Mistletoe Margarita 

Why you’re going to love this festive drink

• Crowd-pleaser: Who’s going to turn down a mistletoe margarita? This cocktail is a nice change from traditional drinks served at Christmas, and it’s a great way to get the party started!
• Customizable: Whether sweet, stiff, or virgin, you can make this margarita to suit the preferred taste and style of you or your guests.
• Presentation: Once you’re seen carrying around this drink, everyone will be asking for the recipe! From the vibrant red hue to the rosemary sprig and sugared cranberries, mistletoe margaritas are a head-turner.

What is a mistletoe margarita? 

While it’s not entirely known where the name “mistletoe margarita” comes from, this twist on a Mexican classic is starting to become a popular cocktail to serve during the holidays.

Using the same base ingredients as a traditional margarita (tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice), a mistletoe margarita contains the addition of cranberry juice and festive garnishes. The final result is a bright red drink with a pop of green.

Flavored with hints of evergreen from rosemary, this simple drink is sweet, tart, and woodsy. If margaritas aren’t the first thing you think of when it comes to Christmas drinks, you and your family may think twice after trying a sip!

Ingredient notes

Full ingredient quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Kosher salt: For the salt rim. You can also make a sugar rim with granulated sugar if you prefer. Or, use a mixture!
• Ice: To shake the margaritas and serve them over. If you want, try making a frozen mistletoe margarita by blending the ice with the other ingredients!
• Cranberry juice: Use sweetened or unsweetened cranberry juice — the choice is yours. If you use unsweetened cranberry juice, add simple syrup to taste.
• Lime juice: I recommend freshly squeezed lime juice. Stay away from lime juice concentrate for this recipe.
• Silver tequila: Also known as tequila blanco or tequila plata, I recommend splurging on a small-batch, good tequila. Think 123 Organic Blanco Tequila, Herradura Silver, ​​Don Abraham Organic Blanco, or Espolòn Blanco. Don Julio Blanco or Patrón Silver also make good choices as they are more widely available.
• Cointreau: Made using the triple sec method, Cointreau is a slightly drier orange liqueur than Grand Marnier with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. This makes it the perfect choice for mistletoe margaritas. If you don’t have Cointreau, use another brand like Triple Sec.
• Sugared cranberries: For a frosted berry garnish, add sugared cranberries. To make them, squeeze lime juice over the cranberries, then roll them in granulated sugar.
• Rosemary sprigs: To emulate mistletoe branches, pair the sugared cranberries with fresh rosemary sprigs.

How to make a mistletoe margarita

Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. First, rub a lime wedge around the rim of your serving glass. Invert the glass into a shallow, wide bowl of kosher salt to rim it.
2. Fill the glass with ice, then set it aside for now.
3. Add more ice to a cocktail shaker followed by cranberry juice, lime juice, silver tequila, and Cointreau.
4. Close the cocktail shaker, and shake it well to combine the cranberry margarita ingredients. Strain the mixture over ice into the prepared glass.
5. Finish the margarita off with a garnish of sugared fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

Storage & making ahead

To prevent yourself from having to play bartender all night, here are a few simple make-ahead and storage tips for you to try:

• Prep ahead: Make the sugar-coated cranberries and pick out the best rosemary spring ahead of time. Store them separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a day. Squeeze the limes, and keep them in a mason jar in the fridge up to a few hours ahead of time.
• Alcohol: Measure enough alcohol for the number of guests coming to the party or gathering. You can mix the tequila and Cointreau together and keep the mixture in the fridge. This will keep it chilled and make it quicker to measure when you’re preparing drinks.
• Note: I don’t suggest fully making any drinks prior to your guests’ arrival. This cocktail looks and tastes the best when it’s freshly mixed.

Variations

• White cranberry juice: Swap in white cranberry juice for a slightly smoother version.
• Pomegranate juice: These easy mistletoe margaritas would be just as festive with pomegrante juice in place of the cranberry juice.
• Different spirits: Try using different types of tequila like reposado or añejo. For a smoky flavor, opt for mezcal. If you aren’t a fan of tequila or mezcal isn’t your thing, you can always use vodka or rum.
• Blended: Instead of on the rocks, add the ingredients to a blender and mix on high for a frozen mistletoe margarita.
• Gingery: For something a little different, add a splash of ginger ale to your margaritas.
• Big Batch

Helpful tips

• Ice: Make sure the glass is “loaded” with ice. This will ensure it doesn’t melt too quickly and the drink can be enjoyed over a longer period of time. You can also opt for crushed ice for a fancier appearance.
• Quality tequila: If you’re making a drink like margaritas, opt for quality tequila as this is where most of the flavor comes from.
• Prep ahead: As noted in the storage section, prepping the ingredients in advance will seriously enhance your drink-making experience and allow you to spend more time with your guests!
• Glassware: You can use a traditional margarita glass. But really any clear glass will work. You don’t need expensive glassware, but it’s always best to serve fancy cocktails in clear glasses rather than plastic cups.

Common questions

For more cocktails (holiday or not), take a look at out some of my most popular recipes: