Blue Margarita
5 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
lactose-free,
low-fat,
vegan,
vegetarian
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
This Blue Margarita is a bolder twist on the classic, swapping in blue curaçao for that electric color and a citrus kick, while keeping the clean tequila-lime snap and a proper salty rim.
Shake these up for Memorial Day or the 4th of July and they will vanish fast, because they are the kind of summer drinks that look fun, taste bright, and stay ice-cold without any fuss.
Ingredients (1 serving)
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Ingredients:
- 1½ fl oz tequila blanco tequila blanco 1.5 fl oz
- 1 fl oz blue curaçao blue curaçao 1 fl oz
- 1 fl oz freshly squeezed lime juice lime 1 ct (for freshly squeezed lime juice)
- ice ice
- kosher salt (for rimming) kosher salt 0.17 oz
- lime, wheel (for garnish) lime 1 ct
How to Make Blue Margarita
-
Chill the glass
Freeze a rocks or coupe glass for 5 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prep so the drink stays frosty and tight.
-
Salt the rim like a pro
Run a juicy lime wedge around only half the rim, dip into coarse salt, and set aside so you control every sip.
-
Load the shaker
Add 1 1/2 oz tequila blanco, 1 oz blue curaçao, and 1 oz fresh lime juice to a shaker with plenty of ice.
-
Shake hard, then strain
Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds until the shaker is painfully cold, then strain into the chilled glass over fresh ice or straight up.
-
Garnish and serve
Slip on a lime wheel and give the glass a quick quarter-turn so that salted sips alternate with clean ones.
-
Dial it in
If you want sweeter add 1/4 oz simple syrup, if you want brighter add a small squeeze more lime, and if you want boozier add a 1/4 oz extra tequila.
Substitutions
- Blue curaçao -> Triple sec + blue spirulina or butterfly pea syrup
- Swap 1 oz blue curaçao for 1 oz quality triple sec and tint with 1 to 2 teaspoons blue spirulina simple syrup or butterfly pea syrup so you keep that ocean-blue color with a cleaner orange note and no loss of citrus aroma.
- Tequila blanco -> Mezcal joven
- Use the same amount of mezcal for a smoky, mineral edge that plays great with lime and orange while keeping the drink vivid and structured.
- Coarse salt rim -> Tajin or smoked flaky salt
- Rim with Tajin for chili-lime snap or use smoked flaky salt for a sultry aroma that makes the citrus pop without overpowering the palate.
Tips
- Half-rim strategy
- Only salt half the rim so each sip can be salted or clean, which keeps balance in your control.
- Ice size equals control
- Shake with cold, solid cubes for quick chill and controlled dilution, then serve over fresh cubes or a single big cube to keep the color bright.
- Double strain for silk
- Use a Hawthorne strainer plus a fine mesh to catch ice shards so the drink stays glossy and doesn’t dilute too fast.
- Respect the 12 to 15 second shake
- Stop when the shaker is frosty and your hands sting since that means you hit the sweet spot for chill and dilution.
- Zesty salt upgrade
- Microplane a little lime zest into your salt before rimming to perfume each sip without adding extra juice.
- Batch like a boss
- For a party mix tequila and blue curaçao ahead, chill deeply, and add fresh lime and ice right before serving so the citrus stays bright.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 6 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 2 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- My margarita tastes too sweet, how do I fix it?
- Add 1/4 oz fresh lime juice and shake again, or swap to a saltier rim to counter the sweetness without adding more liquid.
- It is not blue enough, what did I do wrong?
- Use a real blue curaçao with strong pigmentation and avoid cloudy ice, and strain into a clear chilled glass so the color reads clean and vivid.
- I do not have a cocktail shaker, what can I use?
- Use a mason jar with a tight lid, shake hard with ice, then strain through a fine sieve so you do not get ice chips.
- Can I make a frozen blue margarita?
- Blend the ingredients with 1 cup of pebble ice per serving until slushy, taste, and add a touch more lime if it feels flat since frozen drinks mute acidity.
- How do I scale this for a pitcher?
- Multiply the ingredients by 8, chill the mix, add 1 cup cold water for proper dilution, and pour over fresh ice with salted glasses right before serving.
- Why is my salt rim sliding off or clumping?
- Wet the rim with fresh lime, not water, and let excess drip for a few seconds before dipping into evenly spread salt so it adheres in a thin layer.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a bowl of salty tortilla chips and a quick pico or pair it with grilled shrimp skewers so the limey snap of the drink cuts through the char like a champ.
If you want a little drama, float a paper-thin jalapeno slice on top or rim with Tajin to add heat that makes the blue citrus pop even harder.
Reviews
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Lisa: good but a tad sweet for me. drier curacao option?.. 🫶
: Thanks for your feedback, Lisa! If you prefer it less sweet, you can try adding fresh lime juice next time.
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