If you’re looking for ways to mix up your favorite cocktail, this tart and fresh Cherry Margarita is it! It’s complex enough to impress guests while being easy enough to make at a party (or on the patio). Made with tart cherry juice, Luxardo liqueur and fresh lime—these cherry-lime margaritas are a fun and festive way to makeover the margarita.
How to Make a Cherry Margarita
Just like any other margarita recipe—this cherry marg is easy to whip up. You just need a cocktail shaker, some ice and a rocks glass for serving.
Ingredients
Tequila: we’re making margs so you need tequila! We like blanco though you could also use reposado.
Cherry Juice: for the best cocktail, seek our tart cherry juice sold in glass containers (such as R.W. Knudsen or Lakewood. Target even has their own Good & Gather product). The only ingredients should be tart cherry juice and water. Avoid any juice blends that have juices like apple, white grape, etc.
Cherry liqueur: this is important for driving home the cherry flavor and adding sweetness to balance out all the tart flavors. We recommend investing in Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur—it’s just the best.
Lime juice: as always, fresh is best. You only need ½ ounce per drink, so less than half a lime per drink.
Instructions
- Rim a rocks glass with ice by running a lime wedge around the rim and dipping it in kosher salt. Fill glass with ice.
- Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker fill with ice. Secure the shaker well (cherry juice will stain!) and shake until chilled.
- Strain the cherry margarita over ice in prepared glass and garnish with lime wedge.
Tips for Making Best Cherry Margarita
- Since margaritas are meant to be tart, it’s important to use tart cherry juice. Look for it in glass containers in the juice aisle. Make sure it only has two ingredients—tart cherry juice and water.
- If you don’t have or don’t want to purchase cherry liqueur, replace the liqueur with half the amount of simple syrup.
- Play around with added flavors like basil, lemon thyme, and vanilla.
- Other garnish ideas include Maraschino cherries, brandied black cherries, edible flowers and basil.
What Type of Tequila to Use
Tequila blanco is best here because it’s clean taste allows the cherry and cherry liqueur to shine through. If you like deeper and richer flavored drinks, you can use reposado.
As for brands, our favorite are Don Julio, Cazadores, and Dobel.
More Margarita Recipes to Try
You’re in the right place if you’re a margarita-lover! Here are some fun and funky takes on the classic cocktail.
For something smoky yet herby, try our Mezcal Margarita. It’s one of our favorites!
When you go to make a margarita and only have lemons on hand, make our Lemon Margarita recipe. It’s perfectly sweet-tart and so good.
Dust off the amaretto in the back of the bart cart and make our popular Italian Margarita! Or, try our Aperol Margarita, arguably another Italian-inspired marg!
When fall is knocking on your door but you still crave something refreshing, try our Apple Cider Margarita.
And finally, our Devil’s Margarita is a fun layered drink inspired by the New York Sour.
Cherry Margarita Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- kosher salt + lime wedges
- 2 ounces blanco tequila
- 1½ ounces cherry juice
- 1 ounce Luxardo cherry liqueur
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Rim a rocks glass with ice by running a lime wedge around rim and dipping it in kosher salt. Fill glass with ice.
- Add 2 ounces tequila, 1½ ounces tart cherry juice, 1 ounce cherry liqueur, and ½ ounce lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Secure shaker well (cherry juice will stain!) and shake until chilled.
- Strain cherry margarita over ice in prepared glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
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