lime slices.

7. Fresh Kiwi Caipirinha

So this cocktail is more Brazilian than Mexican but it is refreshing as all get out so break out that cocktail shaker and get to muddling! Made with ripe, juicy kiwifruit and limes, honey and cachaça—Brazil’s most popular sugar cane liquor. 

A kiwi caipirinha on a marble slab on a wood table with flowers around.

8. Charred Chile Bloody Marias

Maybe you’re throwing more of a Cinco de Mayo brunch and are looking for a good morning cocktail. If so, these Bloody Maria cocktails are the way to go! Like a Bloody Mary with tequila…charred chile-infused tequila to be precise, plus tomato and lemon juice, and just the perfect amount of Worcestershire sauce and spice.

Several glasses of bloody Marias with lime zest on top on a wood cutting board.

9. Honey Grapefruit Margarita

Deliciously cool and tart grapefruit margarita is the quintessential summer cocktail. Fresh ruby red grapefruit juice, tequila, fresh lime juice, triple sec, and honey over fresh ice. A fresh orange twist perfumes the top of the glass.

A honey grapefruit margarita surrounded by flower petals

10. A Classic Michelada

Well balanced, a bit spicy, and completely refreshing. This classic beer cocktail is made with tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire, a juiced lime, and Mexican beer. Easy to make and even easier to drink.

A Michelada beer cocktail in a mason jar with a lime slice on top

11. Mojito

Again, not a Mexican cocktail, but still fits the bill for being the ultimate refresher. This Cuban combination of mint, club soda, rum, lime, and syrup is absolutely thirst-quenching.

A tall glass filled with a mojito cocktail and limes on a plate next to it.

12. La Mulita

This one is truly one of my favorite cocktails. It is basically a tequila Moscow Mule—that’s the key. It’s so easy, no shaker needed, just layer the lime, mint, tequila, and ginger beer in a rocks glass. Stir and enjoy!

Several tequila mule cocktails with mint sprigs and limes on top.

13. Brandy Ginger Twist

Maybe you want to do fancy for your Cinco de Mayo festivities? Then whip up this glamorous combination of brandy, lemon, fresh ginger juice, orgeat, pineapple gum syrup, and angostura bitters and pour it into an icy coupe glass.

Two cocktail coupes filled with Cinco de mayo cocktails and lemon zest.

14. Ranch Water

Grab your best tequila and a bottle of Topo Chico for one of the easiest, most refreshing cocktails, Ranch Water. With only three ingredients this simple recipe is perfect for entertaining. I like to rim each glass with Tajín for that spicy finish but that is totally optional.

A green platter holding two ranch water cocktails and a hand reaching for one.

15. Blood Orange Salty Dog

If you’re not a tequila fan, maybe this vodka cocktail might be more up your alley? Ultra juicy blood oranges, pink grapefruit, vodka and a deliciously salted rim. Combine ingredients in a tall glass and voilá!

A pink cocktail on a cork cutting board next to blood orange wedges

16. Mezcal Punch

Although I usually reserve this one for the holidays, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday, right?! It has really nice kick and is perfect for serving a crowd. Mezcal, pineapple juice, ginger beer, orange juice, Grand Marnier, and lime. Check out the post for how to make a pretty ice ring!

Two glasses filled with punch next to a punch bowl with an ice ring in it.

17. Tamarind Margarita

This is one of my all-time favorite Cinco de Mayo cocktails made with fresh tamarind syrup, Añejo tequila, and fresh lime. It’s a little sweet, a little sour, and absolutely delicious.

A close up of a tamarind margarita with a chili rim.

18. Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margaritas

Strawberry margaritas seem like a no-brainer for Cinco de Mayo since they are so sweet and juicy right now. This version is super easy to make with sweet and sour mix, pink peppercorns, blanco tequila, and fresh strawberries.

Two strawberry margaritas with purple flowers on top.

19. Mezcal Rhubarb Sour

Not the best large-batch option, but if you are throwing a small soiree, this is the drink you’ll want. Homemade rhubarb simple syrup embraces spring and the mezcal gives it a delightful smoky flavor. My rhubarb was more green than red, but if you get nice red rhubarb it will give this drink a gorgeous pink hue.

A cocktail with an egg foam top on a blue cocktail napkin

20. Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas

On the other hand, if you are looking for a pitcher margarita recipe, let me lead you in this direction. No need to shake or strain anything, just combine all the ingredients in a blender and serve! Extra points for rimming the glasses with sal de gusano instead of regular old salt.

A wood table with several glasses filled with orange margarita and a tequila bottle.

21. Spicy Jalapeño Michelada

Feel free to make these as spicy as you’d like. With pickled jalapeños, pickled jalapeño juice, and Tajín you can go all the way or just a touch. The beer, lime juice, and tomato juice calm things down and make for one of the more lower-alcohol Cinco de Mayo cocktail recipes.

Two micheldadas on a wood table garnished with pickled jalapeños.

22. Skinny Cherry and Lime Leaf Margaritas

I tend to combine hard-to-find ingredients (lime leaves) with an easy mixer (skinny margarita mix). Therefore once you search all over town for the lime leaves you won’t have any trouble mixing up the margarita when you get home! There’s no good substitute for the lime leaves if you can’t find them, but the margarita is still good with just the sweet cherries.

Three cherry margaritas with lime leaves sticking out of the glasses.

23. Apple Blackberry Hard Cider Sangria

I love this one because it uses my favorite Mexican soda, Sidral Mundet; an apple-flavored soda that is like the best sparkling apple cider ever. Sidral plus hard cider plus blackberries is a seriously delicious drink and is easy to make in big batches. If you can’t find Sidral, use a non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider like Martinelli’s.

Several glasses of apple sangria with blackberries and slices of apple.

24. Tangerine Thyme Margaritas

This one is a little fancy (fresh thyme syrup), a little citrusy (fresh-squeezed tangerine juice), and a lot fabulous. Making a batch of these tangerine thyme margaritas is basically like pouring a party.

A tall glass with a tangerine margarita being poured into it from above.

25. Spicy Mango Margaritas

And one last margarita before I go. It really doesn’t get any easier than these spicy mango margaritas: Tequila, lime juice, mango nectar, ice. Add a spicy chili rim and you’re golden.

Two mango margaritas on a wood table next to a squeezed lime.

Happy Cinco de Mayo Friends!

I hope you have a fun day with delicious food, good friends, and an excellent cocktail. Leave me a comment and let me know which one of these cinco de mayo cocktail recipes you are most excited about making.

The Perfect Cinco de Mayo Party Favor

By the way, if you are looking for a fun Cinco de Mayo party favor to give to your friends, check out this easy DIY tequila salt. It’s super easy to make and looks pretty packed in little jars with serape ribbon. Use it as a finishing salt for grilled steak or rimming margarita glasses.

How to make your own Tequila Flavored Salt, using two simple ingredients and no special equipment. This delicious salt makes a lovely homemade gift and can be used on everything from rimming a margarita glass to seasoning French fries. #flavoredsalt #ediblegift #homemadegift #christmas #tequila

Best Tamarind Margarita Recipe with Spicy Chili Rim

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This Tamarind Margarita is my favorite oh-so refreshing margarita. Añejo tequila shaken with fresh lime juice and a sweet-tart simple syrup made from fresh tamarind. Serve over ice with a spicy chipotle chili rim, this is the perfect cocktail to sip on with friends and family all summer long.

This recipe was first posted on October 31, 2014 and last updated with clearer instructions on April 30, 2024.

A tamarind margarita with a chili coated rim.

Can you believe the first time I ever posted these tamarind margaritas was way back in 2014?!

I still remember stumbling across fresh tamarind pods at an Asian market in Fargo all those years ago when we were living in North Dakota and immediately thought about how delicious they’d be in a margarita.

With Cinco de Mayo coming up on Sunday, I thought it’d be a great time to revisit one of my favorite margaritas of all time.

It’s everything I really love most all shaken together in a cocktail glass. And geez, it’s good. A little smoky, spicy, tart, and sweet. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe!

If you’re looking for Cinco de Mayo dinner ideas, please please check out these Instant Pot Barbacoa Tacos, this Chile Colorado, or this Pork Pozole.

If you’re in need of a damn good cocktail…stay right here.

✨ Looking for more fun recipes for Cinco de Mayo? Check out my 7 Best Taco Recipes + party ideas! ✨

What Is Tamarind?

Tamarind pods on a cutting board next to some limes.

Tamarind is a tropical tree that is grows brown pods with a papery outer-husk and sweet-tart pulp inside.

The fruit from the tamarind tree is used all over the world to make sauces like Worcestershire sauce, desserts, candy, and delicious drinks like my tamarind rum punch and this margarita.

Tamarind pods are sold in the produce aisle in Asian and Latin markets.

If you can’t find the pods, look for tamarind paste which what I use to make my Tamarind Micheladas and is sold in blocks next to the spices in Latin and Asian markets as well.

You may also find tamarind concentrate which is the tamarind pulp that has been cooked down and preservatives may be added. The concentrate will do in a pinch, but not ideal.

There’s not a good substitute for tamarind. It has a very distinctive sweet, acidic, earthy flavor. If you can’t find tamarind near you and you really want to give this cocktail a try, purchase it online. The pods will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for months.

Ingredients To Make This Classic Cocktail

A tamarind margarita on a wood table next to two limes that have been squeezed.

Now that we’ve covered tamarind, let’s take a look at the other ingredients you’ll need for this tequila cocktail:

  • Tequila: I like to use the richer aged Añejo tequila for this drink to play off the sultry sweetness of the tamarind. Second choice would be reposado tequila, last choice would be silver tequila or blanco tequila. If you have some Añejo tequila leftover you can use it to make my tequila brown sugar bacon—yum!
  • Fresh limes: Like my honey grapefruit margarita and this apple lime margarita, this drink requires freshly squeezed lime juice. Limes are also necessary for rimming the cocktail glass and for garnish if you’d like.
  • Chipotle chili powder: Totally optional, but I love the smoky-spicy rim it adds. Other options would be Tajin seasoning which is a chili lime seasoning.

