The Christmas Margarita is the best holiday drink! This brilliant cranberry spin is irresistible and perfect for the celebrations.
Looking for a fun and a little… unexpected Christmas cocktail? It’s not often that tequila is included in vacation cocktails. But this one is absolutely outstanding: try it. Christmas daisies! Why not bring everyone’s favorite beverage to your holiday celebrations? This retains all the character of a classic margarita and adds cranberry juice for vibrant color and a sweet, tangy undertone. With a garnish of fresh cranberries and rosemary, it’s the holidays perfection. We created this drink especially for a virtual party with our friend Sierra: It doesn’t get any more festive than this!
Also try: Christmas martini, Christmas bourbon cocktails or Christmas vodka cocktails
What’s in a Christmas Margarita?
Who doesn’t love a good margarita? (Nobody.) This classic cocktail is one of the most iconic in the world: It was invented in the 1930s and is even more popular today. In fact, the classic margarita is on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails. That said, there’s an “official” definition of how it’s made: It’s just three ingredients: Lime juice, Cointreau and tequila.
The Christmas Margarita is a derivative of the classic. We kept all the classic ingredients and added 100% cranberry juice. Since it’s unsweetened and very tart, we added a dash of simple syrup to balance things out. Here’s what you need to make a Christmas Margarita:
- 100% Cranberry Juice
- tequila (use white or rested)
- Cointreau
- Fresh Lime Juice
- Plain syrup or maple syrup
100% cranberry juice vs. sugar: what you need to know
If you’re shopping for cranberry juice for your Christmas margarita, be sure to find it 100% cranberry juice, unsweetened. You can easily find it at most grocery stores, but it’s right next to sweet cranberry juice. You should pay attention to this when shopping:
- Sweetened Cranberry Juice also known as cranberry juice cocktail Added sugar and sometimes high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. This type of cranberry juice has been available to make classic cranberry cocktails like cranberry vodka since the 1940s. However, we like to use the modern 100% juice.
- 100% Cranberry Juice is unsweetened and made only with cranberries: no added sugar! merits? The color is more vivid and you can sweeten your drink as you like.
Did you buy unsweetened? It’s okay, don’t sweeten your drink so much. Use half of the simple syrup in the recipe below—or even add to taste.
How to create a salt rim
Of course, a perfect Christmas margarita needs a salty touch! Why is salt used in margaritas? The salt brings out the sweet and sour flavors of the drink. Plus it’s super classic. Feel free to make a sugar rim for the Christmas margarita too, if you like! Just use superfine or granulated sugar and follow the directions below. How to make a salt rim:
- Use kosher salt or sea salt flakes (not table salt!). These types of salt are coarse and give the right texture around the edge. Or make festive margarita salt!
- Take a wedge of lime and cut a notch in the middle. Then slide it around the edge of the glass. This will wet the rim without having to use your fingers.
- Edge only the outer edge. Spread the salt in an even layer on a plate. Tilt the glass in the salt so that it rests against the outer rim. Shake out loose salt in the sink.
How to Make a Christmas Margarita!
Once you’ve rimmed the glasses, making a Christmas margarita is easy: just mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker! Here’s what to do:
- Rim the glass with salt. See above!
- Shake in a cocktail shaker. In a cocktail shaker (or use a mason jar with a lid), shake the cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice, Cointreau and simple syrup with ice.
- Pour into a glass and add ice. Pour into a glass and serve with ice! You can also add fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a nice garnish. Speaking of ice cream…
Boost it with clear ice
Want the prettiest look for that Christmas margarita? Look at the pictures: See this beautiful crystalline block of ice that looks like it was cut from a glacier? It’s called clear ice. Clear ice is craft ice that is crystal clear as opposed to regular ice that is cloudy. It’s easy to replicate at home: Alex developed a method that we use in all of our cocktail recipes! Go to How to make transparent ice.
What to serve with a Christmas margarita
This Christmas margarita is ideal for holiday get-togethers: especially as a holiday cocktail! We made this cocktail and our Christmas martini for a special virtual holiday cocktail party with our friend Sierra from Eclectic Curves. These drinks are perfect with appetizers and appetizers! You can put together a holiday platter with the following ideas:
When to serve a Christmas margarita
The Christmas Margarita is ideal for fall and winter holiday gatherings. It works like:
The description
The Christmas Margarita is the best holiday drink! This brilliant cranberry spin is irresistible and perfect for the celebrations.
- 1½ ounce (3 tablespoons) White or Reposado Tequila**
- 1½ ounce (3 tablespoons) 100% Cranberry Juice (not sweet)*
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Cointreau
- ½ ounce (1 tbsp) fresh lime juice
- ½ ounce (1 tbsp) plain syrup or maple syrup* or more to taste
- Kosher salt or sea salt flakes, for the rim (optional)
- Ice to serve (try clear ice)
- For the garnish: cranberries, sprig of rosemary
- Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then brush the lime over the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim in a plate of salt (or use margarita salt for a celebratory look).
- Pour all ingredients into a shaker and fill up with ice. Shake until cool. Strain the margarita into the glass with the salt rim. Fill the glass with ice, garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary and serve.
Remarks
*If you can only find sweetened cranberry juice, use half the simple syrup (or add to taste).
**To make an 8-serving pitcher, combine in a pitcher: 1½ cups tequila, 1½ cups 100% unsweetened cranberry juice, 1 cup Cointreau, ½ cup lime juice, and ½ cup simple syrup. Add three handfuls of ice and stir until cool. Pour into individual glasses.
- Category: drink
- Method: Shocked
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Christmas daisies
More Christmas drinks
There are so many great cocktails to serve up this holiday season! Here are a few ideas:
