For the best grapefruit margarita, make sure you only use freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice. Bottled juice is widely available, but the flavor often tastes flatter when compared to freshly squeezed juice at home.
Make sure you choose the right grapefruit for the cocktail too, as the flavors of different styles can vary widely. Pink grapefruit tends to be sweeter and less bitter than white grapefruit and better for this cocktail. If you have any leftover grapefruit after making this cocktail, we have a selection of 25 easy grapefruit recipes to choose from to make sure none goes to waste.
When shaking the ingredients, make sure you shake hard for a short time. You want to ensure the ingredients have enough time to combine and chill without over-diluting. Once the outside of the shaker feels cold to the touch it should be ready to strain.
Variations (Spicy, Smoky, etc.)
Margaritas can be twisted in a variety of ways and it is easy to add spicy and smoky notes to this grapefruit margarita recipe above. For a spicy take, muddle three slices of jalapeño peppers in the cocktail shaker with the rest of the ingredients. You could also use chili-salt to rim the glass instead of classic salt for a spicy kick.
Mezcal is a simple trick to bring smoky notes to your grapefruit margarita. Replace half of the tequila in the recipe above with your chosen mezcal, and enhance the smoky notes even further with a grilled grapefruit wedge. Alcohol content will vary from brand to brand, so it’s worth being aware that the differing styles you choose will affect the final level of alcohol in the drink.
Garnish and Serving Tips
This grapefruit margarita is best served with a grapefruit wedge or slice for a garnish, to highlight the fruity notes of the cocktail. A rosemary sprig adds a light, herbal note to the drink that’s particularly suited to winter menus.
Batch Preparation and Storage
To batch this drink for a large party, you can make the mixture ahead of time. Multiply the recipe above for the desired number of servings, and mix the various ingredients together to store in the fridge until ready to shake and serve. It’s also easiest if you pre-rim the glasses with salt and chill them in advance of guests arriving.
Tequila cocktails are brilliant party drinks and for more inspiration on how to use this agave-based spirit, take a look at our selection of the top 15 tequila cocktails.
Intended for ages 21+. Please drink responsibly.