How To Make A Spicy Tamarind Margarita

A close up of a tamarind margarita

step one

Make the tamarind simple syrup.

The heart of this recipe lies with two ingredients, the tamarind syrup, and that añejo tequila. For the syrup, you can use the whole pods or the paste—I’m using the pods here.

Remove the papery outer skin from the tamarind pods. Place the pods with water and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stir until the sugar dissolves until the pulp is really soft.

Let it cool a little bit. Pour into a blender and blend until liquified.

Warning: there are seeds inside the pods which will produce a very loud noise while blending. It’s okay, the seeds will stay whole and won’t break your blender.

Strain out the seeds and voilá, tamarind simple syrup! Let it cool to room temperature before making the tamarind margarita cocktail.

tamarind pods that have been removed from their husk on a wood cutting board.

step two

Make the drink. On a small plate combine the kosher salt, sugar and chipotle chili powder. Wet rim of the glass with a lime wedge then dip in the chipotle chili salt.

In a cocktail shaker, or even just a glass jar with a lid (use what you have), combine a shot – or two of tequila, tamarind syrup, and lime juice. Now add ice and shake.

Then pour into your glass and serve! Garnish with a lime slice if you’d like.

This margarita goes great with grilled pork chops or grilled chicken.

Why No Triple Sec?

Overhead image of a tamarind margarita.

While most margarita recipes, like my blackberry limonada margarita, has some type of orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau, these tamarindo margaritas are so full of tangy flavors they really don’t need it. The upside? Once you have made the syrup, they are an easy-peasy 3 ingredient drink!

Variations

  • For a zero-proof drink you can serve the simple syrup with some sparkling water over ice like a fizzy tamarind agua fresca (agua de tamarindo).
  • To make a pitcher margarita, combine 3 cups of the tequila with 2 cups of the syrup and 1 cup of fresh lime juice. This makes 8-10 drinks.

More Margaritas You’ll Love

I Want To Hear From You!

One last thing, I want to make sure I’m providing you with the recipes you want. If you have a moment, please drop me a comment below and let me know if you prefer concise recipes with key steps, or detailed explanations with background information? Thanks so much, I really appreciate the feedback! xx, Kate

La Bruja is a tamarind margarita that is sweet and sour and perfect for Halloween. Dark añejo tequila, homemade tamarind simple syrup, and lots of lime.

Real Tamarind Margarita with Spicy Chili Rim

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

This Tamarind Margarita is my favorite oh-so refreshing margarita. Añejo tequila shaken with fresh lime juice and a sweet-tart simple syrup made from fresh tamarind. Serve over ice with a spicy chipotle chili rim, this is the perfect cocktail to sip on with friends and family all summer long.

Ingredients

For the Tamarind Syrup:

For the Cocktail:

Instructions

  1. To make the syrup: remove the outer husk and stem from the 5 ounces of tamarind pods. Combine the pods, 3 cups of water, and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a medium saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and then bring to a boil. Boil gently until the pulp around the seeds of the pods are soft, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  2. Blend: Pour tamarind mixture into the blender and blend until liquified. The seeds will make a very loud noise but will not break your blender. Strain out the seeds and discard. Syrup can be made up to a week in advance. Keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  3. To make the cocktail: Cut one of the limes in half then slice one half into wedges. Cut a slit in a lime wedge then rub it around the outer rim of your glass. Combine the 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder on a small plate then dip the glass in the mixture to coat (you can use as much as you'd like to make it spicy for your tastes).
  4. Shake: Combine 1/2 cup tequila, 1/4 cup simple syrup, and the juice from the remaining 1 1/2 limes in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge if you'd like. ¡Salúd!

Notes

  1. Serving size: This makes enough for 1 large drink or two small margaritas.
  2. Tamarind syrup: There should be enough syrup for 10-12 drinks. Syrup will keep in the fridge for up to a month or see the post for how to make a pitcher of margaritas.
  3. Spicier Option: For a spicier chili rim, increase the chipotle chili powder. Or omit the sugar.
  4. Pairing Ideas: This margarita is fantastic with chicken fajitas, shrimp ceviche, or any of your favorite Mexican dishes.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 875Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 173gFiber: 2gSugar: 166gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: cocktail

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allows me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

Cucumber Margarita with Mezcal

by 16 Comments

The most refreshing Cucumber Margarita made with fresh-pressed cucumber juice, smoky mezcal, and lots of lime juice. Make a big pitcher next time you are serving a crowd! 

Recipe first posted in August 2014 and last updated, March 27, 2023.

Four glasses on a wooden cutting board filled with ice, cucumber margarita, and lime wheels.

Right now as you are reading this my family and I are riding in our tiny car across the state of Minnesota (or Wisconsin, depending on the hour).

It is August and that means…..roooaaaadddd trip!

We are taking an epic family road trip (cue the sandwich dance) to Lake Michigan that will include a ferry ride, lots of beach time, all the Italian Ice we can possibly handle, and very little sleep.

I’m buying Armando a Member’s Only jacket just for the trip, so follow along on Instagram for all the latest updates.

the ultimate cucumber margarita

A large pitcher filled with cucumber margaritas and a wood spoon sticking out of the pitcher with a blue rim.

Today will be our longest driving day, maxing out at 10 hours (if all goes well) so that means someone better have a Big Gulp-sized margarita for me when we stop.

This cucumber margarita recipe first caught my eye when Kasey wrote about having them in Tulum; the bright green color, the flavors of smoke from Mezcal, and fresh-cut grassiness of it just screamed summer. The taste is grassy, smokey, and citrusy all at once.

I love a good classic margarita but seems to me like this has got to be up there as one of the best mezcal cocktails!

ingredients

All the ingredients to make a cucumber margarita including lime juice, cucumber, mezcal, grand Marnier.

To make this refreshing cocktail you can opt to go all the way and buy a juicer (if you don’t already have one) or keep it simple with a blender, cucumbers, lime, and good mezcal. Either way here’s what you’ll need:

  • Cucumber. I like to use the long English cucumbers.
  • Mezcal. Scroll down for my favorite brands. You could also make this with tequila blanco.
  • Limes. 4 of them if making a pitcher, plus a few more for rimming the cocktail glasses and garnish.
  • Grand Mariner. This is my preferred brand of orange liqueur.
  • Agave Syrup. Or homemade simple syrup would be good too.

equipment

Juicer. This makes the purest, fresh cucumber juice but if you don’t have one and don’t want to buy one use a blender.

Blender. Instead of the juicer combine the cucumber and mezcal in a blender until finely pureed.

Fine Mesh Strainer. Strain the blended mixture through a strainer. If using a juicer, you can skip this step.

Pitcher. For making a big-batch cocktail.

Wooden Spoon. For stirring!

Four glasses sitting on a cutting board filled with ice, green liquid, and lime wheels.

how to make cucumber margaritas by the pitcher (step-by-step instructions)

step one

Juice the cucumber. Using a juicer, you can put the cucumber through that to make cucumber juice. If you don’t have a juicer, combine the cucumber and mezcal in a blender and blend until it is as smooth as possible.

If you are using regular cucumbers and not English cucumbers you can reduce the bitterness by peeling the cucumber first. The prep time might be a bit longer than making a regular margarita but really the total time is not too long and totally worth it!

A glass blender with a cucumber mixture being blended in the blender.

step two

Strain the mixture. Pour the cucumber mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl or large measuring cup. Discard the solids.

The cucumber mixture being strained through the fine mesh sieve into a glass bowl.

step three

Prep the glasses. Cut one of the limes into wedges and run the lime wedge around the rim of 4 rocks glasses. Dip in kosher salt and fill each glass with ice.

step four

Mix! Combine the cucumber juice with the fresh lime juice, agave, Grand Marnier, and mezcal (if you didn’t add it to the blender) in a pitcher and stir to combine.

An overhead image of a cucumber margarita being mixed with a wood spoon in a glass pitcher with a blue rim.

step five

Enjoy! Divide the margarita between the four glasses and sip away!

*To Make A Spicy Version: Slice a jalapeno into thin slices. Add one or two sliced jalapenos to the bottom of each glass and mash with a muddler, then top with ice and pour the drink over the top.

how to make just one or two drinks

A close-up image of a pitcher of cucumber margaritas with ice cubes floating in the pitcher being stirred by a wood spoon.

If you want to make this margarita recipe just for yourself, you can absolutely do that too. Here’s how:

  1. Make the cucumber juice like described above.
  2. Rim your cocktail glass by rubbing a lime wedge around the edge of a rocks glass or margarita glass and dipping it in kosher salt.
  3. Combine 1/2 cup of the cucumber juice, 1/4 cup mezcal, the juice of 1 squeezed lime (about 2 ounces), 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (like triple sec or my favorite, Grand Mariner), and 1 teaspoon agave syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  4. Shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds then pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with cucumber slices and enjoy!
  5. Pour any leftover cucumber juice into a mason jar, cover with the lid and store in the refrigerator for another cocktail, green juice, or smoothie. It will last 2-3 days.

what’s the best mezcal for cocktails?

My favorite mezcals for mixing up cocktails are:

more summer cocktail recipes to try!

make a pitcher for cinco de mayo

These Cucumber Mezcal Margaritas are the best for parties like Cinco de Mayo because it makes a whole pitcher! Please let me know when you make them by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) !

4 glasses of cucumber margaritas filled with crushed ice and lime wheels.

Cucumber Mezcal Margaritas

Yield: 4 drinks
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

A refreshing pitcher of cucumber mezcal margaritas made from cold pressed cucumber juice, smoky mezcal, orange liqueur, and lime juice.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium English cucumber, plus 1 more thinly sliced for garnish
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) mezcal, see post for my favorite brands
  • 4 limes, (juiced), plus 2-3 more for serving
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) Grand Marnier
  • 1 tablespoon agave syrup
  • kosher salt, for rimming the glasses
  • ice, for serving

Instructions

Juice the cucumber. Put 1 cucumber through a juicer, or puree with the mezcal in a blender, then strain out the juice through a fine mesh strainer.

