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Home » Drink » Cocktail » Winter Margarita

Winter Margarita

Created: December 10, 2020 Updated: April 21, 2022 by Lyuba Brooke 6 Comments *This post may contain affiliate links. Read More...

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Winter Margarita is a great cocktail to enjoy in the winter months and any other time of the year. This Margarita combines gold tequila with tangy and slightly sweet pomegranate and cranberry juices and a touch of orange liqueur. It’s a great cocktail for festive holiday parties or just because!

side top view of the margarita cocktail in a glass garnished with pomegranate seeds

If your anything like me, you welcome margaritas no matter what time of the year it is. You also don’t stick to just one flavor and recipe for a margarita. It’s a great cocktail that you can modify and customize to suit any occasion. Welcome to the versatility of the MARGARITA!

This Winter Margarita is the culmination of both my need to escape, the sometimes harsh, cold of a winter’s evening and my urge to create something festive at the same time.  Although this isn’t your typical holiday beverage it surely adds to the celebration.

Combining the simplicity of the classic margarita with pomegranate and cranberry flavors, much like other margaritas, is a drink that can get the celebration well on it’s way to becoming a holiday epic. It will add a little something that you may have not known was missing from your holiday cocktail menu.

Two full glasses side by side filled with bright red margarita cocktail

Gold Tequila vs. Silver Tequila

The difference between Gold and Silver Tequila lays in how they are produced. Silver tequila, (sometimes called white tequila,) is distilled in stainless steel containers using a concentration of nearly 100% agave.

Gold Tequila uses a concentration less than 100% of agave that is then mixed with alcohol. This technique of mixing the agave with alcohol lends to a much smoother taste as opposed to the harsh finish of the 100% agave concentration.

ingredients measures in glasses for the cocktail with open pomegranate next to it

Ingredients:

  • Pomegranate Juice – Filled with antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium, pomegranate juice is a powerhouse among juices!
  • Cranberry Juice – One of the most recognizable flavors of the holiday season and also filled with health benefits like vitamin C, high in antioxidants, and anthocyanins.
  • Gold Tequila – For the best smooth taste, use gold tequila.
  • Orange Liquor – Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec will work well here. Cointreau and Grand Marnier are considered top shelf and will cost more, while Triple Sec is your cheaper option but less pronounced orange flavor.
  • Lime Juice – Because every margarita needs a little lime!
  • Course sea salt – Salt is always the best flavor kick for a margarita. Don’t forget to lick the salt before you take a sip!

Where Can I Buy Pomegranate Juice?

Pomegranate juice is pretty easy to find in produce departments in most local grocery stores. It is usually located with refrigerated juices and the most common brand is POM.

pouring the red cocktail into glass with ice and salt rim

How to Make a Winter Margarita:

Once you are able to brave the harsh winter weather and gather up all of the necessary ingredients, it’s time to make the cocktail. Combine all the liquid elements into a cocktail shaker and shake them well, I mean vigorously! You want to make sure those liquid goodies are combined well to maximize the smooth flavor.

To Make the Salt Rim: Take a slice of lime and rub the rim of the pint glass. It will help your salt adhere to the rim and add a little bite of lime flavor. Dip the rim of the glass into some coarse salt all around.

After you’ve salted the rim, add as much ice to the glass as you want. Next your gonna take Pandora’s Box…. I mean your shaker tin and gently pour your well blended Margarita mixture into the glass. 

When your all done, you may choose to garnish your cocktail with a freshly sliced lime. Some people may think it just gets in the way, but I for one like to add an extra bite of lime occasionally!

Can I use sugar instead of salt on the rim?

While that is a personal preference, I highly recommend you try salt first. Salt provides the perfect balance to the slight sweetness and tartness to this winter cocktail. If you just don’t like the salt, you may use sugar.

tall glass with margarita cocktail and pomegranate lime and cranberries around

FEW MORE MARGARITA RECIEPS

Anytime you’re making a classic margarita, you should try to make homemade margarita mix as well. It will truly give you the best flavor!

Orange Jalapeno Margarita is getting more and more popular and that’s because of the sweet and spicy citrus flavors.

Anytime you want a frozen margarita, think of summer and Watermelon Frozen Margaritas.

view from the top of the cocktail in the glass garnished with pomegranate seeds

If you made any of my recipes and shared them on Instagram, make sure to tag me @willcookforsmiles and #willcookforsmiles so I can see all the things you tried!

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view from the top of the cocktail in the glass garnished with pomegranate seeds

Winter Margarita

Winter Margarita is a great cocktail that combines gold tequila with tangy and slightly sweet pomegranate and cranberry juices and a touch of orange liqueur.
4.50 from 2 votes
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Course: cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 279kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 2 oz pomegranate juice
  • 2 oz cranberry juice
  • 2 oz gold tequila
  • 1 oz orange liqueur
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • coarse salt for the rim
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients except salt into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for a few seconds to combine.
  • Rub a slice of lime over the rim of a pint glass and dip it in coarse salt all around.
  • Add as much ice to the pint glass as you would like and pour in the margarita mixture.
  • Garnish it with a slice of lime if you wish and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 165mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin C: 9mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles
collage of two images of winter margarita cocktail in a glass up close and further away with title in the middle

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

2.3K shares

Filed Under: Cocktail, Drink, New Year's, Tequila

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Rita says

    December 24, 2022 at 10:05 am

    5 stars
    I made this for a Christmas party last weekend and it was a huge hit! Thanks for the recipe! 😊

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      December 24, 2022 at 11:20 am

      I am so glad you liked it, Rita!

      Reply
  2. Chelsea says

    November 24, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    4 stars
    Great recipe! I made these for thanksgiving. I added about a tablespoon of agave nectar to mine and thought it was delicious!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      November 25, 2022 at 11:14 am

      So glad you liked it, Chelsea!

      Reply
  3. Christine Y says

    November 4, 2021 at 4:44 pm

    I’m wondering if you have a non-alcoholic version of this beverage. It looks delicious. Do you think we could leave out the alcohol and substitute something like ginger ale? Should we add a touch of orange juice in place of the orange liqueur? Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      November 8, 2021 at 11:55 am

      You could leave out the alcohol and add a squeeze of fresh orange to it and maybe a little sprite or tonic. It won’t taste like a margarita but it would be a tasty Christmas punch.

      Reply

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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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