Mistletoe Margarita

A double old fashioned glass with the margarita in it with cranberries and rosemary sprigs - square

Create a gorgeous holiday cocktail with this mistletoe margarita recipe that combines the classic margarita ingredients with a little something special. Decorated with rosemary and cranberries, it looks delicious and very seasonal.

Course Cocktail

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword holiday margarita, mistletoe margarita

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings cocktails

Calories 292kcal

Author Elaine Benoit

Equipment

Ingredients

4 ounces tequila
1 ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec)
1 ounce Grand Marnier (optional - but so good in this cocktail)
4 ounces white cranberry juice
2 ounces lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1 ounce simple syrup

Garnish

8 cranberries
2 sprigs rosemary

Instructions

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
Add tequila, orange liqueur, Grand Marnier, white cranberry juice, lime juice and simple syrup.
4 ounces tequila, 1 ounce orange liqueur, 1 ounce Grand Marnier, 4 ounces white cranberry juice, 2 ounces lime juice, 1 ounce simple syrup
Add fresh ice to the margarita glasses.
Cap the cocktail shaker and shake for at least 15 seconds. Divide and strain the liquid between the two glasses. You can also divide the ice from the shaker between the two glasses.
Add the cranberries to the two glasses and put a sprig of rosemary in both glasses.
8 cranberries, 2 sprigs rosemary
Sip
Smile
Enjoy

Notes

Helpful tips

You may be tempted to switch out the white cranberry juice with the red variety. It won't be the same cocktail as the cranberries taste different. White cranberries are smoother and less tart tasting.
I usually use mid-level to premium liquor in my cocktails but I understand that people are budget conscious. My advice is to buy the best you can afford. Try to stay away from really cheap alcohol. Cuervo gold is a good budget friendly tequila.
I use the orange liqueur, Cointreau. It's a premium liqueur but you can substitute it with another orange curacao like triple sec.
Another premium orange-flavored liqueur is Grand Marnier. It is made with cognac, bitter oranges, and sugar. And even though some say you can substitute Cointreau with Grand Marnier, it really isn't true. They taste different even though they are both orange based. And since Cointreau is in this cocktail already, if you don't want to buy this liqueur, just omit it.
Always make your own sweet and sour mix. I prefer a 2:1 ratio, so two parts sour to one part sweet. Start there and if you decide you want it sweeter, add a bit more simple syrup. Remember, you can always add more but you can't subtract it.
Simple syrup is so easy to make. Here's how: Add equal parts (1 cup each) of water and white sugar to a medium saucepan. Heat the ingredients on medium and bring them to a boil. Lower the temperature to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
This is a good margarita to salt the rims. Here's how: Salt the rims of the glasses. Get a small plate and add a chunky salt like kosher or Maldon salt on it. Dip your finger in some simple syrup and rub it over the rims. Dip the rims of the glasses in the salt making sure the rims are covered as much as you want them to be. Make sure to keep the glass upside down and shake the loose salt off the rims. Place the glass right side up. If you see salt in the bottom of the glass, then tip it upside down again and shake it out.

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