This Cherry Margarita is made with fresh cherries, tequila, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice for a bright, fruity twist on the classic cocktail. Whether you're hosting a summer BBQ, relaxing by the pool, or celebrating cherry season, this easy margarita comes together in just 5 minutes and is bursting with fresh cherry flavor.
I love margaritas, and this Cherry Margarita is my new favorite for summer! When the cherry season rolls around every year, I always find myself with an abundance of cherries. This year, my friend suggested a cherry cocktail, and the rest was history!
This recipe is quick to pull together with just a handful of ingredients, making it perfect for everything from backyard BBQs to last-minute happy hours. If you love fruity tequila drinks, you might also enjoy my Mango Margarita or this fun Dragon Fruit Margarita for when you want something a little unique. And if you want to make your own cocktail syrups at home, my Spiced Simple Syrup is a great one to have on hand all year long.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What is Maraschino Liqueur?
- 🍒 What Kind of Cherries to Use
- What Tequila to Use for a Cherry Margarita
- Substitutions and Variations
- Expert Tips for This Cherry Cocktail Recipe
- Make this Cherry Cocktail Ahead of Time
- Recipe FAQs
- What to Serve with a Cherry Margarita
- Cherry Margarita Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
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Made with fresh cherries
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Ready in just 5 minutes
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Naturally fruity without artificial flavors
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Easy to customize
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Perfect for summer entertaining
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Sweet, tart, and refreshing
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Great on the rocks or frozen
What is Maraschino Liqueur?
Maraschino liqueur originated in Croatia and is made from Marasca cherries. It's a clear, cherry-flavored liqueur that isn't overly sweet, so it's perfect for cocktails like the Last Word or my Gin Elderflower Cocktail.
Any home bar should have a bottle of Maraschino Liqueur in it. If you can find the Luxardo brand, Maraska, and Lazzarroni are both good options.
🍒 What Kind of Cherries to Use
Different varieties of cherries will slightly change the flavor of your margarita, so use your favorite or whatever is in season.
- Bing cherries: Sweet, juicy, and deep red, these are the best all-around choice for a rich cherry flavor.
- Rainier cherries: Sweeter and more delicate, with a lighter color and mild flavor.
- Black cherries: Bold and intensely sweet, creating a deeper, richer cocktail.
- Sour cherries: Tart and bright, perfect for balancing the sweetness of the drink or mixing with sweet cherries.
- Frozen cherries: A great alternative when fresh cherries aren't available. Thaw them before muddling for the best flavor and texture.
For the freshest Cherry Margarita, use ripe sweet cherries like Bing or Rainier for a naturally rich, juicy flavor. If you prefer a brighter, slightly tart finish, mix in a handful of sour cherries to balance the sweetness and add extra freshness.
What Tequila to Use for a Cherry Margarita
I recommend using silver tequila for this drink. Although silver tequila usually has a harsher taste, it's perfect for cocktails because it mixes with the rest of the ingredients to tone down the harshness.
Good gold tequila is usually expensive and is best reserved for sipping, in my opinion. You can also find 100% agave silver tequila for a reasonable price. I used Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila, which you can usually find for under $30.
But, as with all homemade cocktails, you can use whichever tequila is your favorite!
Substitutions and Variations
This Cherry Margarita is easy to customize based on what you have on hand or the flavors you enjoy most.
- Fresh cherries: Substitute thawed frozen cherries when fresh cherries aren't in season.
- Tequila: Use blanco tequila for a crisp, fresh flavor or reposado tequila for a smoother, slightly oaky taste.
- Agave nectar: Replace with simple syrup or honey to adjust the sweetness.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice is best, but bottled lime juice works in a pinch.
- Maraschino liqueur: Swap with Cherry Heering for a richer cherry flavor, or use orange liqueur with a splash of cherry syrup.
- Frozen Cherry Margarita: Blend all the ingredients with ice until smooth.
- Spicy Cherry Margarita: Muddle a few slices of fresh jalapeño with the cherries before mixing.
- Sparkling Cherry Margarita: Top the finished cocktail with a splash of club soda or sparkling water.
- Berry Cherry Margarita: Add a handful of fresh blackberries or raspberries for extra fruit flavor.
- Cherry Mocktail: Omit the tequila and maraschino liqueur and replace them with sparkling water or lemon-lime soda for a refreshing nonalcoholic drink.
Expert Tips for This Cherry Cocktail Recipe
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The more you muddle the cherries, the more cherry flavor you will extract. I would suggest muddling for 10-15 seconds.
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The same goes for shaking a cocktail. You want all of the ingredients to mix together and for the cocktail to get nice and cold. Make sure you shake for a good 10-15 seconds.
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This cherry cocktail is also delicious unstrained, with the cherry pieces still in the drink.
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If you want more liquid, add a splash of tonic water or club soda.
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If you want the cocktail to be less sweet, add more lime juice, omit the agave nectar, or add salt to the rim of the glass.
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Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the brightest flavor.