Prepare the glasses. Cut one of the extra limes into wedges and pour about 1/4 cup of the kosher salt on a small plate. Run the lime wedges around the edge of each rocks glass, then gently dip the edges in salt.

Stir together. Combine remaining ingredients, plus cucumber juice in a pitcher with ice and stir vigorously until everything is mixed and thoroughly chilled. Slice 1 of the limes into thin slices. Pour the margarita into salt-rimmed glasses and garnish with cucumber and lime slices and serve.

Notes

To make the drink ahead: Follow the instructions as directed but don't add the ice. Cover and refrigerate the cocktail until ready to serve. Add ice to each glass instead of the pitcher before serving.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 18Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drinks

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allows me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

Spicy Raspberry Margarita Recipe

by 3 Comments

Learn how to make a Raspberry Margarita Recipe with all natural ingredients like fresh raspberries, fresh lime juice, and a homemade spicy jalapeño-infused tequila to give a kick of heat. Ready to spice things up? Cause this is about to get real.

First posted on April 28, 2018. Last updated February 25, 2023.

All I can say is, your wish is my command.

I took a very formal survey (ie asked you guys on Instagram), what everyone’s favorite margarita flavor was and I heard loud and clear—Spicy! Spicy! Spicy!!

This is such a delicious spicy margarita recipe with homemade raspberry syrup made with fresh berries, jalapeño-infused tequila, and lots of fresh-squeezed lime juice for balance. It is super refreshing when it’s terribly hot, can easily be sized up to make a pitcher, and is the prettiest color of pink I ever did see.

More To Explore

How To Make A Michelada

The Classic Margarita

The Best Paloma Recipe

Why You Must Try This Raspberry Margarita Recipe

Two raspberry margaritas on a wood table in margarita glasses rimmed with Tajín and garnished with sliced limes.

Ditch the margarita mix. Once you learn this simple method for making homemade simple syrup you will never go back to using store-bought mix.

You make jam at the same time! The bi-product of making your own raspberry syrup is homemade raspberry jam. After you strain the raspberries from the syrup, save them in a jar. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Easily make a pitcher. To make a pitcher of raspberry margaritas instead of one, infuse 2 cups tequila with 2 sliced jalapeños. Combine that with all the syrup and the juice of 6 limes (1 cup lime juice). Stir and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Ingredients

There’s no triple sec or orange liqueur like Cointreau in this recipe but you could certainly add it if you want that hint of orange. Also a splash of raspberry liqueur would be nice for that extra boost of raspberry flavor.

  • Reposado or blanco tequila
  • Jalapeños
  • Granulated sugar
  • Fresh raspberries. Or frozen raspberries if they aren’t in season.
  • Limes for the margarita as well as for lime wedge garnish
  • Tajín if you’d like a spicy rim or kosher salt for a non-spicy salted rim.

How To Make It!

This is the step-by-step for how to make a margarita on the rocks. If you are looking for a frozen raspberry margarita made in the blender, check out Elizabeth’s version—it is out of this world! Plan ahead with this recipe, the tequila has to infuse for at least 3 hours before it is ready.

step one

Infuse the tequila. Since we are making a spicy jalapeño margarita the first step is to make the infused tequila. Blend sliced jalapeños with the tequila and let sit at least 3 hours. The longer it sits, the spicier it will be.

Several slices of jalapeño floating in a measuring cup of tequila.

step two

Make the syrup. While you wait for the tequila, make the syrup! Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves then add the raspberries. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer until the raspberries fall apart. Remove from heat and let cool with the raspberries in it. Once it cools completely, pour through a fine-mesh sieve to strain out the berries then chill in the refrigerator.

Several fresh raspberries floating in simmering sugar water being cooked into syrup.

step three

Make the margarita. Rim the margarita glass with Tajín and fill with ice. Combine tequila, raspberry syrup and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 15 seconds. Strain into prepared glass and enjoy!

Two raspberry margaritas on a wood table with several slices of limes around it.

Variations

Now you know how to make what is sure to be one of your new favorite cocktails you can spin it into any number of spicy margaritas by switching up the fruit (FYI, fresh or frozen fruit works). Instead of the raspberries you can use an equal amount of:

  • blueberries
  • blackberries
  • peaches
  • strawberries
  • mango

Best Tequila To Use For A Raspberry Margarita

I’ve made this recipe with both tequila reposado and silver tequila. Whatever you use make sure it is made with 100% Blue Weber agave, it will say this on the bottle. Here are a few of my favorites:

More Cocktails Recipes To Try!

It is the margarita that needs to be made right now!

I know you love a jalapeño margarita, why not get sweet and sour with this raspberry version? Let me know when you make it by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

This Spicy Raspberry Jalapeño Margarita made in honor of #MargaritaWeek is a fruity, fiery blend of sweet raspberries, fresh jalapeños, tequila, and lime juice that can easily be made into a boozy, big-batch cocktail for Cinco de Mayo or any celebration. #margarita #spicymargarita #cincodemayo #margaritarecipe

Spicy Raspberry Jalapeño Margarita

Yield: 1-6 drinks
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Marinating Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Learn how to make a Raspberry Margarita Recipe with all natural ingredients like fresh raspberries, fresh lime juice, and a homemade spicy jalapeño-infused tequila to give it kick of heat. Ready to spice things up? Cause this is about to get real.

Ingredients

For the Jalapeño-Infused Tequila:

For the Raspberry Syrup:

To Make 1 Margarita:

  • Lime wedges
  • Tajin seasoning or kosher salt
  • 2 ounces jalapeño-infused tequila
  • 2 ounces lime juice (about 2 limes, squeezed)
  • 2 ounces Raspberry Syrup

Instructions

To Make the Jalapeño-Infused Tequila:

  1. Infuse the tequila. Add sliced jalapeños to the tequila and let infuse at room temperature for at least 3 hours. The longer it sits the spicier it will be.

To Make the Syrup:

  1. Dissolve the sugar. Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Stir to dissolve. Add raspberries and place over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
  2. Add the raspberries. Cook until raspberries are falling apart, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain and chill completely. You can save leftover raspberry pulp and eat like jam.

To Make the Margarita:

  1. Prepare the glass. Rim a cocktail glass with lime wedge. Dip in Tajín  and fill with ice.
  2. Shake the cocktail. Fill a cocktail shaker with more ice. Add tequila, lime juice, and syrup. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass and serve with another lime wedge if you'd like. ¡Salúd!

Notes

This recipe makes enough syrup for 6-8 drinks. If you'd like to make a pitcher of margaritas instead of just 1, multiply all the ingredients by 8.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 98Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 47mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: margarita

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allows me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

Honey Grapefruit Margarita

by 2 Comments

Juicy, pink ruby red grapefruit make a beautiful Honey Grapefruit Margarita sweetened with honey, a hefty splash of tequila, and rimmed in coarse salt. {Last updated December 17, 2021}

I know some people like to go on and on about how angelic and perfect their kids are but let’s be honest, they can be little a*%holes sometimes.

In their defense they probably needed a nap or had only eaten marshmallows and strawberries at lunch—I’m totally talking about my kids here.

If you are a parent you understand when I say I occasionally worry that my children might be sociopaths. The past few days however, have been just bliss.

A honey grapefruit margarita recipe garnished with a salt rim, two slices of lime, a grapefruit wedge, and an orange twist.

Yesterday morning Hiro was super upset and crying in a way that makes you feel guilty and grateful that he is going to the babysitter.

Normally Louisa just continues talking about her bad dream or the new game she invented like no one else is in the room but instead she turned to him and said “It’s okay, Hiro. You’ll have fun at Katy’s. I heard she’s going to take you to the museum!”

Which immediately cheered him up. She totally lied about the museum thing because she knew it would make him happy.

I would like to say this kind of thing happens everyday, but I’m here to tell you that normally Louisa takes some— okay, maybe a lot— of pleasure in pissing her brother off.

A Honey Grapefruit margarita sitting on a bed of flower petals garnished with a grapefruit wedge, a lime wedge, and an orange twist.

Let the record show, however, that on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, she took the highroad.

Louisa 1 : Sociopath diagnosis 0

Then this morning we were walking to school and Hiro turns to me and says, “Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I sad and cry a little.”

Which basically turned me into a mushy puddle, but I pulled it together and said, “Why do you get sad?” and he says in his buttercup voice, “I miss Mama and Weesa, and Papa and I get sad a little.”

Three margaritas sitting on a bed of flower petals with a bottle of tequila next to them.

I know I am his mother and might suffer from bias but that right there is evidence of a two-year-old in touch with his feelings.

I see the future of a bright, sensitive man who quite possibly will be able to function in a relationship without pleasurably spitting, cursing, or hitting the other person.

Hiro 1: Sociopath diagnosis 0

To celebrate this successful week of parenting I’m making myself a marrrgaarittaaaaaaaaa!

A honey grapefruit margarita sitting on a bed of flower petals with a salt and sugar rimmed glass, a couple slices of lime, and a wedge of grapefruit for garnish.

And not just any ‘ol margarita (though I love those too) but a Honey Grapefruit margarita.

The tart pink grapefruit makes a beautiful cocktail and is ultra-refreshing, add a generous squeeze of lime juice and a glug of Cointreau for some complexity and body, top it all off with a solid tequila and that is a drink worth drinking.

Three honey grapefruit margaritas with a bottle of Cazadores tequila sitting next to them. They are all sitting on a bed of flower petals.

I want you all to raise a glass with me this weekend and celebrate. You’ve got three solid days of lounging, the weather’s warm, and kids are behaving. Blessed be, life is good.

More Margarita Recipes To Try!

