Festive Mistletoe Margarita

This Festive Mistletoe Margarita is the ultimate holiday cocktail, blending the tart, bright flavors of cranberry and lime with the smooth warmth of tequila. This simple, elegant, and incredibly delicious drink is tinted a beautiful ruby red and garnished with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a festive “mistletoe” look. It’s a refreshing, vibrant, and perfectly balanced twist on the classic margarita that’s guaranteed to be the star of your holiday party.

Forget the heavy, warm drinks; this cocktail is crisp, cheerful, and dangerously easy to make. It’s the perfect signature drink to serve at a Christmas gathering, a New Year’s Eve bash, or any time you want to add a little sparkle to the season.

this recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Festive & Elegant: The beautiful red color and “mistletoe” garnish make it perfect for the holidays.
• Incredibly Easy to Make: A simple, shaken cocktail that comes together in minutes.
• Perfect for a Crowd: This recipe is easy to scale up and make in a large pitcher for a party.
• Refreshing & Balanced: A delicious, crisp twist on a classic cocktail that’s not too sweet.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Blanco Tequila
• 1 1/2 oz 100% Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
• 3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Orange Liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar (adjust to taste)
• For Garnish:
  • Fresh Cranberries
  • Small sprig of Fresh Rosemary
  • Coarse salt or sugar for the rim (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep the Garnish: If you’re rimming the glass, run a lime wedge around the edge of a coupe or rocks glass and dip it in a shallow plate of coarse salt or sugar.
2. Combine Ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
3. Shake: Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker is frosty and very cold.
4. Strain and Serve: Strain the cocktail into your prepared glass.
5. Garnish: Garnish with a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary to look like mistletoe. Serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Pro Tip: Use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail) for the best, most authentic tart flavor and beautiful deep color. You can then control the sweetness perfectly with the simple syrup.
• Make a Pitcher: To make a batch for a party (about 8 servings), combine: 2 cups tequila, 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice, 3/4 cup lime juice, 1/2 cup orange liqueur, and 1/2 cup simple syrup. Stir with ice in a large pitcher and strain into glasses, or serve on the rocks.
• Spiced Simple Syrup: For an extra layer of warmth, make a simple syrup infused with a cinnamon stick and star anise.
• Sugared Cranberries: For a beautiful garnish, roll fresh cranberries in simple syrup, then in granulated sugar, and let them dry on parchment paper.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Can I make this non-alcoholic?
  • Yes! For a festive mocktail, combine the cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. Top it off with a splash of sparkling water or ginger ale for a bit of fizz.
• Can I use a different kind of tequila?
  • Blanco (or silver) tequila is recommended for its crisp, clean flavor that lets the fruit shine. A reposado would also work if you prefer a slightly warmer, oaked flavor.
• What if I don’t have orange liqueur?
  • You can omit it or add a splash of fresh orange juice and a little extra simple syrup to maintain the sweetness and citrus balance.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve this Mistletoe Margarita well-chilled in a coupe glass for an elegant presentation, or in a rocks glass over a large ice cube. The festive garnish is a must!

Festive Mistletoe Margarita (Holiday Cranberry Tequila Cocktail)

This Festive Mistletoe Margarita is a stunning holiday cocktail featuring tart cranberry, fresh lime, smooth tequila, and a touch of orange liqueur. Garnished with cranberries and rosemary for a festive ‘mistletoe’ touch, it’s crisp, elegant, and guaranteed to steal the show at your Christmas or New Year’s celebrations.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings: 1 cocktail

Course: Cocktails, Drinks

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Calories: 180

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 oz Blanco tequila
• 1 1/2 oz 100% unsweetened cranberry juice
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec)
• 1/2 oz simple syrup or agave nectar, to taste
• ice, for shaking
• fresh cranberries, for garnish
• small sprig of fresh rosemary, for garnish
• coarse salt or sugar, for rim (optional)

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger or measuring tool
• strainer
• Coupe or rocks glass
• Bar spoon

Method

 

1. If rimming the glass, run a lime wedge around the rim of a coupe or rocks glass and dip in coarse salt or sugar. Set aside.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
3. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is frosty cold.
4. Strain the mixture into your prepared glass. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to resemble mistletoe.

Notes

Pro Tip: Use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice for the best color and tart flavor. Adjust sweetness with simple syrup to your liking.

Make a Pitcher: Combine 2 cups tequila, 1 1/2 cups cranberry juice, 3/4 cup lime juice, 1/2 cup orange liqueur, and 1/2 cup simple syrup. Stir with ice and serve for a crowd (makes 8 servings).

Variation: Add a cinnamon stick or star anise to your simple syrup for a spiced version.

Mocktail Version: Omit tequila and orange liqueur; mix cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup, then top with sparkling water or ginger ale.