In San Antonio, a margarita doesn’t wait for an occasion. It gets ordered at happy hour, backyard barbecues, and more than a few times before noon under the name brunch. December doesn’t change any of that. This Christmas margarita just gives me a reason to swap the lime for cranberry, add a sugared rim, and call it a holiday drink instead of a Tuesday one.
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Authentic margaritas rely on only a few ingredients, so not skimping on the quality is the key to how they taste.
The complete ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
- Tequila: We are using a mid-range Blanco style tequila (clear) for this recipe, which sells between $20-30 for 750 ML. While you can spend more, you won’t necessarily be able to detect the subtle nuances that more expensive tequilas deliver, but don’t go for the cheap stuff, either. I’d skip mezcal. Its smokiness fights the cranberry and citrus instead of complementing them. Reposado-style tequila (golden) would be delicious. However, I’d avoid an aรฑejo style, as it will dominate the overall taste and not marry well with the other ingredients.
- Orange Liqueur: Two of the most popular brands are Cointreau, a top-shelf triple sec, and Grand Marnier, a blend of cognac and triple sec. Curaรงao is another popular style, and it’s sweeter than triple sec, so you can cut back on the agave nectar as needed. This is another area where, if you buy the cheapest option, you will add more of a sour note, with a harsh alcohol aftertaste rather than the orange note we’re looking for to complement the cranberry.
- Cranberry Juice: We are using a high-quality, unsweetened cranberry juice that’s not from concentrate. This is not your everyday Ocean Spray cranberry cocktail. If you substitute this with a cranberry cocktail, double the amount you add, and you’ll probably not need any additional sweetener. The cranberry flavor won’t come through as clearly, so it may be worth purchasing the real stuff.
- Agave Nectar: The sweetness of agave nectar is concentrated, so be careful how much you add. It enhances the tequila’s flavor and can be the X-factor in a memorable margarita. If you can’t find it, you can substitute it with simple syrup or honey. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.
- Orange and Cranberry Bitters: These add depth without adding sweetness, which keeps the drink from tasting like straight cranberry juice with tequila in it. If you only have one or the other, either works fine on its own. If you don’t have bitters at all, the drink will taste flatter and more one-note, but it’s still worth making rather than skipping.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Make it frozen: Add a quarter cup of water per serving, transfer it to an airtight container, and freeze for at least 24 hours for the best texture. You won’t need the water if you’re using a cranberry cocktail instead of juice. It won’t freeze completely solid, thanks to the alcohol and sugar, so give it a good mix before serving. It’s the same method we use for our make-ahead freezer margaritas, if you want the full rundown on how it works.
- Use a cold cocktail glass. Keep a couple of cocktail glasses in the freezer until you are ready to serve to keep your drinks colder longer.
- Making it ahead. Since this is served on the rocks, you can mix everything but the ice up to a day ahead and keep it in the fridge. The ice only goes in at serving, so there’s no dilution to worry. Just give it a quick stir before pouring over fresh ice.
More Holiday Cocktails to Try
Looking for more inspired holiday cocktail recipes? Try these other favorites:
- White Christmas Margarita – The perfect festive drink, with its creamy coconut flavor, refreshing lime tartness, and subtle warmth from tequila. It’s also easy to make to whip up a batch for your next holiday party.
- Apple Cider Whiskey Sour – A twist on a classic cocktail that combines fall flavors with the warmth of whiskey with apple cider and brown sugar cinnamon simple syrup.
- Cranberry Aperol Spritz – A seasonal spin on the classic Italian cocktail. Combining Aperol, cranberry juice, and fresh orange juice with effervescent prosecco, it is a refreshing drink for holiday celebrations.
- Cranberry Mimosa – The perfect holiday brunch cocktail. They’re easy to make, delicious to drink, and festive to serve. Made from cranberry juice, orange juice, and your favorite sparkling wine.
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Christmas Cranberry Margarita
A riff on a classic margarita, this Christmas Cranberry Margarita mixes tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh cranberry juice with a splash of bitters, ready to shake up in under 10 minutes.
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Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Cocktail Strainer
Ingredients
- 3 ounces blanco tequila
- 1 ยฝ ounces orange liqueur
- 5 ounces cranberry juice, not from concentrate
- 1 ounce lime juice, fresh-squeezed
- 1 ounce orange juice, fresh-squeezed
- 3 splashes cranberry bitters
- 3 splashes orange bitters
- ยฝ ounce agave nectar
Garnishes
- ยฝ lime, cross-section
- 6 cranberries, fresh
Instructions
- Rub the rim of each glass with a lime slice, then dip it into sugar. Carefully fill each glass halfway with ice.
- Add the tequila, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange juice, bitters, and agave nectar to an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
- Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, then strain into the prepared glasses using a cocktail strainer. Garnish with cranberries and lime slices, and serve.
Notes
Nutritional informationย is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.ย The nutritional value is only for the cocktail and will vary based on substitutions and changes in quantities.ย It does not include the nutritional value of the garnishes.ย
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