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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    Grapefruit Margarita

    Published: Jun 15, 2017 · Modified: May 12, 2023 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 778 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe

    Make a grapefruit margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday, or for sipping poolside this summer. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice makes this cocktail bright, tart, and refreshing!

    Lowball glass filled with pink grapefruit margarita with a salted rim.

    Impress guests with homemade margaritas this summer - no store-bought mix required! This freshly squeezed grapefruit margarita is refreshing and tart - the perfect warm weather cocktail.

    Margaritas are simple to make and require only a few ingredients. Plus, they're easy to make for a crowd! Grab a few grapefruits, a bag of limes, tequila, and triple sec, and you're ready to get started.

    Serve grapefruit margaritas for your next Taco Tuesday with friends, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or while grilling in the backyard. They pair perfectly with Mexican grilled chicken. Make a few varieties for your next party - try our pineapple margarita too!

    Ingredients

    Making a grapefruit margarita in a metal shaker.
    • Grapefruit juice - Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice adds a bright, fresh, tart flavor. I highly recommend freshly squeezed over bottled juices - the flavor is flat in comparison. One cocktail will use about half a grapefruit (depending on size).
    • Lime juice - You'll need about one lime per cocktail (depending on size). Buy a few extra if you'd like to garnish with lime wedges.
    • Tequila - Use your favorite tequila - one that you enjoy the flavor of on its own. Otherwise, a bad-tasting tequila can ruin a perfectly good cocktail. Not sure where to start? Check out this article: Best Tequila for Margaritas. Tequila can also be substituted with mezcal to add a smoky flavor.
    • Triple sec - Feel free to use any orange liqueur you have on hand, like Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or orange curaçao.
    • Simple syrup - Can be substituted with agave nectar. The simple syrup can also be omitted entirely if you'd like a more tart cocktail.

    Simple syrup

    If you'd like a slightly sweeter margarita, I suggest adding a little simple syrup or agave nectar.

    Simple syrup is made with just two ingredients - granulated sugar and water. Since granulated sugar does not dissolve easily into cold beverages, simple syrup is a must for cocktails.

    If you don't have simple syrup on hand, it's easy to make in just a few minutes at home. 

    In a saucepan over medium heat, add a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar. To make a large batch, you'd add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar.

    Stir and simmer until your sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool before adding to your cocktail. Store any extra simple syrup in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Homemade simple syrup will keep for at least 1 month. 

    Overhead closeup view of a grapefruit margarita with a salted rim and wedge of grapefruit.

    Paloma vs margarita

    If you've heard of a paloma before, you may be thinking - is a grapefruit margarita just a paloma in disguise? Here's the difference between these two cocktails.

    Both cocktails are made with tequila and lime. Apart from that?:

    • A paloma is made with grapefruit juice and club soda, or grapefruit soda, and tastes a bit lighter and less sweet than a margarita.
    • A margarita includes orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec, and sometimes simple syrup or agave nectar.

    While this margarita is made with grapefruit juice, it doesn't include the light, effervescent quality of grapefruit soda or club soda, and does include the traditional orange flavor of triple sec.

    Drink garnishes

    Before juicing your grapefruit and lime, slice a wedge or wheel to use as a garnish.

    Want to add a sugar or salt rim? Use a lime or grapefruit wedge to wet the edge of your glass. Pour some kosher salt or granulated sugar into a shallow bowl. Then, dip the glass to coat.

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    📖 Recipe

    Lowball glass filled with pink grapefruit margarita with a salted rim.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 reviews

    Grapefruit Margarita

    Make a grapefruit margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday, or for sipping poolside this summer. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice makes this cocktail bright, tart, and refreshing!
    Prep Time5 minutes minutes
    Total Time5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 drink
    Calories: 229kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 3 ounces grapefruit juice
    • 1 ounce lime juice
    • 1 ½ ounces tequila
    • ¾ ounce triple sec
    • 1 teaspoon simple syrup, or agave nectar, optional

    Instructions

    • Optional: Pour a thin layer of kosher salt into a shallow bowl. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glasses and dip into salt to coat. Set aside.
    • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and simple syrup. Shake until combined.
    • Fill glasses with ice. Pour margarita over ice and serve immediately. Garnish with lime or grapefruit wedge as desired.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • Stainless Steel Double Jigger
    • Lowball Glasses
    • Lemon Juicer
    • Zwilling Pro Chef's Knife

    Notes

    • You'll need about half of one grapefruit and one lime per cocktail. 
    • Freshly squeezed juice is highly recommended for best flavor. Bottled juices taste flat in comparison to the bright flavor of freshly squeezed juice.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 1drink | Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 138mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin C: 31.4mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American

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    1. Cari

      March 10, 2023 at 10:26 pm

      Very refreshing margarita! Thank you!!

      Reply
    2. Amy

      June 19, 2020 at 9:29 pm

      These were great, so light and fresh!

      Reply

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    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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