Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 1¾ ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce raspberry liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the rocks glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, raspberry liqueur, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Variations and Substitutions
Since there isn't a standard recipe for the raspberry margarita, you can easily and shamelessly swap around ingredients.
- For a lighter margarita, muddle a half cup of fresh whole raspberries instead of using raspberry liqueur.
- To make an even lighter margarita, use freshly squeezed orange juice in addition to the muddled raspberries.
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of lime juice.
- Use a half-ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice in addition to the lime juice for a slightly tarter flavor.
- For a smokey raspberry margarita, use mezcal instead of silver tequila.
Garnishes
Whether you want to go luxurious or keep it simple, there are plenty of garnish options for the raspberry margarita.
- Use a sugar rim for a sweeter rim garnish.
- Instead of a lime wedge, use a wheel or slice.
- For a pop of yellow, use a lemon wheel, wedge, or slice.
- Pierce several whole raspberries with a cocktail skewer or float them on top of the ice.
- Add fresh raspberries and citrus together, such as with a lemon wheel or lime ribbon.
About the Raspberry Margarita
Tequila caught the attention of Americans during Prohibition when glasses were running dry. With a quick trip across the southern border, a spirit was once again readily on hand. From there, tequila cocktails quickly became a beloved drink. The margarita's popularity rocketed in the 1950s and, while margarita styles went in and out of fashion, it never fully left the party.
The origin of the raspberry margarita isn't as well known. Raspberry liqueur was invented just before the start of the 18th century, a lifetime, and then some, before the margarita would even be thought of. The raspberry margarita could be a result of the rise of muddled cocktails, such as the mojito, and patrons wanting their margarita to have a similar touch or a request for a sweeter fruity margarita. However it was, the raspberry margarita is deserving of its place in the margarita world.
A Berry Great Margarita
Raspberry flavors add a sweet and slightly tart upgrade to the classic margarita. Whether you achieve the flavor with freshly muddled raspberries or raspberry liqueur, there's more than one way to shake a raspberry margarita.