Celebrate Something

And make yourself one of these icy cold, refreshing Honey Grapefruit Margaritas! Let me know when you do by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Three margaritas

Honey Grapefruit Margarita

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Juicy, pink ruby red grapefruit make a beautiful Honey Grapefruit Margarita sweetened with honey, a hefty splash of tequila, and rimmed in coarse salt.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Shake margarita. Combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, Cointreau, and honey in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted.
  2. Rim glass. Combine salt and sugar on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the outside of a glass and dip the glass in the salt-sugar mixture.
  3. Strain and serve. Fill the glass with ice and strain the margarita into the glass. Add a lime, grapefruit wedge and orange twist for garnish.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 530Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7555mgCarbohydrates: 90gFiber: 9gSugar: 68gProtein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican-American / Category: margarita

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allows me to run the site. Thank you!

Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita Recipe

by 3 Comments

Fizzy and sweet with a rose hue to steal your heart. There is literally nothing you won’t love about this Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita Recipe. The best part is how absolutely effortless it is to make!

Not to mention, National Margarita Day is here and honestly what better way to celebrate than with a bubbly blood orange beauty that’s just as effervescent as you are!

A Blood Orange Margarita Recipe made with sparkling blood orange juice! Perfect for National Margarita Day or any day! #bloodorange #margarita #tequila #margaritarecipe {ad}

Make This Blood Orange Margarita Recipe For Yourself or For a Crowd

Seductive blood oranges make such striking margaritas, it’s hard to believe that I don’t already have a blood orange margarita recipe on the site. I mean, my love for margaritas is well documented. Thank goodness for National Margarita Day so I have an excuse to shake up yet another margarita!

Whether you’re hosting a celebration for one or a whole crowd, not to worry. This recipe includes easy instructions to make both a single cocktail or a pitcher. I’ve got the perfect tequila to go with it too (read on for that). Other than tequila here’s what you’ll need:

National Margarita Day deserves a fizzy Blood Orange Margarita! Celebrate with Tequila Cazadores {ad} and this exceptional margarita. #mexicanrecipe #tequila #homemade #margarita #bloodorange

The Best Tequila For Margaritas

I’m a proud Tequila Cazadores Ambassador and have been mixing up cocktails with their 100% Blue Agave Tequila all year. In fact, our partnership began last National Margarita Day with Pitcher Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas.

Cazadores is an authentic Mexican tequila brand made from agave that has been harvested and distilled in Arandas, Mexico since 1922. I enjoy sipping all their tequilas but the Blanco Tequila is my favorite for margaritas. Here’s why:

  • Its intense agave flavor shines through even when mixed into a cocktail.
  • Strong citrus notes blend perfectly with margarita ingredients like lime juice and other citrus.
  • A super smooth finish means it combines beautifully with no harsh after taste.

If you love Tequila Cazadores Blanco then I highly suggest exploring their other tequilas as well.

  • Tequila Reposado This tequila is aged in wooden barrels up to a year creating the nuance of oak, but with still strong agave flavors shining through. I like to mix the Reposado in wintery cocktails like the Chimayo Cocktail with Reposado Tequila, apple cider, lemon, and Créme de Cassis.
  • Tequila Añejo Aged at least a year, Añejo tequila has a more mellow, smooth vanilla flavor and is excellent all on its own.
  • Tequila Extra Añejo is aged for three years and has a distinct sweetness of caramel apples with a peppery bite. This also is strictly for sipping.
Blood oranges make for one sexy margarita. Celebrate National Margarita Day with this Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita Recipe {ad}. #bloodorange #margarita #tequila #margaritarecipe #nationalmargaritaday

How To Make The Easiest Blood Orange Margarita For One

Fresh-squeezed blood orange juice makes delicious margaritas but it can be a bit sour, which requires also making simple syrup or having a bottle of agave syrup on hand. If this is your jam, then 100% go for it (keep scrolling for bonus recipe), but if relaxing with a bubbly beverage ASAP is on the agenda here’s what you do:

  1. Shake tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Pour into a spicy salt-rimmed glass.
  3. Top with sparkling blood orange juice.
  4. Sip slowly while thinking about how much you love me…I mean margaritas.

How To Make It By The Pitcher

There’s so little work involved in this margarita recipe that making it by the pitcher for friends is a no brainer. The only real heavy lifting is squeezing some limes and lets all admit, that’s a burden we can bear. The only real differences between making a single margarita and a pitcher of them are:

  • Multiply the ingredients by six. This amount will fit in most standard pitchers (and make 6 drinks).
  • Stir all the ingredients together in the pitcher instead of shake in the cocktail shaker then add the sparkling blood orange juice.
The best tequila for margaritas is Tequila Cazadores Blanco {ad}. Click now for this easy Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita recipe and see for yourself! #margarita #tequila #cazadores #mexicanrecipe

Bonus Recipe! 

If you have beautiful blood oranges at your disposal and would really like to make a blood orange margarita with those instead of the sparkling juice here’s how you do it.

  • In a cocktail shaker filled with ice squeeze 1 blood orange, 1 1/2 limes, a generous squirt of agave syrup or simple syrup (about a tablespoon), 1/4 cup tequila, and a splash of orange liqueur. 
  • Give that a good shake, taste to see if you need more lime juice or syrup. 
  • Pour into a salt-rim glass with fresh ice.
Stunning and simple is how we describe this Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita made with Tequila Cazadores. #ad #margarita #bloodorangemargarita #bloodorange #margaritarecipe

Other Ways To Celebrate National Margarita Day

Don’t stop at one margarita! There are so many ways to celebrate this important national holiday. Here are my suggestions:

Authentic Mexican tequila brand, Tequila Cazadores makes exceptional margaritas. Pin this Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita recipe now! {ad} #margarita #homemademargarita #bloodorange #margaritarecipe #bloodorangemargarita

I Didn’t Get My Invite

Don’t forget to invite me to the party! If you make this Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita for yourself or by the pitcher, snap a pic and tag @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno on Instagram so I can see, ‘kay?

Blood Orange Margarita

Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita Recipe

Yield: 1 drink or 1 pitcher
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Celebrate National Margarita Day the best way we know how, with a Sparkling Blood Orange Margarita Recipe! Instructions for making one or a whole pitcher.

Ingredients

To Make 1 Cocktail: 

To Make A Pitcher: 

  • 3 (12-ounce) cans Blood Orange Sparkling Juice or soda
  • 1 1/2 cups Tequila Cazadores Blanco
  • 4 limes, juiced
  • 1/4 cup orange liqueur
  • Thinly sliced limes, blood oranges, and spicy salt for garnish

Instructions

To Make 1 Cocktail: 

Rub one lime wheel around the edge of a margarita glass or cocktail glass. Dip in the spicy salt and fill glass with crushed ice.

Combine tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake vigorously and strain over prepared glass.

Add blood orange sparkling juice, stir and garnish with orange and lime wheels.

To Make A Pitcher: 

Combine blood orange sparkling juice, tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur in a large pitcher filled with ice. Stir to combine.

Add lime and blood orange slices and serve immediately in salt-rimmed glasses.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drink

This post was written in partnership with Tequila Cazadores. Thank you for supporting the brands that make ¡Hola! Jalapeño possible.

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month, such as this one here. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allow me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

Blood Orange Beergarita Recipe

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It’s here: The frothier, maltier cousin of the margarita that’s made for cold weather. This Beergarita is made with fresh blood orange juice, ice cold beer, and tequila and is just the thing to go with all those cozy foods of winter.

Permission To Lighten Up

Depending on how you look at it (and what kind of beer you use) the beer margarita can be considered a lighter, or at least less alcoholic, version of the classic margarita. There is still tequila, but the majority of this refreshing sipper is light and frothy beer and when combined with fresh-squeezed blood orange juice it feels like a bubbly vacation from the more powerful all tequila drink.

How to make the most bomb beer cocktail: A Blood Orange Beergarita. Blood orange juice, tequila, beer, with a chili-salt rim. #holajalapeno #beergarita #superbowl

What is a Beergarita?

A Beergarita takes all the citrusy, tequila components of a typical margarita recipe and tops it all off with your favorite beer. Now depending on your tastes you can use a lighter, pale lager for your beergarita recipe but my favorite is the darker, craft brews like Bocanegra’s Dunkelweizen.

The more malty flavors of a darker beer match the flavor profile of the sweet blood orange juice and aged añejo tequila, in my opinion, perfectly.

Some Thoughts on what to Serve With a Beer Margarita

Much to my 8-year-old son’s disappointment, we don’t watch a lot of sports in this house. But the Super Bowl is our one exception and I can’t think of any better cocktail to sip during the game than this Beer Margarita Recipe. Here are a few things I think would go GREAT with it:

How to make the BEST Beergarita: Blood orange juice, Cointreau, añejo tequila, and ice cold beer. Bottoms up! #holajalapeno #beergarita #beercocktail #beermargarita

How To Make It Fancy

Should a Beergarita Recipe be fancy? Why the heck not? We already spent a fortune on those sweet, ripe blood oranges so we might as well go all the way, right? To really feel classy with this beer cocktail you need to add a brûléed blood orange slice as a garnish. Here’s how:

Lay the orange slices on a baking sheet. Sprinkle one side generously with sugar, then caramelize the sugar by swiping the tip of the flame of the torch back and forth over each slice until they are bubbly and golden. Let cool and garnish away.

This Blood Orange Beergarita has everything you love about margaritas topped with bubbly beer. Perfect for the Super Bowl! #holajalapeno #superbowl #beergarita #beercocktails

Bottoms Up Beer Lovers

I want to see you lounging in your stretchy pants sipping on a fancy pants Blood Orange Beergarita so don’t forget to tag @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno on the Instagrams when you post your photo!

This Blood Orange Beergarita has everything you love about margaritas topped with bubbly beer. Perfect for the Super Bowl! #holajalapeno #superbowl #beergarita #beercocktails

Blood Orange Beergarita

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Here it is the ultimate winter margarita you've been waiting for! This Beergarita is made with fresh blood orange juice, ice cold beer, and tequila—duh.

