Cranberry Margarita
What Type of Cranberry Juice Should I Use?

The best juice for a cranberry margarita is no-sugar-added cranberry juice blend, which is typically a blend of four different juices from concentrate (cranberry, grape, apple, and pear juice). The tart cranberry juice is the most prominent, while the other juices lend a natural sweetness that balances it all out. If you can’t find it, here are a few alternatives.

100% unsweetened cranberry juice: This juice is made entirely from cranberries, resulting in a cranberry-forward margarita but also a very, very tart one. If you go this route, you’ll want to use less cranberry juice and add simple syrup to the cocktail. (You can find this variation in the Recipe Notes below).
Cranberry juice cocktail: This juice is also 100% cranberry juice, but with added sugar. It can be used interchangeably with the no-sugar blend.

What Tequila Should I Use?

This recipe calls for silver tequila. Silver tequila packs more of a punch than gold tequila, which has aged for longer and has more of a mellow taste. My general rule is to use silver tequila in mixed drinks and gold tequila when I’m taking a shot.

How to Serve a Cranberry Margarita

To make this drink look and feel extra special, I like to line the rim of each glass with salt and garnish with fresh cranberries.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 1

Ingredients

Salt rim (optional):

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 lime wedge

For the cocktail:

Ice
3 ounces no-sugar-added cranberry juice blend
1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 medium lime)
1/2 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
Fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

For the salt rim:

Cut a wedge from 1 medium lime, reserving the rest of the lime for the cocktail. Pour 1 tablespoon kosher salt into a small dish. Moisten the rim of a 12-ounce glass with the lime wedge. Invert the glass into the salt, turning it as needed, to coat the rim.

For the cocktail:

Fill a 10- or 12-ounce Old-Fashioned glass with ice. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add 3 ounces cranberry juice, 1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco, 3/4 ounce lime juice, and 1/2 ounces orange liqueur. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into the glass. Garnish with cranberries if desired.

Recipe Notes

Unsweetened Cranberry Juice variation:
1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce 100% unsweetened cranberry juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1/2 medium lime)
1/2 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
Fresh or frozen cranberries, for garnish (optional)

Mezcal Margarita

Key Ingredients in a Mezcal Margarita

Mezcal: Mezcal is an alcohol made from the agave plant. The agave is roasted in a pit filled with lava rocks, charcoal, and wood, producing a distinctly smoky flavor.
Lime: The lime does triple duty: It moistens the rim of the glass so the salt can stick, the juice goes into the margarita, and a slice is used for garnish.
Simple syrup: This easy syrup made from equal parts granulated sugar and water sweetens and balances out the drink.
Salt: A salt rim provides a nice contrast to the sweet-tart, smoky cocktail. We like the texture of Diamond Crystal kosher salt the best, as it’s not too fine or coarse.

How to Make a Mezcal Margarita

Rim the glass with salt. Run a piece of lime around the rim of a glass to moisten, then dip in salt. Fill the glass with ice.
Shake the cocktail. Shake mezcal, lime juice, and simple syrup together with ice.
Strain. Strain the mezcal margarita into the glass. Top with a splash of sparkling water if you’d like for a little effervescence.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 1

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1 medium lime
Ice
1 1/2 ounces mezcal
1 ounce simple syrup
Splash of club soda or sparkling water (optional)

Instructions

Spread 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt in an even layer on a small flat plate. Quarter 1 medium lime. Cut 1 half-moon slice from one piece. Run the lime slice over the rim of an old-fashioned or margarita glass to moisten (save the slice for garnish). Invert the glass into the salt, turning it as needed, to coat the rim. Fill the glass with ice.
Juice the remaining lime pieces until you have 1 ounce. Place the lime juice, 1 1/2 ounces mezcal, and 1 ounce simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal, and shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds.
Pour through a strainer into the glass. Top with a splash of club soda or sparkling water if desired. Garnish with the reserved lime slice.

Frozen Italian Ice Margaritas
Ingredient Frozen Italian Ice Margaritas

An Ingenious Shortcut to Frozen Margaritas

This idea comes courtesy of Kitchn’s Lifestyle Editor Lauren Masur, whose sister made them for the family a few weeks ago. “As soon as I saw her at work, I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Lauren said. “She whipped out the blender, a few Italian ice cups from the freezer, and my grandma’s tequila, and in minutes I had a drink in my hand that made me feel like I was at a poolside resort. If only I knew it was that easy, I would have started making them myself a whole lot sooner!”

Lauren’s sister’s shortcut is nothing short of brilliant and oh-so-fun. There’s no pulling out a shaker or fussing with simple syrup. Simply dump, blend, and sip.

Choose Your Own Italian Ice Margarita Adventure

The very best part about this recipe is that it’s hardly a recipe at all, which means you’re not only free to break from it, you’re encouraged to. Instead of strawberry Italian ice cups, try another flavor like lemon, cherry, or watermelon. Or combine a few: a mix of lemon and watermelon would be an absolute win. For extra refreshing drinks, add the mint directly into the blender instead of reserving it as a garnish, or opt for basil leaves. You can even stray from the margarita theme, if you like, and swap the tequila with rum for a frozen daiquiri.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 2

Nutritional Info