St. Germain Margarita (On the Rocks & Frozen)

This St. Germain Margarita combines the elegant elderflower liqueur with crisp Blanco tequila and fresh lime juice for a sophisticated twist on the classic cocktail. Like our strawberry margarita and cranberry margarita, this refreshing drink strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tart. We’ve included two variations – a classic version highlighting the delicate elderflower notes and our take on the Aperol version served at our favorite neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Both make excellent additions to your summer entertaining menu, especially with homemade tortilla chips and our Tex-Mex queso or grilled guacamole.

two st germain margaritas made with aperol in coupe glasses.

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Key Ingredients and Substitutions

You can create this elegant cocktail at home with just a few quality ingredients. The key is to use fresh ingredients and good-quality spirits.

The full ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.

Blanco Tequila: This recipe uses a mid-range Blanco-style tequila (clear). 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. A respado-style tequila (golden) would also be delicious. However, I’d avoid an añejo style as it will dominate the overall taste and not marry well with the other ingredients.
St Germain: This elderflower liqueur adds subtle floral sweetness and complexity. While other elderflower liqueurs are available, St Germain is the original and sets the standard for quality and taste.
Aperol (for variation): This Italian aperitif adds bitter-orange notes and a beautiful coral color to the cocktail
Fresh Lime Juice: Always use freshly squeezed lime juice, never bottled. One medium lime typically yields about 1 ounce of juice. If your limes are firm, roll them on the counter under your palm before juicing to help extract more juice.

How to Make St Germain Margaritas

Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.

Pro-tip: Chill your serving glasses in the freezer for about 10 minutes before making the cocktails. This helps keep your drink colder longer and adds a nice frosty presentation.

St Germain-Aperol Margarita

1. Prep the Glass: Skip the salt rim and rim the glass with Tajin instead. Fill the glass with fresh ice and set it aside.

2. Add Liquids to Shaker: Measure and add 1.5 ounces of Blanco tequila, 0.75 ounces of St Germain, 0.5 ounces of Aperol, and 0.75 ounces of fresh lime juice to your cocktail shaker.

3. Shake: Fill your shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds to chill and properly dilute the cocktail. A properly shaken cocktail will create a frosty layer on the outside of your shaker.

4. Strain and Garnish: Strain the cocktail into your prepared rocks glass over fresh ice. Express an orange peel over the drink by twisting it over the surface to release the oils, then drop it in as a garnish.

st germain margarita made with aperol in a coupe glass.

Classic St Germain Margarita

1. Prep the Glass: Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rock or margarita glass and dip it in a shallow plate of salt, if desired. Fill the glass with fresh ice and set it aside.

2. Add Liquids to Shaker: Measure and add 2 ounces of Blanco tequila, 1 ounce of St Germain, and 1 ounce of fresh lime juice to your cocktail shaker.

3. Shake: Fill your shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until well-chilled. You’ll know it’s ready when frost forms on the outside of the shaker.

4. Strain and Garnish: Strain the cocktail into your prepared glasses over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

two classic st germain margaritas in rock glasses.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Balance is key. Since St Germain is a sweet liqueur, we’ve adjusted the lime juice in each recipe to achieve the perfect balance. Feel free to add more lime juice if you prefer a tarter cocktail.
Quality ice matters. Use fresh, clean ice for both shaking and serving. Old ice can impart off-flavors to your cocktail. Use large ice cubes for serving as they melt more slowly and won’t dilute your drink as quickly.
Temperature is important. A properly chilled margarita is essential. Make sure your ice is straight from the freezer, and consider chilling your glasses beforehand. You can also keep your St Germain and Aperol in the refrigerator.
About that salt rim. We like using coarse kosher or margarita salt for the classic version. Make sure to only salt the outside of the rim – no one wants salt falling into their drink. Try the Aperol variation with Tajin or a naked rim first to appreciate the complex flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Germain is a French liqueur made from fresh elderflower blossoms. Light floral notes and hints of pear, lemon, and tropical fruit complement its subtle sweetness. While its sweetness is often compared to honey or lychee, its unique flavor adds complexity to cocktails.

While both are Italian bitter aperitifs, Aperol is lighter in alcohol content and bitterness. Aperol has a more pronounced orange flavor and subtle herbal notes, while Campari is more intensely bitter, with pungent herbal and spicy notes.

You can scale up the recipe for a pitcher, but we recommend mixing it just before serving to maintain the proper temperature. Multiply the ingredients by the number of servings needed, but wait to shake with ice until ready to serve.

While St Germain is the original and most well-known elderflower liqueur, you can substitute other brands. Just note that the sweetness levels might vary, so you may need to adjust the amount of lime juice to maintain balance.

More Summer Cocktail Recipes To Try

Looking for more frozen cocktail recipes? Try these other favorites:

Hugo Spritz – Another delightful way to use St Germain, this bubbly cocktail combines elderflower liqueur with prosecco and fresh mint for a light, floral aperitif.
Frozen Aperol Spritz – Our frozen version of the classic Italian cocktail is perfect for hot summer days. It combines Aperol, prosecco, and orange juice into a refreshing slushy drink.
Mangonada Margarita – This Mexican-inspired cocktail features sweet mango, chamoy sauce, and a chili-lime rim for a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.