Members get FREE Delivery on metro orders $149+ (T&Cs apply*)
When life gives you cherries, follow our lead and put a festive twist on the classic Marg.
About the cocktail
We all know the Margarita is a delicious drink. Tequila and lime are a match made in cocktail heaven, and this simple combination has inspired many a riff, from Blood Orange and Spicy Pineapple to Lemon Sherbet, Pineapple and Coconut and so many more. But when summer rolls around and cherries are at their best – and cheapest – and that well-meaning relative turns up with a whole box of them, there’s only one thing for it – the Cherry Margarita. This super Christmassy cocktail lifts the traditional Marg to new festive heights. Using the Tommy’s Margarita base recipe, which switches the triple sec for agave syrup, this is a bright cocktail that effortlessly balances sweet with tart and salty. It delivers a whole load of freshness and it’s very pretty in pink, too.
Ingredients
3 fresh, pitted cherries 50mL reposado or añejo tequila 25mL fresh lime juice 15mL agave syrup Garnish: lime and salt for glass rim, plus extra cherry, stem on
Method
Prep your glass by rubbing half a lime around the rim and dipping it in a bowl of salt Add your three cherries to a cocktail shaker and muddle well Add the remaining ingredients and cubed ice, seal the shaker and shake to chill and dilute the mix until the outside of the tin is frosty Add fresh ice to your prepped glass and carefully strain your cocktail over Garnish with the remaining cherry
Dan’s top tips
The base recipe used here is a Tommy’s Margarita, but if you prefer a more traditional Marg, the addition of cherries will also work in your go-to recipe. You might find that playing around with triple sec and sugar syrup gives you even more room to move when it comes to tweaking the flavours here. That’s the beauty of making cocktails at home, after all. Make like a bartender and play with all the elements, whether that’s switching up the ratios, going big on the garnishes (you have all those cherries – get creative!) and experimenting to see how you – and your guests – like this one best. You’ll see that we’ve suggested using aged tequila here – either reposado or añejo – as this will give the drink a more complex, richer profile. But if you’re more of a blanco-or-bust tequila fan, that will also work nicely. You could even try mezcal to take this Cherry Marg in a smokier direction. And if you’re wondering when to dazzle your guests with this banging cocktail, we think it’s made for the Christmas table and it work beautifully with all those incredible leftovers over the lazy days that follow. Festive heaven.
