Pleasantly sweet with a tart bite, this Cranberry Margarita is fabulous, festive, and made with just four ingredients.
Traditionally, cranberry juice was a seasonal beverage enjoyed around the holidays, but the beverage has come a long way since, and right into our Cranberry Margarita. Cranberries are native to North America and were harvested for thousands of years by the Wampanoag people. In the late 1600s pilgrims in the Northeast created cranberry juice and enjoyed it for nutrition. However, it would be Ocean Spray in 1930 that brought cranberry juice to the masses, with their cranberry-based drinks now common in many adult beverages, including our Cranberry Margarita.
Meanwhile, the margarita was invented in Mexico sometime in the 1930s or 1940s. Someone mixed tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, and the refreshing boozy beverage was born. While it originated in Mexico, it was widely popularized in America, specifically in the South. The Frozen Margarita was so popular in Texas, that bartenders had trouble keeping up with the demands. This sparked a restaurateur in Dallas to turn a soft-serve ice cream machine into the first Frozen Margarita machine, and the rest is history.
Cool. Now that you know everything about cranberries and margaritas, let’s talk about this refreshing Cranberry Margarita. So, I absolutely love margaritas, however, I do not like sour mix, especially from a soda gun. It is very chemical-tasting, IMO. I prefer fresh sour mix made with real lemons, limes, sugar, and water. Not every bartender can do this right and most just use a premade mix anyway. This Cranberry Margarita completely eliminates my biggest problem with my favorite drink – there is no sour mix! Instead, you make a margarita as you would, but use cranberry juice instead of sour mix.
Why we pour cocktails over fresh ice
When making this Cranberry Margarita and many other cocktails, you’ll notice that we shake the drink with ice, discard the ice from the shaker, and pour over fresh ice. For those of you who have been making drinks for a while, this is a no-brainer. If you are newer to mixing beverages this is an important step. For one, nobody likes a drink with half-melted ice floating on top – it is unattractive. The ice in the shaker has already begun to melt and dilute our cocktail. Instead, fill the glass with fresh, larger ice cubes, then pour the drink over the ice. This will keep your drink cold, not dilute it too fast, plus it looks pretty.
What is the Best Alcohol to Use to Make a Cranberry Margarita?
For the Cranberry Margarita, I recommend using a blanco or silver tequila. My top choices are Espolòn Blanco, 1800 Blanco, or Patrón Silver. When making a margarita, a lighter tequila is the best choice for a few reasons. First of all, it is usually on the less expensive side. This is ideal when you are mixing any liquor with potent flavors like lime and cranberry, which mask the taste of the alcohol a bit. Darker tequilas like reposado and añejo have been aged, and have a caramelized, warm flavor. For those who appreciate the taste of tequila, these are great for sipping, but you wouldn’t want to run through a bottle of this mixed in a margarita.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces tequila
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce triple sec or Cointreau
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a shaker filled with ice, combine the cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, tequila, and orange-flavored liqueur.
- Shake well and serve in a margarita glass over ice.
- Optionally, rim the glasses with sugar or salt before pouring the drink.
- Garnish with fresh or frozen cranberries and a lime wedge.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
A Cranberry Margarita should typically be served in a margarita glass. However, you probably have had a margarita in a highball or even a pint glass, so anything goes. Garnish your Cranberry Margarita with a salted or sugared rim, cranberries, and a lime wedge.
This cocktail can be made a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. When ready to enjoy stir, shake, and pour over ice.
A Cranberry Margarita has about 272 calories, depending on the ingredients you use.
Yes, you can use bottled lime juice over freshly squeezed, but it will taste different. For example, many bars have Rose’s Lime Juice, which is much sweeter than a tangy lime.
Similar drinks to the Cranberry Margarita
After sipping on this Cranberry Margarita, don’t think that your margarita journey has to end there. Here at Twist & Toast, we have plenty more options for you to explore.
- Frozen Margarita – Even without the aforementioned soft-serve margarita machine, you can still make yourself a tasty Frozen Margarita.
- Pomegranate Margarita – Another fruity and festive cocktail, perfect to serve at your next holiday event.
- Espresso Margarita – For something to give you a little more pep in your step, try this coffee-flavoured tipple.
- Mezcal Margarita – Add a little smokiness with this mezcal-infused variation.
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