The Best Cinco De Mayo Margarita for Your Fiesta
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The Red Grapefruit and Honey Margarita is a refreshing twist on a classic margarita. Learn how to craft the perfect margarita for your Cinco do Mayo celebrations!
You know how some people are the life of the party and make you want to laugh till your sides hurt? Well, within seconds of meeting Linda I could tell she was one of those people. Plus, she has a blog all about booze, people– and you know I enjoy a great cocktail on occasion. Linda’s here today with the best Cinco de Mayo margarita for your fiesta: a Red Grapefruit and Honey Margarita. Because there are margaritas, and then there are MARGARITAS.
Nothing says Cinco de Mayo more than a margarita. But instead of the traditional margarita, today we are going to kick it up a notch and try something different. These Red Grapefruit and Honey Margaritas are refreshing and add a more sophisticated flair to a standard cocktail. The combination of grapefruit juice, honey, and tequila blanco creates a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. These margaritas are so delicious, you will wonder why you haven’t tried them before. But I urge you to use some caution. These margaritas are dangerously good—as in, “goes down way too fast” good. Still want the recipe?
Ok, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Ready? Here we go.
The Stand Out Ingredients
To begin, the base of these margaritas is made from fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, and the flavors build from there. Grapefruit juice is a great mixer for margaritas, as it replaces the need for sour mix since the fruit itself has a natural tartness. I then add honey to bring in some sweetness without using simple syrup or agave nectar. Honey adds a rich depth of flavor to the cocktail. The flavors are further enhanced with a splash of orange juice, which contribute to the citrusy punch that makes this drink irresistible.
Now, let’s talk about the tequila. For this margarita recipe, I recommend using tequila blanco, which has a crisp and clean taste that pairs beautifully with the citrus flavors. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even try mezcal for a smoky twist. And of course, no margarita is complete without a quality orange liqueur. You can use Cointreau or triple sec to enhance the citrus notes in this cocktail.
Creating the Perfect Rim
Before you shake up your drink, let’s prepare the glass. A salt/sugar rim is optional, but it pairs nicely with the tartness of the grapefruit juice. To create the perfect salt/sugar rim, mix margarita salt and colored sugar crystals on a small plate. Take a wedge of the grapefruit and run it along the edge of your rocks glass, then dip it into the plate of salt/sugar mixture. You could also use a lime wedge to moisten your glass if preferred over grapefruit. If you want to get creative, you can even mix in a little chili powder or finely ground pepper for a bit of spice.
Prepping and Mixing the Ingredients
Juicing fresh grapefruit is key to achieving the bright, citrusy flavor in this margarita. For this recipe, you’ll need two whole grapefruits, which should yield about two cups of fresh juice. To get the most juice, roll the grapefruits on the counter while applying gentle pressure before cutting them in half. You can use a handheld juicer, citrus press, or simply squeeze them by hand over a fine mesh strainer to catch any seeds.
Now, it’s time to put it in the blender! Add the juice, tequila, triple sec, orange juice, honey, and ice to your blender and blend until it’s smooth and frothy. More ice can be added to achieve a more frozen effect.
Prefer it on the rocks? No problem! In a cocktail shaker filled with fresh ice, pour in the grapefruit juice, honey, orange juice, tequila blanco, and triple sec. Shake well until all the ingredients are perfectly blended. Then, strain the mixture into your prepared rocks glass over fresh ice. For an extra touch, garnish with a lime wheel or a small grapefruit wedge.
Prepping Ahead and Creative Twists
Can’t you just picture it now? Sitting back on your patio or deck, with your feet up, sipping the day away. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a fresh and flavorful cocktail in minutes. If you’re hosting a Cinco de Mayo party, consider making a big batch of these margaritas in advance. Simply blend the ingredients together, store them in the fridge, and pour over ice when you’re ready to serve.
For those who love experimenting with cocktail recipes, you can also add jalapeños for a spicy kick, or even a splash of club soda or soda water for a lighter, spritz-like version of this drink. No matter how you serve it, this Red Grapefruit and Honey Margarita is a refreshing twist on the classic margarita that is sure to impress. Your guests will be raving that it’s the best Cinco de Mayo margarita they’ve ever tasted.
Red Grapefruit and Honey Margarita
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Grapefruit juice
- 1.5 oz Tequila
- .5 oz Triple sec
- .25 oz Orange juice
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Dry measuring cup of ice
- Margarita salt for rim of the glass
- Colored sugar crystals (I used orange and yellow)
- A wedge of grapefruit for garnish
Instructions
- Mix margarita salt and colored sugar crystals on a small plate. Moisten margarita glass rim by taking a wedge of grapefruit and rimming the glass with the wedge. Dip moistened rim in margarita salt and colored sugar mix.
- Squeeze or juice the grapefruit to make freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice (my grapefruit yielded approximately 1 cup of fresh juice).
- Add juice to the blender and pour in tequila, triple sec, orange juice, honey, and ice. Blend until smooth and frothy. For a more frozen effect, add more ice.
- Pour mixture into a margarita glass and garnish with grapefruit wedge. Makes one margarita.
With just one sip of this refreshing margarita, you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to a sun-drenched beach in Mexico, toes in the sand and a salty breeze in the air. Go on, enjoy. You deserve it.
About the Author
Linda Arceo is an established home cook and writer. As a former bartender, Linda regularly writes about cocktails and spirited beverages and enjoys mixing fun cocktails for her friends. Linda can be found writing regularly on her blog, Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps. Linda can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