Ingredients

  • 1 lime, halved
  • Chili salt, for rimming glass
  • Juice of 1 blood orange
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime
  • 2 ounces añejo tequila
  • 1/2 ounce Cointreau, or other orange liqueur 
  • 1 bottle cold beer (dark craft brew or your favorite beer)
  • blood orange slices, for garnish

Instructions

Rim a pint glass by rubbing the lime half around the rim and dipping in chili salt. Fill glass with ice. 

Combine blood orange juice, lime juice, tequila, and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. 

Strain into prepared glass, top with beer, stir and garnish with a blood orange slice (sugar-dipped and brûléed, if you fancy). 

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drink

Blueberry Rose Margarita

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It’s easy enough to devour the season’s first blueberries by the handful but one of my favorite ways to indulge in their grassy-sweet flavor is an icy Blueberry Rose Margarita. It’s like you’re raising a glass, literally, to have made it to spring and the warm summer days ahead. Read on for exactly how I make it.

Fresh vs. Frozen Blueberries

There are a 101 ways to enjoy blueberries but a Blueberry Rose Margarita has got to be my favorite. A splash of rose water adds the perfect floral touch. #margarita #blueberrymargarita #blueberries #margaritarecipe #rosewater

The idea here is to use those first, plump, sweet blueberries of the season that you find at the Farmer’s Market but if that’s not a possibility for you, and your supermarket berries leave a lot to be desired, you can absolutely substitute frozen blueberries—in fact, you should.

For this margarita recipe we are making a blueberry syrup so frozen blueberries will work great. You don’t even need to thaw them before combining them with some sugar and water and simmering into a fruity syrup. Plus, the sweetened strained berries can be used to top yogurt or spread onto toast like jam, so you’re really getting two recipes for one!

Use The Best Rose Water

There are a 101 ways to enjoy blueberries but a Blueberry Rose Margarita has got to be my favorite. A splash of rose water adds the perfect floral touch. #margarita #blueberrymargarita #blueberries #margaritarecipe #rosewater

The rose flavor in this drink comes from rose water. Rose water is a flavored water made from steeping rose petals in water until the flavor is infused in the liquid. Some rose waters however, add chemical enhancers which make it taste like you’re drinking perfume.

The best Rose water is Carlo Rose Water made in Glendale, California. It has a fresh rose aroma and a light floral taste. Second to Carlo brand is Cortas, which has a slightly stronger flavor but still delicate and sweet.

There’s lots of other ways to use a bottle of rose water. It’s amazing in desserts. You can add a teaspoon to homemade vanilla ice cream or swirl a few drops into Mexican Wedding Cookie dough before baking. Lots of people add it to thier beauty routine as a toner too, although I’ve never tried that. If you do, let me know how it turns out.

There are a 101 ways to enjoy blueberries but a Blueberry Rose Margarita has got to be my favorite. A splash of rose water adds the perfect floral touch. #blueberrymargarita #margarita #blueberries #margaritarecipe

Blueberry Rose Margarita

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

There are a 101 ways to enjoy blueberries but a Blueberry Rose Margarita has got to be my favorite. A splash of rose water adds the perfect floral touch.

Ingredients

For the Blueberry Syrup

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

For the Margarita

  • 2 ounces Reposado tequila
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 ounce blueberry syrup ((recipe above))
  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • splash rose water
  • salt, ice, orange wedges, and blueberries, (for garnish)

Instructions

For the Blueberry Syrup

  1. Combine blueberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes. Let cool, strain, and chill. 
  2. Save any leftover syrup in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. You can save strained blueberries and eat over yogurt or spread on toast. 

For the Margarita

  1. Rub the rim of a cocktail glass with a lime wedge and dip in coarse salt. Fill glass with ice. 
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, lime juice, blueberry syrup, orange juice, and rose water. 
  3. Shake super hard for longer than you want to and pour into prepared glass. Garnish with a few blueberries and orange slice. ¡Salúd!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 792Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 601mgCarbohydrates: 166gFiber: 12gSugar: 144gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drinks

One last thing…

What do you think? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram! Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. 

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas

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This Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas recipe was created in partnership with Tequila Cazadores ®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When we moved into our new house back in December, the oversized orange tree in the backyard was on the top of the list of things I was excited about.

Blushing with juicy fruit, I imagined fresh-squeezed orange juice mornings for eternity. Come to find out, due to lack of heat or premature picking, those oranges are sour, providing juice that is more sucker punch than sunshine. But like a wise woman once said (that’d be me), if life gives you sour oranges—make margaritas!

Three ingredients is all you need to make these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas. Making them the easiest, most refreshing margaritas fit for a crowd. #pitchermargaritas #margaritas #margaritarecipe #easymargaritas #margaritasforacrowd

Margaritas for a crowd

When Tequila Cazadores ® asked me to help them celebrate National Margarita Day I knew exactly what to do: march straight out to that orange tree and get to squeezing! Cazadores makes such spectacular tequilas and their Tequila Blanco is a perfect match for the tart citrus in these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas.

In fact, the intense flavor of pure agave that shines through in the Blanco tequila means you really need nothing else, making these the easiest big-batch margarita ever!

Fresh-squeezed sour orange juice, Cazadores Tequila Blanco, and a little sugar is all you need to make an entire pitcher of margaritas, because honestly, who wants to celebrate National Margarita Day by themselves?

Three ingredients is all you need to make these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas. Making them the easiest, most refreshing margaritas fit for a crowd. #pitchermargaritas #margaritas #margaritarecipe #easymargaritas #margaritasforacrowd

What if I don’t have sour oranges?

If you live in Southern California, or any other temperate climate, you may find yourself (like I do) with lots of sour oranges on your hands. If you don’t, you may be rolling your eyes. Either way, you can still make these delightfully tart margaritas.

Actual sour oranges, or Seville oranges, can be found in many Latin markets, but you can also make your own sour orange juice by combining fresh sweet orange juice with fresh lemon juice. Both options work beautifully in this margarita recipe.

Three ingredients is all you need to make these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas. Making them the easiest, most refreshing margaritas fit for a crowd. #pitchermargaritas #margaritas #margaritarecipe #easymargaritas #margaritasforacrowd

To make your own sour orange juice, add 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice for every cup of sweet orange juice. So in this recipe, instead of the 2 1/4 cups of sour orange juice you would use: 1 3/4 cups sweet orange juice and 1/2 cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

Tips for making Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas

Aside from using stellar Cazadores Tequila Blanco and fresh-squeezed citrus juice, there’s a couple more tips that will help you make the best-ever margaritas.

First of all, I like to combine the ingredients for this margarita in my blender. It is the best way to dissolve the sugar into the juice-tequila mixture. If you want to whisk everything in a pitcher, that will work too, but you’ll have to give it another stir right before serving to mix up any sugar that has floated to the bottom.

Three ingredients is all you need to make these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas. Making them the easiest, most refreshing margaritas fit for a crowd. #pitchermargaritas #margaritas #margaritarecipe #easymargaritas #margaritasforacrowd

You can mix the margaritas up to a day in advance and chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

After chilling, give the margaritas a taste. Depending on the sourness of your juice (or if you are using a mixture of orange and lemon) you may need to add more sugar or a squeeze of lime.

As for serving, salting the rim is a must. For these margaritas I used sal de gusano which, yes, is a mixture of salt and dried worms but don’t be turned off, it has an irresistible earthiness that absolutely makes these margaritas. If not sal de gusano, than a spicy cocktail salt would be great or kosher salt is a good substitute too.

Three ingredients is all you need to make these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas. Making them the easiest, most refreshing margaritas fit for a crowd. #pitchermargaritas #margaritas #margaritarecipe #easymargaritas #margaritasforacrowd
Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas

Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas

Yield: 6 drinks
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Three ingredients is all you need to make these Pitcher-Perfect Sour Orange Margaritas. Making them the easiest, most refreshing margaritas fit for a crowd. 

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups fresh-squeezed sour orange juice ((about 4 pounds oranges))
  • 1 cup Cazadores Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • lime slices, for garnish
  • sal de gusano, for the rim ((optional))

Instructions

  1. Combine orange juice, tequila, and sugar in a blender. Blend on high until sugar is dissolved. Transfer to a pitcher and chill until ready to serve. 
  2. Rub a lime slice around the rim of 6 cocktail glasses. Dip each glass in Sal de Gusano, your favorite cocktail salt, or kosher salt. Fill each glass with ice and pour margaritas over. Add a lime slice and serve. 

Notes

  • Sour Orange Juice Substitute: Add 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice for every cup of sweet orange juice. So for this recipe you would use 1 3/4 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup lemon juice. 

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drinks

One last thing…

What do you think? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram! Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. 

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Tangerine Thyme Margaritas

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Happy National Margarita Day!!! Let’s celebrate with  Tangerine Thyme Margaritas!

Who knows why February 22 is the day to celebrate America’s favorite cocktail? Which president declared it to be so? Andrew Johnson? He seems like a real drinker. Calvin Coolidge? No one knows anything about that guy so maybe he was trying to make a lasting mark?

My Tangerine Thyme Margarita takes fresh-squeezed tangerine and lime juices and shakes it all around with herbal thyme syrup and tequila. A wintery margarita to celebrate the season's citrus AND National Margarita Day! #margarita #margaritarecipe #tangerinemargarita

My belief is it falls in the middle of the dreariest part of winter because it is the perfect cocktail to lift your spirits—Tequila! Sour AF! Full of vitamin C! And it hits right at the heart of citrus season when the limes (and in our case) tangerines are plentiful and sweet.

How to Make Tangerine Thyme Margaritas

I think my love for margaritas is well known, and the reason I adore them so (besides the whole tequila thing) is the way you can so easily manipulate the flavors by adding a homemade syrup.

My Tangerine Thyme Margarita takes fresh-squeezed tangerine and lime juices and shakes it all around with herbal thyme syrup and tequila. A wintery margarita to celebrate the season's citrus AND National Margarita Day! #margarita #margaritarecipe #tangerinemargarita

This thyme syrup adds a lovely herbal note to an otherwise sweet and tangy drink. It smooths out the edges and brings a warm winter feel. To make this syrup (and any flavored syrup) is really simple. You combine equal parts sugar and water (in this case, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water) and bring it to a simmer in a saucepan with the flavoring ingredient (in this case, a big handful of fresh thyme sprigs). Let it cook a couple minutes, then cover and let it cool to room temperature, allowing the thyme flavor to steep into the syrup.

My Tangerine Thyme Margarita takes fresh-squeezed tangerine and lime juices and shakes it all around with herbal thyme syrup and tequila. A wintery margarita to celebrate the season's citrus AND National Margarita Day! #margarita #margaritarecipe #tangerinemargarita

The second component is the summery sunshine of tangerine juice. Ideally you can find fresh tangerines and juice them for the drink but if not, a jug of tangerine juice will also work. The difference is in the intensity. Store-bought tangerine juice is thicker and heavier making the thyme syrup have to work really hard to come through. Fresh-squeezed is lighter and brighter with a punch of flavor but one that mellows to allow the other components of the drink some room.

We are going to keep the party going tomorrow too when I take over The Latin Kitchen Instagram Feed! So come check me out on Friday, February 23. I’ll be making this cocktail recipe, talking about how to blend the perfect margarita, and what you should serve with it. See you there!

Tangerine Thyme Margaritas

Tangerine Thyme Margaritas

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes

My Tangerine Thyme Margarita takes fresh-squeezed tangerine and lime juices and shakes it all around with herbal thyme syrup and tequila. A wintery margarita to celebrate the season's citrus AND National Margarita Day!

Ingredients

For the Thyme Syrup:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) fresh thyme sprigs

For the Margaritas:

  • lime wedges, for the rim
  • kosher salt, for the rim
  • crushed ice
  • 2 ounces silver tequila
  • 2 ounce tangerine juice (ideally fresh-pressed)
  • 1 ounce thyme syrup
  • 1/2 ounce lime juice
  • thyme sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

To Make the Syrup:

  1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk to dissolve the sugar then add thyme. Bring to a simmer and cook, 2 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 1 hour. Strain and chill. Syrup will keep covered in the refrigerator for 1 month.

To Make the Margaritas:

  1. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass. Dip glass in salt to coat the edges. Fill glass with crushed ice.
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add tequila, tangerine juice, syrup, and lime juice and shake vigorously. Strain drink into prepared glass and garnish with a thyme sprig. ¡Salúd!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno and use the #holajalapeno hashtag so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Pin it!

My Tangerine Thyme Margarita takes fresh-squeezed tangerine and lime juices and shakes it all around with herbal thyme syrup and tequila. A wintery margarita to celebrate the season's citrus AND National Margarita Day!
 

Skinny Cherry & Lime Leaf Margaritas

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Hello! Hello! Who’s interested in kicking off a Monday with a margarita? Heeyyyy!

I’m partnering up, once again, with my pals at Powell and Mahoney to create a summer cocktail that tastes amazing and will keep you looking good in that bikini, you little beach vixens. Meet the Skinny Cherry and Lime Leaf Margarita.

WHAT IS A SKINNY MARGARITA ANYWAY?

Amongst Powell and Mahoney’s many delicious cocktail mixers is their Skinny Margarita Mix and it is the key ingredient to having your margarita and drinking it too. Their Skinny Margarita Mix is a low-cal mixer made with lemon and key lime juice then sweetened with agave syrup and a little pear juice to cut down on the sugar and keep it refreshing.

I wanted to use fresh fruit to accent all the fruit flavors in the mix and settled on big, juice-packed sweet cherries because they are just coming into season and, more importantly, require basically no work other than plucking out the stems and tossing them in the shaker—it’s important to keep the work level low when making a cocktail, amiright?

The lime leaves are an addition that if you don’t have a lime tree might seem a tad obnoxious but let me explain. I adore cooking with kaffir lime leaves. Also known as Thai lime leaves they are the very distinctive flowery-sour flavor in Thai curries and noodle dishes. They can be found in most Asian grocery stores or easily ordered from Amazon, so substitute them in this margarita if you don’t have a lime tree in your backyard.

However, if you happen to have a lime tree or know someone who does, did you know you can use the leaves to cook with? Snap one off a stem and break it in half, stick it up to your nose and be prepared to inhale a most sublime fragrance. That is what you add to your food (or in this case, cocktail) when you use the leaves.

HOW TO MAKE A SKINNY CHERRY MARGARITA

To make the margarita combine the cherries and leaves in a cocktail shaker and crush them with all your might until the cherries are mostly pulp and the leaves are bent and smashed into submission. Add the margarita mix, a good handful of ice (I like crushed), and the tequila. Then shake-a-shake-a lots of times.

At this point you can strain the drink over fresh ice in a salt-rimmed glass (salt not optional). It will be sharp with cherry flavor and bright shots of lime. You can also just pour the whole shebang into the glass; bits of cherry, lime leaf, and all. A warning on this method though; the pits will still be in there which doesn’t really bother me and I like the added flavor from having the fruit in my drink but if it bothers you, you can either pick out the pits (which is rather cumbersome) or just go with the straining method, up to you.

This skinny cherry margarita made with fresh sweet cherries and fragrant lime leaves is a cocktail you can sip on all summer and not feel an ounce of guilt.

Skinny Cherry & Lime Leaf Margarita

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This skinny cherry margarita made with fresh sweet cherries and fragrant lime leaves is a cocktail you can sip on all summer and not feel an ounce of guilt.

Ingredients

  • 12 sweet cherries, stems removed
  • 4 lime leaves (or kaffir lime leaves)
  • crushed ice
  • 2 ounces Powell & Mahoney's Skinny Margarita mix
  • 2 ounces silver tequila

Instructions

  1. Rim a large glass with salt and fill with ice.
  2. Combine cherries and lime leaves in a cocktail shaker and crush with a muddler until cherries are smashed and have released their juice.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and shake until cocktail shaker is beaded with sweat. Strain margarita into prepared glass and drink up!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

This cocktail post is sponsored by Powell & Mahoney, all opinions are my own.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

This skinny cherry margarita made with fresh sweet cherries and fragrant lime leaves is a cocktail you can sip on all summer and not feel an ounce of guilt. #skinnymargarita #margaritarecipe #cherrymargarita #margaritamix

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

I hope it is warm where you are, you’ve got the hot sun on your face, and an icy margarita in your hand.

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

I am blown—seriously blown—by the generosity and creative spirits of all my fellow food bloggers who have participated in this year’s Margarita Week. Really my cup, literally and figuratively,  runneth over with margaritas and gratitude and inspiration of all the gorgeous, gorgeous work that went into creating this year’s recipes and posts. It is all in good fun—a week dedicated to tequila and margaritas couldn’t be anything but—that being said, I know the time and effort it takes to pull off such jaw-dropping work and for that I want to thank each and every one of you for contributing your talents.

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

My contribution is a fruity concoction I created with my friends and sponsors of Margarita Week, Azuñia Tequila. Their Organic Blanco Tequila is so smooth and gentle. It is the tequila you want to be drinking if you think you don’t like tequila or have had too many bad experiences with the crap tequila of all of our college days.

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

Whenever I open the bottle and take in the aroma, pineapple is always the first thing that comes to mind, so it’s a no-brainer that I choose to make a pineapple margarita—I really had no other choice.

Hibiscus Pineapple Margarita

Because Azuñia prides itself on being an organic tequila I like to keep my cocktail that way too and use only organic ingredients in the drink. Ripe, buttery organic pineapple, organic limes from my own tree, and even organic granulated sugar in the syrup. It may seem a little nitpicky but I think it makes a difference in the final drink.

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

The finishing touch is the hibiscus salt on the rim which comes from The Spanish Tin. It has just a hint of smoke from smoked paprika with all the tart tang of ground hibiscus flowers and the perfect amount of flaky sea salt. I highly recommend looking them up, they have a seasoning for just about any occasion.

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

And because we all need something to snack on while we’re sipping our margaritas in the sun, I’ve got a quick little salsa for you that is one of my favorites from Baja. I don’t think it originated there (I’ve read recipes of peanut salsa hailing from Chiapas to the Yucatán) but the first time I had it was in Valle de Guadalupe so it always makes me think of Baja California.

Salsa de Cacahuate

It’s a spicy, creamy salsa made from arbol chiles and ground peanuts. You can find the full recipe here!

Have a fun and festive Cinco de Mayo my loves! For lots more Margarita inspiration we’ve got everything from cupcakes to cocktails over on the Margarita Week page and follow along on social with the #MargaritaWeek hashtag!

If you’re looking for Azuñia Tequila, check the map to see where you can find a bottle in your area!

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

This Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita is made with fresh pineapple puree, organic blanco tequila, and hibiscus syrup. Perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Ingredients

For the Hibiscus Syrup:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers, rinsed

For the Margarita

  • Hibiscus Salt or kosher salt
  • 2 ounces Organic Blanco Tequila (Azuñia is my favorite)
  • 2 ounces pineapple puree *See Note
  • 2 limes, juiced, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 ounce pineapple gum syrup
  • 1/2 ounce hibiscus syrup
  • pineapple wedges, for garnish

Instructions

To Make the Syrup:

  1. Combine water, sugar, and flowers in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and bring to a boil. Let simmer 15 minutes.
  2. Cover, remove from heat, and let cool. Strain and chill completely.

To Make Margarita:

  1. Rub a lime around the rim of a rocks glass. Dip the outside of the rim in the hibiscus salt to coat. Fill glass with ice.
  2. Combine tequila, pineapple puree, lime juice, and pineapple gum syrup with a scoop of ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until combined and outside of the shaker is beaded with ice. Strain into the prepared glass. Pour hibiscus syrup over the top, garnish with a lime slice and pineapple wedge, if desired.