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Taste before serving and adjust the lime or agave to suit your preference.
Make this Cherry Cocktail Ahead of Time
You can muddle the cherries and mix the tequila, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and agave up to 24 hours ahead. Store the mixture in the refrigerator and shake with ice just before serving for the freshest flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, when batching this cherry margarita, muddle your cherries in small batches, then combine them with all the measured liquid ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. When ready to serve, give the pitcher a good stir since the fruit settles, then pour over ice and strain out the pulp if you prefer a cleaner drink.
Yes! Frozen cherries work great and are a perfect option when fresh cherries are out of season. Just thaw them first and drain any excess liquid before muddling. Jarred maraschino cherries can work in a pinch, but are much sweeter, so you may want to reduce or omit the agave nectar.
Absolutely. Honey or simple syrup are both easy swaps in equal amounts. If you prefer a less sweet margarita, you can skip the sweetener altogether and add a little extra lime juice instead.
Fresh lime juice is strongly recommended for the best flavor, but bottled lime juice will work if that's what you have on hand. Just be aware that bottled juice tends to taste slightly more bitter, so start with a little less and adjust to taste.
Yes! Add all the ingredients to a blender with about a cup of ice and blend until smooth. You may want to add a splash of water or club soda if the blender needs help moving.
Definitely, add two or three slices of fresh jalapeño to the shaker when you muddle the cherries for a fruity, spicy kick. Remove the jalapeño seeds first if you want less heat.
What to Serve with a Cherry Margarita
A Cherry Margarita pairs well with everything from light appetizers to hearty Mexican-inspired meals. Its sweet cherry flavor and bright citrus notes complement spicy, smoky, and savory dishes, making it a great choice for parties, taco nights, or summer cookouts.
Serve it with fresh salsa and chips, creamy guacamole, nachos, fish or shrimp tacos, chicken fajitas, carnitas, or grilled chicken. For appetizers, try it alongside a charcuterie board with soft cheeses and fresh fruit, or enjoy it with desserts like brownies, chocolate cake, or cheesecake for a delicious sweet-and-tart combination.
If you get a chance to make this Cherry Lime Margarita Recipe, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Cherry Margarita Recipe
Equipment
- strainer
Ingredients
- 10 fresh cherries, rinsed and pitted
- 2 ounces tequila (I used a silver tequila)
- ½ ounce maraschino liqueur ( I used Luxardo brand)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce agave nectar
- fresh cherry or lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare your favorite lowball cocktail glass with fresh ice. Place the cherries in a cocktail shaker and muddle them with a muddler until nice and crushed.
- Add the tequila, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, agave nectar, and ice and shake for 10-15 seconds. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass and garnish. Cheers!
Notes
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The more you muddle the cherries, the more cherry flavor you will extract. I would suggest muddling for 10-15 seconds.
-
The same goes for shaking a cocktail. You want all of the ingredients to mix together and for the cocktail to get nice and cold. Make sure you shake for a good 10-15 seconds.
-
This cherry cocktail is also delicious unstrained, with the cherry pieces still in the drink.
-
If you want more liquid, add a splash of tonic water or club soda.
-
If you want the cocktail to be less sweet, add more lime juice, omit the agave nectar, or add salt to the rim of the glass.
-
Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the brightest flavor.
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Taste before serving and adjust the lime or agave to suit your preference.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
If you're looking for an easy summer cocktail packed with fresh cherry flavor, this Cherry Margarita is always a crowd favorite. Make one for happy hour or mix up a pitcher for your next cookout, and don't forget to try some of my other fruity margarita recipes.
Ramona says
I’ve made this cherry margarita with cherries from my garden. It was absolutely delicious and refreshing, thank you so much for sharing!
Emily says
I’m so glad you loved this cocktail and I’m jealous you can just grab cherries from your garden! 😁
Melissa says
Hi! Do you know the measurements to make a pitcher? Or just multiply by 6,7,8?
Emily says
Hi Melissa, yes, you are basically multiplying the ingredients. Multiply by the number of guests you're serving, so for a crowd of 8, that means 2 cups tequila, 1 cup lime juice, ½ cup maraschino liqueur, and ¾ cup agave, plus around 80 muddled fresh cherries (don't add ice yet). Stir everything together and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. When ready to serve, give the mixture another stir and pour over ice. Enjoy!
Natalie says
I'm definitely making this. Looks refreshing and perfect for summertime. My hubs will love this too I'm sure.
Emily says
I hope you and your husband enjoy this one!
Toni says
I really loved how refreshing this drink is! Thank you for the recipe!
Emily says
You’re welcome, Toni!
Brianna says
I'm always looking for new ways to use my Luxardo liquer, this cherry marg was fab!
Emily says
I’m glad you liked it! I love using Luxardo whenever I can!
Anaiah says
Oh, this sounds amazing! Definitely going to add this cherry margarita recipe to our poolside bar. It'll make parties that much more fun!
Emily says
This margarita was made for poolside fun!! Enjoy!