Festive Winter Margarita Recipe: Spicing Up Your Holidays

If you’re looking for a cocktail to enjoy on a cold winter evening, you need to try this winter margarita. A twist on the traditional flavors in a classic margarita, this seasonal winter margarita is sure to warm you up on a winter's evening. 

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When you think margarita, I’m assuming you think of sunshine, high temperatures, and maybe a cabana on a beach in Mexico? But if you’re like me and you’re finding yourself in the midwest in December, maybe you’re having a hard time picturing a tropical paradise. 

This winter margarita recipe will bring flavors from the tropic to any occasion. This cocktail makes a great holiday party cocktail or just plain old winter cocktail. 

What do I Need to Make a Winter Margarita?

It doesn’t take much to make this winter margarita, and you’ll be able to whip up a batch for yourself or friends in no time!

Cocktail Shaker

In my house, we prefer to drink our holiday margaritas shaken, not stirred. So one of the key pieces of equipment for this winter marg is a good cocktail shaker. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but if fancy is your preference, go for it! We have a few cocktail shakers in our house, and I’m currently obsessed with my glass cocktail shaker I bought locally. While I can’t find it online, you here's a similar glass cocktail shaker. 

Cocktail Glass

Any glass will do for this winter margarita recipe, but we have a favorite set in our house, and they are just simple, classic, low ball cocktail glasses. We use them for nearly every cocktail we make. You can find these cocktail glasses here. 

Tequila

The key ingredient in any margarita is good quality tequila. I’ve shared in past recipes (check out my Simple Margarita Recipe) the importance of selecting a 100 percent blue agave tequila, and my opinion hasn’t changed! Blue agave makes the purest tequila, that some studies have even shown can aid in digestion.

Triple Sec

Have you always wondered why there is triple sec in margarita recipes? Triple sec actually is great for adding to the flavor profile of tequila cocktails! There is a fruity, orange-y, slightly bitter taste triple sec that adds to the flavor of your winter margarita. 

Lime Juice

One of my favorite parts of a margarita is the tartness that comes from fresh lime juice. If you don’t want to purchase and squeeze fresh limes for this delicious cranberry winter margarita, you can always buy lime juice in the bottle. Our favorite bottled lime juice is Nellie and Joe Key West Lime Juice. 

Cranberry Juice

There are so many different types and brands of cranberry juice available at the grocery store but I do suggest finding a cranberry juice that is 100 percent cranberry juice, and does not have other juices added. 

100 percent cranberry juice is tart and not sweet, however if you can’t find it in your grocery store, use what you can find. 

Simple Syrup (Optional)

Simple syrup is optional in this winter margarita recipe. I say it's optional depending on how much sweetness you’d like in your cranberry margarita. If you’ve used cranberry juice with other juices added, it may be sweet enough for you without the simple syrup. 

However, if you prefer more sweetness, adding simple syrup is a cheap and easy way to do it. Just add one cup water and one cup sugar to a saucepan, and stir over high heat until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool and store in a glass jar in the fridge. 

How to Make a Cranberry Winter Margarita

This cranberry winter margarita comes together in less than two minutes and tastes delicious. Here’s the step-by-step directions to making this sweet and tart holiday cocktail. 

1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker, and then add 1 and a half ounces tequila, once ounce triple sec, an ounce lime juice, two ounces cranberry juice and half an ounce simple syrup (optional). Add lid to shaker and shake.
2. Slice a lime, and run the sliced inner half along the rim of your cocktail glass, then roll that rim in salt. 
3. Pour contents of cocktail shaker into cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime. Enjoy!

Looking for other cocktail recipes? Check out these these posts!

Sage Gin Gimlet Recipe

Bloody Maria Recipe

How to Make an Old Fashioned with Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

📖 Recipe