Notes

To make the pineapple puree; remove the peel and core from a ripe pineapple and cut into chunks. Add chunks to a blender and blend until smooth. Will make enough for 10-12 drinks. Save any leftover for smoothies.

The hibiscus syrup recipe will make enough for 10-12 drinks.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

This post and Margarita Week was sponsored by Azuñia Tequila, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

This Pineapple Hibiscus Margarita is made with fresh pineapple puree, organic blanco tequila, and hibiscus syrup. Perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! #margaritarecipe #pineapplemargarita #hibiscusmargarita

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita

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Making a strawberry margarita is not half as difficult as you might think, and this one is made even easier with the help of Powell & Mahoney’s margarita mix.

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita Recipe

Are you still with me? I did say the “M” word (mixer). I know, I know, I thought the same thing too; why would I replace my fragrant, fresh-squeezed lime juice with a high fructose corn syrup gut bomb?

Slow your roll, this stuff is not, I repeat, not the margarita mix of your college days. The Powell & Mahoney Margarita Mix is handcrafted with all natural ingredients and cane sugar, and is the perfect sweet to sour ratio that I’ll admit, I like to drink with the added fizz of a little Topo Chico on any given afternoon when tequila wouldn’t exactly be appropriate.

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita

I came up with the idea for this Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita when the kids and I were out on a hike a few weeks back and came upon a peppercorn tree hanging heavy with just ripening pink peppercorns. I’m not a huge forager (let’s just say, I’m not always right) but the fragrance of peppercorns is undeniable and these were especially well…peppery. I picked a green one off the tree, cut into it with my thumbnail and held it up to my nose. A flood of black spice filled the air and I quickly filled my pockets with as many as they would hold.

For those of you not wanting to wander around in the semi-arid desert mountains looking for a peppercorn tree, store-bought pink peppercorns will work just as well and you can use them for all kinds of other cooking adventures too—a grilled steak perhaps?

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita

I love a crushed strawberry margarita so much this time of year when the strawberries are flushed red all the way through and bursting at the seams with juice. All you need to do is pull the stems from a few and crush them in the bottom of your mixer with a muddler or back of a wooden spoon. In this case you’d add the peppercorns too, then shake it all up with tequila and the mixer. Simple as that!

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita
A strawberry pink peppercorn margarita hits all the notes of a perfect cocktail, a little sweet, a little sour, a tad bit spicy, and full of tequila!

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Margarita

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

A strawberry pink peppercorn margarita hits all the notes of a perfect cocktail, a little sweet, a little sour, a tad bit spicy, and full of tequila!

Ingredients

  • Kosher Salt - for glass
  • 6 Whole Pink Peppercorns
  • 3 Strawberries, stemmed, plus more for garnish
  • 2 ounces Blanco Tequila
  • 2 ounces Powell & Mahoney Classic Margarita Mix

Instructions

  1. Cover a small plate with kosher salt. Wet the rim of a margarita or rocks glass and dip it in the salt.
  2. Place peppercorns and 2 strawberries in a cocktail shaker and crush together with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon until the strawberries are almost a puree and the peppercorns are broken into small pieces.
  3. Add crushed ice, P&M Classic Margarita, and tequila to the shaker. Cover and shake vigorously until the outside is beaded in sweat.
  4. Pour into the prepared glass, garnish with a strawberry half and enjoy!

Notes

*Note: To make a pitcher: Combine 15 peppercorns and a pint of strawberries in a blender and pulse until well broken up but not smooth. Pour into a pitcher, add 2 cups margarita mix, 2 cups of tequila, and stir well to combine. Fill with ice and serve.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Cranberry Ginger Margarita Recipe

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Merry Christmas!

Since this is the last recipe I’ll post before Christmas arrives I want to wish you all the happiest of holidays. It means the world to me that you are here, showing your love and cooking the recipes and being just downright lovely, lovely people. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I mean it. Can I toast you with a Cranberry Ginger Margarita?

Cranberry Ginger Margarita Recipe @holajalapeno

I hope over the next week you will gather together with people you love to celebrate another year, the beauty that is life, and just having a moment of joy in this often crazed existence we all live. And for that, I wanted to leave you with a cocktail, and a beautiful one at that.

I was halfway through developing a straight-up ginger margarita when my eye caught the last of the cranberry agua fresca sitting in the fridge and well, history was made in the form of the most gorgeous-hued cranberry ginger margarita I ever did create.

Cranberry Ginger Margarita Recipe @holajalapeno

Now, of course I’d be overjoyed if you made the cranberry agua fresca and then turned it into this margarita but you certainly don’t have to. I also tried it with store-bought cranberry juice and it tasted just as festive.

I love the little bits of fresh grated ginger

Make sure you use a microplane, you want it really fine but if the thought of ginger strands stuck between your teeth grosses you out you can strain the drink over fresh ice in each glass before serving.

Cranberry Ginger Margarita Recipe @holajalapeno

The final holiday pizzazz comes in the form of a lime and salt rim around each glass which is made by grating a little zest from a lime (use the microplane remember), mixing with some coarse salt and sticking it to the rim of each glass—fancy!

The recipe makes either 1 enormous drink or 2 regular-sized drinks so you can either share with a friend or have a very merry Christmas by yourself! Cheers!!

Cranberry Ginger Margarita Recipe @holajalapeno
Cranberry Ginger Margarita

Cranberry Ginger Margarita

Yield: 2 Drinks
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

The most beautiful cranberry margarita to celebrate the holiday. The color alone is reason to make it but then add fresh grated ginger and a lime-salt rim and Happy Holidays indeed!

Ingredients

  • 2 limes
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup cranberry juice or Cranberry Agua Fresca
  • 1/4 cup silver tequila
  • 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
  • A few slices candied ginger for serving, optional

Instructions

  1. Finely grate 1 teaspoon of zest from one lime and place it on a small plate. Add salt and rub the two together with your fingers to incorporate. Cut a wedge out of the lime and rub it around the rim of two cocktail glasses. Dip the rims in the salt mixture and set aside.
  2. Squeeze the juice from the other lime into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add cranberry juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and grated ginger.
  3. Cover and shake vigorously until sweat starts to bead on the outside of the shaker. Divide the drink evenly between the two prepared glasses and garnish with a lime wedge and a few strips of candied ginger.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Category: Drink

How To Make The Original Cadillac Margarita

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How to make the Original Cadillac Margarita—a simple, 4-ingredient classic.  This version leans a bit on the sweet side with Grand Marnier and agave syrup but is well balanced with lots of fresh-squeezed lime juice for (in my humble opinion) the perfect margarita. Video included!

I was well into my twenties before I stopped making margaritas with a store-bought mix and started making this Cadillac Margarita recipe.

Not that I consumed large quantities of margaritas back then. I was more of a Absolut Citron and Tonic kinda gal in college. A drink that made me feel simultaneously cosmopolitan and not nauseous.

Glass with ice and a margarita in it and a lime wedge floating on top.

It wasn’t until a few years post college when I was working as a chef at Mustard’s Grill in Napa Valley that I realized margaritas were little more than fresh-squeezed lime juice, great tequila, and a splash of orange liqueur.

Alas, a love was born.

A black table with limes, rose petals, a margarita, and a dish of salt on it.

It wasn’t, however, until last week when my sister was visiting and we were sipping on this here drink, that I realized amongst aaaalllllllllllllll the margarita recipes I have on this site, not one of them are for the one I actually make most often.

The one I fell in love with oh so many years ago: this Cadillac Margarita recipe.

what makes a margarita a cadillac margarita?

There’s no definitive record of who poured the first “Cadillac” Margarita, but what makes it special is that it is always made with premium ingredients.

A Cadillac is a luxury vehicle, hence a Cadillac Margarita is the top of its class as well.

There are only 4 ingredients in this cocktail, so all of them need to be the best your money can buy to make it a true Cadillac Margarita.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • The best tequila you can afford (more on this below).
  • Fresh-squeezed lime juice (none of that bottled stuff please). Plus a fat lime wedge for garnish.
  • A good quality triple sec. In my opinion, a Cadillac Margarita is always made with Grand Marnier.
  • Agave syrup (this is optional) but I like my margaritas a bit sweet.

what type of tequila to use?

You can use a blanco or a reposado tequila but whatever you use make sure it is made from 100% Blue Weber agave.

I prefer a blanco tequila because I love its bright, grassy flavor. It is bold and stands up to the fresh lime juice and orange liqueur.

Others however insist that a more mellow reposado tequila is best. Reposado tequila has spent time aging in oak barrels which gives it more of a woody, rounder flavor.

It really depends on your preference. Either way here are some of my favorite labels:

how to make a cadillac margarita

Ingredients are important but I also believe technique has something to do with the overall success of the drink. How you layer the alcohol and juice in the shaker makes a difference, and not just in a margarita but all cocktails.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Add the ice to the cocktail shaker first.
  2. Then the main alcohol (in this case tequila)
  3. Then the secondary alcohol (Grand Marnier)
  4. Then the syrup
  5. Finally the juice on top.
  6. And really shake it until the outside of the shaker is frosty and beading with sweat (10-15 seconds).
A glass with ice and a margarita in it with a lime wedge on top sitting on a colorful napkin.

Now before you get you leave me a nasty comment, I fully realize that a classic Cadillac margarita does not have added sweetener.

That the Grand Marnier IS the sweetener.

But this is the way I like it and I urge you to try it. I like to use more lime juice than is typically called for and the sweetness of the agave balances it out just perfectly.

If you still feel it is too sweet, just leave it out.

how to serve

Rim the glass. I like to drink my margaritas out of a rocks glass, but a margarita glass is nice too. Whichever you use rub a lime wedge along the rim of the glass.

Coat with salt. Fill a small dish with fine sea salt. Turn the glass upside down and dip the rim in the salt until an even layer of salt covers the rim of the glass.

