Cherry Margarita
This Cherry Margarita recipe puts a twist on the classic cocktail using fresh cherries and a little maraschino liqueur. This margarita is perfect for BBQs, picnics, and parties. You will be making this cherry cocktail all summer long!
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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!
How to Make a Cherry Margarita
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 20-30 seconds. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass and garnish. Cheers!
Tips for Making a Perfect Cherry Lime Margarita
- The more you muddle the cherries, the more cherry flavor you will extract. I would suggest muddling for 45-60 seconds.
- The same goes with 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 20-40 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.
What Tequila to Use
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 decent 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!
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.
Tools to Make Cocktails at Home
Other Cocktail Recipes to check out
- Grapefruit Gin Cocktail
- Strawberry Elderflower Liqueur Cocktail
- Lemon Curd Cocktail Recipe
- Huckleberry Cocktail Recipe
- Black Walnut Bitters Cocktail Recipes
Cherry Margarita
Equipment
- strainer
Ingredients
- 10 fresh cherries, rinsed and pitted
- 2 ounces tequila (I used a silver tequila)
- 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur ( I used Luxardo brand)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3/4 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 20-30 seconds. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass and garnish. Cheers!
Notes
- This cocktail is also delicious unstrained with the cherry pieces in the drink.
- If you want more liquid, add a splash of tonic water or club soda.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Show me your Cherry Margarita!
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I’ve made this cherry margarita with cherries from my garden. It was absolutely delicious and refreshing, thank you so much for sharing!
I’m so glad you loved this cocktail and I’m jealous you can just grab cherries from your garden! 😁
I’m definitely making this. Looks refreshing and perfect for summertime. My hubs will love this too I’m sure.
I hope you and your husband enjoy this one!
I really loved how refreshing this drink is! Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome, Toni!
I’m always looking for new ways to use my Luxardo liquer, this cherry marg was fab!
I’m glad you liked it! I love using Luxardo whenever I can!
Oh, this sounds amazing! Definitely going to add this cherry margarita recipe to our poolside bar. It’ll make parties that much more fun!
This margarita was made for poolside fun!! Enjoy!
Looks great for cherry season! Can’t wait to try it.
You are gonna love it!! Cheers!
This is really refreshing!! I am definitely making it again!! A staple for me this summer!
The summer cocktail of 2021 🤣🤣
Oh yum! This is my new favorite drink!
I was worried this would be too sweet but it was perfectly balanced and yay! I get to use up that jar of cherries!
Yay! I’m glad your found it balanced. Cheers!
I love anything cherry YUM!!
This margarita was made for you! Cheers!
Such an easy and refreshing drink, perfect for summer!
Thanks, Michelle, enjoy!
I’ve never put cherries in a margarita but it’s an exceptional addition! Can’t recommend enough
Thanks, Lauren. I’m glad you tried it.
Yum! I made this last night for the 4th and it was so delicious!
Oh good, I’m glad you liked it!
Thanks for sharing! It was a hit with all my guest.
So glad to hear it, Angela!!
Yum!!
Such a refreshing summer drink! Perfect for the weekend!
The weekend, a Tuesday…🤣🤣. Enjoy!
Beautiful! Ive never heard of maraschino liqueur but it sounds so good in a summer cocktail
It’s a good liqueur to have in you home bar, it adds a delicious cherry flavor and a little bit of sweetness to all kinds of cocktails including this margarita.
So refreshing and delicious! Yummy!!
Thanks, Addie!