Inject your life with passion—a Passion Fruit Margarita, that is! The Mexican icon gets a fruity twist with the added passion fruit juice mixing with the tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice.
When I’m in Mexico on vacation, I feel obligated to drink a Margarita. As they say, “When in Rome…” (or “When in Cancun,” I suppose). But I can’t say I always want the salty ‘n’ sour taste. That’s why I spend so much time exploring other, sweeter varieties, like my Watermelon Margarita. The same can be said for this recipe: the Passion Fruit Margarita. It bears the Margarita trademark of tequila and lime juice but adds a sweetness in the form of passion-fruit juice.
Adding fruit juice to a Margarita was a bit of an inevitability so I doubt anyone can really lay claim to its invention; however, two names arise when discussing the invention of the mother cocktail: the original Margarita. Some applaud Carlos “Danny” Herrera, a bartender in Tijuana, Mexico, who allegedly created it for a customer—Marjorie King—in the late 1930s or early 1940s then named it after her. Others thank Margaret “Margarita” Sames, who created it for her guests while on vacation in Acapulco.
Whoever is responsible, I thank you for not only gifting the world with the Margarita but letting me add some passion (fruit) to my cocktails!
What is the Best Tequila to Use?
First, let’s cover what tequila actually is, then we’ll talk about variations. Tequila is a spirit made from the fermented juices of the blue agave plant. It comes from the Jalisco region, home to the town of Tequila, which is where it gets its name. There are several types of tequilas, separated by age:
- Blanco (silver) is light in color and taste. Because of its mild taste, it mixes well with other ingredients.
- Reposado is aged in oak casks from two months to a year. It has a beautiful amber color.
- Añejo and Extra Añejo (aged and extra aged, respectively) are older as you might have assumed from their names. Añejo is aged for one to three years while Extra Añejo is kept for even longer.
The older the tequila, the richer the taste. Given the strong sweet and sour taste of the passion fruit juice, Blanco is the most appropriate.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. Cointreau
- 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz. passion-fruit juice
- ice cubes
- lime wedge (for garnish)
- salt (for rimming)
Instructions
- Moisten the rim of your margarita glass with a lime wedge and then dip the rim into a dish of salt. Pop the glass into the freezer to chill.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, Cointreau, freshly squeezed lime juice, and passion-fruit juice. Refrigerate until it's time to serve.
- Fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled. Pour the mix (without the ice) into your prepared margarita glass.
Nutrition
Tips & Tricks to Making a Perfect Passion Fruit Margarita
- You can turn this into a frozen drink by adding the ingredients along with crushed ice to a blender and blending it until you get a nice slushy consistency.
- Use real fruit juice. Any bottled juices you can buy at the store will have added sugar.
- You can sweeten your cocktail with simple syrup or even better, use agave syrup.
- Chill all your ingredients beforehand: the tequila, the lime juice, and passion-fruit juice. That’s the secret to a perfectly refreshing beverage.
- Keep shaking until a bit of froth is formed, that’s the sign you can give your arms a rest!
FAQs
Passion Fruit Margarita Recipe Variations
Passion Fruit Margarita Mocktail: Skip the tequila and Cointreau and instead use soda water or more juice.
The Margarita: Tequila, triple sec, and lime juice compose this classic cocktail.
Pomegranate Margarita: Add 2 ounces of pomegranate juice.
Watermelon Margarita: Add diced watermelon and simple syrup. Blend until smooth.
Spicy Margarita: Add serrano pepper and Angostura bitters for a bite.
Cadillac Margarita: Blue agave tequila is required, along with simple syrup (though agave syrup would be a nice fit).
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