Strain the margarita. Take the salt rimmed glass and fill with ice. Strain the shaken margarita over the fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

A dark wood table with liquor bottles, a shot glass, a plate of limes, and a margarita.

Once you’ve got this one mastered it is pretty simple to venture forth into other margarita flavors.

The easiest variations simply substitute the agave syrup for a fruit-flavored syrup. Try these recipes below or hop over to the Margarita Week page for inspiration from my favorite food bloggers!

more margarita recipes to try!

try this original cadillac margarita for cinco de mayo

There’s no better time to break out that cocktail shaker than on Cinco de Mayo! Looking for more fun ideas? Check out our Cinco de Mayo Party Guide for lots of DIY decor and recipe inspiration. If you do shake one (or two) up take a pic and tag me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) !

A glass with ice and a margarita in it with a lime wedge floating on top.

The Original Cadillac Margarita Recipe

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This one's it. The only margarita recipe you will ever need. Use it to make flavored margaritas too, just substitute the agave syrup for you favorite flavored syrup.

Ingredients

  • fine sea salt (for the glass)
  • 1 lime, cut in wedges
  • ice
  • 1 1/2 shots (3 ounces) tequila
  • 1/2 shot (1 ounce) Grand Marnier or orange liqueur
  • 1/2 shot (1 ounce) agave syrup
  • 2 limes, juiced

Instructions

  1. Rim the glass. Pour about 1/4 cup of salt on to a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass. Dip glass in salt until rim is coated with salt. Fill glass with crushed ice.
  2. Shake the margarita. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour tequila on the bottom, then Grand Marnier, agave syrup, and lime juice on top. Cover and shake vigorously until outside of the shaker is beaded with sweat.
  3. Cheers! Pour into prepared glass, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy.
YouTube video
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 6gSugar: 14gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Drinks

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allows me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

Blackberry Limonada Margarita

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Holy Mother of God, what a week!!

Seriously, when I conjured up this whole Margarita Week thing in my head I thought maybe a few of my friends would throw up some recipes because they love me and know I love tequila but I never thought so many über-talented food bloggers (many of whom I only know in the virtual sense of the term) really went BIG! I mean just take a moment to peruse through this list. It breaks my margarita-loving heart then seals it back up again with a salted rim. All I want to say to those of you who participated is, Thank You. You guys make me very thirsty.

Blackberry Limonada Margarita Recipe

After reading Nicole’s post on what Cinco de Mayo is really about I wanted to make up some brutal blood-colored margarita and call it “The Machete” or a corn-flavored one and call it “The Campesino” but those ideas still need to be fleshed out. (I have copyright on all that business so don’t get any big ideas :).

Blackberry Limonada Margarita Recipe

Instead I went with something loosely based on a cocktail I had in Miami at Yardbird, (a most delicious fried chicken place that you should obviously visit). It was a bourbon drink but also had blackberries and lemon and I knew tequila would fit in there somewhere.

Blackberry Limonada Margarita Recipe

This margarita is excellent if you’re entertaining tonight because not only can you make the syrup ahead of time but you can mix up a big pitcher of the entire drink, without ice of course, cover it and refrigerate until party time.

Blackberry Limonada Margarita Recipe

If you want to be fancy you can also make blackberry ice by popping fresh blackberries into an ice cube tray and filling with water then freeze! Add those to each glass and everyone will think you’re the shit….which you are.

Blackberry Limonada Margarita Recipe

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

Blackberry Limonada Margarita: A Pitcher Cocktail Recipe

Blackberry Limonada Margarita: A Pitcher Cocktail Recipe

Yield: 8 drinks
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ice cubes and syrup can be made up to a week in advance. Margarita can be mixed and refrigerated in the pitcher up to a day in advance.

Ingredients

For the Ice Cubes:

  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
  • water

For the Blackberry Syrup:

  • 2 cups (about 10 ounces fresh or frozen blackberries), plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

For the Margarita:

  • 4 lemons, juiced
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 2 cups silver tequila
  • 1 recipe blackberry syrup
  • 1 cup Grand Mariner or other orange liqueur
  • Lemon slices, for garnish
  • salt for rim

Instructions

  1. To make the blackberry ice cubes; place blackberries in an ice cube tray and fill the tray with water. Freeze until solid.
  2. To make the blackberry syrup; combine blackberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir to dissolve sugar. Bring to a gentle boil and cook until blackberries start to break down, about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Transfer to a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl and mash berries through the sieve to collect all the juice. Discard seeds. Let syrup cool.
  4. To make the margarita; combine syrup, lemon juice, lime juice, tequila, and Grand Mariner in a pitcher. Stir to combine. Cover and chill until cold.
  5. Rub a lemon slice around the edge of each glass and dip the rim in salt. Fill each glass with blackberry ice cubes and pour margarita into each glass. Garnish with lemon slices and extra blackberries and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 289Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 83mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 3gSugar: 26gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican-American / Category: margarita

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Apple Lime Margarita

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Hi Friends! I bring you this off-schedule post because it’s National Margarita Day (!!!) and how could I possibly miss that?!

Apple Lime Margarita Recipe

I have no idea why February 22 holds such high honors as to be the representative of tequila, lime juice, and salt but it does and today is the day so let’s not ask too many questions. I will chime in to say that it probably has something to do with tequila companies not wanting margarita consumption to wane in the winter. As if?!

Apple Lime Margarita Recipe

Margaritas hold such a dear, sweet place in my heart. They lie somewhere below my children and somewhere above guacamole, it’s real and true. Remember all the margaritas we’ve made in the past? There was the mango one with the spicy chile rim, the crushed strawberry margarita from Cinco de Mayo 2015, oh, oh, and the honey grapefruit margarita from waaaaayyyy back (don’t look too closely at that photo, it’s not my best work).

Apple Lime Margarita Recipe

A few weeks ago I had some fresh-pressed apple cider hanging out in my fridge and no one was drinking it so I had this brilliant idea to reduce it into a thick, über-appely syrup that could a) last longer and b) be mixed into cocktails. Which tells you two things about me a) I won’t throw food away to save my poor family’s soul and b) I’m constantly thinking about cocktails.

Apple Lime Margarita Recipe

Lucky us the cocktail idea was really stellar. The syrup is like an apple bomb in liquid form and adds sweetness, floral apple flavor, and a little tang all at once, making the need for other ingredients fairly unnecessary. Aside from your requisite tequila and lime juice the apple syrup has got it all locked in. You can salt the rim if you’d like but I think a little sprinkling of flaky sea salt on top adds just enough.

Apple Lime Margarita Recipe
two glasses filled with apple margarita

Apple Lime Margarita Recipe

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and pressed apple cider syrup is a cold-weather twist on this classic summer cocktail. Cider syrup will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to a month. Use any extra over pancakes, oatmeal, or ice cream.

Ingredients

For the Cider Syrup:

  • 2 cups fresh-pressed apple cider (not hard cider)

For the Margarita:

  • 2 limes
  • 2 ounces silver tequila
  • 1 ounce cider syrup
  • flaky sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

For the Cider Syrup:

  1. Pour cider into a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook until syrup is reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.

For the Margarita:

  1. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add tequila and syrup and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is beaded with sweat.
  2. Strain into an ice filled glass and garnish with a lime wedge. Sprinkle salt over the top if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 631Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 656mgCarbohydrates: 131gFiber: 5gSugar: 88gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Kate Ramos
Cuisine: Mexican-American / Category: margarita

One More Thing

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

Crushed Strawberry Margarita

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If there ever was a time to break out those upside down sombreros, also known as margarita glasses, today is the day.

Strawberry Margarita

But, but, but for some reason in my plethora of glassware you won’t find nary a one. I suppose that has something to do with most of my “props” being hand-me-downs from my grandmother and she was more of a gin-and-tonic-sorta gal than a margarita one. In the summers especially she’d make herself a tall gin and tonic and carry it around neatly wrapped in a colorful paper cocktail napkin suited for the occasion.

Strawberry Margarita recipe

Most of them were emblazoned with floral arrangements or wine grapes with lots of trailing vines. When she died I found four drawers full of cocktail napkins. My favorite had a nun drinking out of the aforementioned inverted hat and read ‘Sister Mary Margarita’. I guess she did enjoy a good ‘ol Mexican cocktail every once in a while.

Crushed Strawberry Margarita hola jalapeno

Anyhoo, it’s Cinco de Mayo and while I can’t offer up a slurpee-esque strawberry marg in a glass the size of my three-year-old’s head I can offer a very tasty alternative. This drink tastes more like real strawberries and less like bubble gum. It allows you to drink a fruit-flavored cocktail and maintain your dignity. Also muddling the strawberries and lime wedges together smells intoxicating all by itself, just imagine what happens when you add the tequila.

Muddling the strawberries

Happy Cinco de Mayo party people!! Viva Mexico!

Crushed Strawberry Margarita

 

 

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Crushed Strawberry Margarita Recipe

Crushed Strawberry Margarita Recipe

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Follow the link for my favorite (and super easy) orange syrup recipe or substitute Cointreau or Grand Mariner for a slightly more boozy drink.

Ingredients

  • 3 strawberries, quartered
  • 4 lime wedges
  • 1 ounce silver tequila
  • 1/2 ounce Orange Syrup or Cointreau
  • ice
  • coarse salt, for rim

Instructions

  1. Crush strawberries and three lime wedges in a cocktail shaker with a muddler or handle of a wooden spoon.
  2. Add tequila, orange syrup, and ice and shake vigorously until outside of the shaker is frosted.
  3. Rub remaining lime wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass and dip the glass in a shallow dish of coarse salt. Pour margarita into the glass and serve.

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© Kate Ramos

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Making a strawberry margarita has never been so easy! Muddling fresh strawberries and limes brings out their sweet flavor then add tequila and your done–NO blender required! #strawberrymargarita #margaritarecipe #easymargarita #strawberry #margarita

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