Cranberry Margarita

It's hard to find someone who doesn't like a margarita, and that's what makes them an almost perfect party cocktail. This Cranberry Margarita is not only a fabulous alternative to a classic margarita, this beauty is going to be your go-to cocktail for the holiday season. Filled with lime juice, cranberry juice, and tequila, this festive marg is going to have all of your friends asking (begging?) for the recipe.

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Why you will love this margarita
Ingredients
Instructions
FAQs
Expert tips for the best margaritas
More Margaritas on the Rocks.
Recipe
Reviews

Why you will love this margarita

Easy to find ingredients. This cranberry margarita is made with items that are probably already in your kitchen.
It's party friendly. Make one or make a pitcher!
Pretty in pink (or red!). It's an easy way to add a pop of color to your happy hour without being a super sweet drink.

Ingredients

The list is short and sweet for this easy margarita.

Bottles of tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, limes and simple syrup.

Ingredient Notes

Cranberry Juice: Unsweetened cranberry (100% juice) is best for this marg. You can also use sweetened, but you will need to lower the amount of simple syrup.
Lime Juice: Use fresh lime juice as it makes a huge difference in the taste of your drink. The bottled varieties contain preservatives that can impact flavor.
Tequila: Margaritas typically use reposado tequila to give the drink its deep signature color. In a pinch, you can substitute silver tequila but whatever you use, be sure it is 100% agave for a smooth sipper.
Orange Liqueur: Triple sec is the orange liqueur we use in this cranberry margarita, but feel free to swap in Cointreau or Grand Marnier if that is what you have on hand.
Simple Syrup: All grocery stores have simple syrup on the shelf with the mixers, but it is easy to make your own simple syrup at home (and cheaper, too!).

Instructions

Shaking up a margarita is one of our favorite drinks to make.

Lime juice being poured in a shaker full of cranberry juice.

Step 1: Start by filling a shaker with ice and adding tequila, cranberry juice, Triple Sec, and fresh lime juice.

Step 2: Add the simple syrup, cover, and shake vigorously to combine.

Step 3: Rim a glass with the lime, invert it onto a salt filled plate and twist the glass to get the salt to stick.

Cranberry margarita being strained into a salt rimmed glass filled with ice.

Step 4: Fill the glass with ice and strain the margarita mixture in, garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

FAQs

What is the difference between cranberry juices?

・Cranberry juice that is labeled as 100% juice is a blend of 4 different juices to give it some sweetness but it is all juice.
・Cranberry cocktail is the OG and is cranberry juice that has been sweetened and it is what we use in a Cape Cod.
・Unsweetened Cranberry Juice is 100% cranberry juice without any added sugars.

What is the best tequila for cranberry margaritas?

I prefer to use a high-quality silver or blanco tequila in my margs. It's a young tequila that is not aged for very long, which also makes it less expensive than a reposado or añejo tequila. Silver tequila mixes well with other liqueurs and juices, which is why you'll see it most often in mixed drink recipes.
The most important thing to remember is to buy 100% agave tequila. It's the smoothest tequila, regardless of age, and is what makes the difference between a good margarita and a great margarita. Your head will thank you tomorrow.

Can cranberry margaritas be made ahead of time?

Absolutely. Simply scale the quantities to the desired number of drinks and mix all of the ingredients in a large pitcher (without ice!) Refrigerate until ready to serve. You can even rim the glasses with salt and have those ready to go simply add ice and pour. Instant happy hour.

Cranberry margarita on the rocks with salt and lime.

Expert tips for the best margaritas

Use good tequila. Your head will thank you in the morning. A good tequila (100% agave) is the only type of tequila to use. We recommend silver tequila for cranberry margaritas.
Use good salt. Not all salts are created equal. Our "house" brand of salt is Diamond Crystal Kosher salt so that is what we use on our drinks. Leave the "margarita salts" from the liquor store for another use.
Fresh lime juice is a must. Fresh citrus juice is the best for cocktails. Always. The difference in taste is noticeable. Fresh juice doesn't give you the metallic taste that bottled juice can.