This Red Currant Margarita is made with a homemade red currant syrup; it's refreshing, tart, and a little sweet. You can make it in a pitcher for a large group, and it's the perfect summer cocktail! The recipe includes a mocktail version too!
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Why You'll Love This Margarita
Unique summer flavor - A Classic Margarita is my go-to cocktail when I go out, but it's always fun to try new flavors, especially at home when making your own syrups is so easy! I used my Red Currant Syrup for this one, and it turned out amazing! It's a little tart, not too sweet, and perfectly refreshing for the summer!
Easy and versatile - I highly recommend making the syrup ahead of time if you're using a homemade one. That way the actual cocktail only takes a couple of minutes. Margaritas are easy to make in a pitcher for a bigger crowd, and this one is no different! The recipe also includes a mocktail version so everyone can enjoy the red currant flavor.
Ingredients
- Tequila - I usually use Reposado tequila, but Blanco would be perfect here as well. I would avoid Anejo because it's aged for much longer, so it has a strong flavor. This could overpower the light flavor of red currants.
- Orange liqueur - My favorite and the most popular one is Cointreau, but Triple Sec is almost identical and a little more budget-friendly. There's also Grand Marnier and several other brands to choose from. Use whatever one you have and like.
- Lime juice - Use freshly squeezed lime juice whenever possible for the best flavor.
- Red currant syrup - I used my own homemade Red Currant Simple Syrup, but you can use a store-bought one as well. You might find it's called groseille syrup, which is just the French word for red currants.
Variations and Substitutions
- Pitcher version - For 6 servings, combine 9 oz tequila, 3 oz orange liqueur, 6 oz red currant syrup, and 6 oz lime juice in a pitcher. Add ice and stir well to combine. Serve over ice and top up with sparkling water if desired. Don't let it sit in the pitcher with the ice too long so it doesn't get watered down.
- Mocktail version - Replacing the tequila and orange liqueur with a non-alcoholic alternative will give you the most similar flavor. Otherwise, omit them and add an extra ½ oz of the syrup and top up the drink with sparkling water for a larger drink. Without the alcohol, the lime juice will taste tangier, so I add a little extra syrup and top it up with at least ½ cup of sparkling water or an unsweetened soda like LaCroix.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare a short cocktail glass by either brushing it with agave syrup and dipping it in coarse turbinado sugar on a small flat plate, or running a lime wedge around the edge of the glass and dipping it in sea salt.
- Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
- To a cocktail shaker, add tequila, orange liqueur, red currant syrup, and lime juice.
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- Add a large handful of ice.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for a few seconds until very cool to the touch.
- Strain the margarita into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of red currants if desired, and enjoy!
Success Tips
- Prepare your glass first - When you fill your glass with ice and add a salt or sugar rim before mixing the cocktail, you prevent the drink from sitting with the ice in the shaker for too long and getting watered down.
- Use fresh lime juice - Once you use fresh limes instead of bottled juice, you'll never want to go back! The flavor is just so much better.
- Avoid fine sea salt for the rim - It will stick to the glass in large clumps. I went with flaky sea salt to try something new and make it unique here for photos, but I'd normally either just do a salt rim on the very edge of the glass.
What to Serve with it
Cocktails are always best served with a fun appetizer to munch on on the side. I usually suggest easy finger food you can snack on while enjoying your drink. Below are a few of my favorites that would go with the berry flavor.
- Strawberry Salsa
- Tomato Peach Bruschetta (my all-time favorite summer appetizer!)
- Goat Cheese and Strawberry Bruschetta
- 4-Ingredient Guacamole (served with tortilla chips - get the lime flavored ones)
- Smoked Salmon Crostini
- Caprese Skewers
FAQs
Red currants are native to Europe and aren't very common in North America, but you can usually find them at farmer's markets in the summer. If you can't find any, you can always order the syrup online instead!
More Fruity Margaritas
Below are a few of my favorite margaritas that are a little more unique than the flavors you might come across in restaurants, like a Strawberry Margarita (a classic and still one of my all-time favorites). To see all the latest ones and other fun drinks, head over to Cocktail Recipes!
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Have you tried this Red Currant Margarita? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
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Print📖 Recipe
Red Currant Margarita
This Red Currant Margarita is made with a homemade red currant syrup; it's refreshing, tart, and a little sweet. You can make it in a pitcher for a large group, and it's the perfect summer cocktail! The recipe includes a mocktail version too!
- Total Time5 minutes
- Yield1 1x
- DietVegan
Ingredients
- Glass rim: agave syrup and turbinado sugar or lime wedge and salt*
- Ice
- 1 ½ oz tequila (blanco and reposado)
- ½ oz orange liqueur (I use Cointreau)
- 1 oz red currant syrup
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- Garnish: a slice of lime, a sprig of red currants
Instructions
- Prepare a short glass by either brushing it with agave syrup and dipping it in coarse turbinado sugar, or running a lime wedge around the edge and dipping it in sea salt. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
- To a cocktail shaker, add tequila, orange liqueur, red currant syrup, and lime juice.
- Add a large handful of ice.
- Shake the cocktail vigorously for a few seconds until very cool to the touch.
- Strain the margarita into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of red currants if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
Glass rim: I add coarse sugar to most of my fruity margaritas. I like using agave syrup for this because it sticks to the glass better than maple syrup, and sugar sticks better to it than lime juice. If you use fine sea salt, only run your lime wedge around the edges and dip your glass in the salt. If you want to dip the side in salt for effect, use coarser salt or sea salt that isn’t too moist because it will clump.
You can add some frozen red currants (or fresh ones) to your glass when you're adding the ice for decoration.
Pitcher version: For 6 servings, combine 9 oz tequila, 3 oz orange liqueur, 6 oz red currant syrup, and 6 oz lime juice in a pitcher. Add ice and stir well to combine. Serve over ice and top up with sparkling water if desired.
Mocktail version: Replacing the tequila and orange liqueur with a non-alcoholic alternative will give you the most similar flavor. Otherwise, omit them and add an extra ½ oz of the syrup and top up the drink with at least ½ cup sparkling water.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
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