Make a grapefruit margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or for sipping poolside this summer. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice makes this cocktail bright, tart, and refreshing!
Recipe summary
Flavor: Refreshing, fruity, tangy
Key ingredients: Fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.
Makes: 1 drink
Similar to: Pineapple Margarita and Watermelon Cocktail
Jump to:
Ingredients and substitutions
- Grapefruit juice - Fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice adds a bright, fresh, tart flavor. I recommend freshly squeezed over bottled juices, which taste flat in comparison. One cocktail uses about half a grapefruit (depending on size). Want to make different fruit flavors? Try substituting with orange juice or pineapple juice.
- 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 for this recipe. A bad-tasting or cheap 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 for a smoky flavor.
- Triple sec - Feel free to use any orange liqueur you have on hand, like Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or orange curaçao.
How to make a margarita
- Rub the rim of your glass with a lime or grapefruit wedge, then press into a thin layer of kosher salt in a shallow bowl to coat.
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Fill with margarita ingredients, cover, and shake until chilled and combined.
- Pour over ice in your prepared glass and serve.
Tips and tricks
Use a cocktail shaker - If you plan on making your own cocktails at home, I suggest investing in a simple cocktail shaker, like this cocktail shaker on Amazon. Add ice to a cocktail shaker, then add your cocktail ingredients. Shake until mixed and chilled, then pour over ice in a lowball glass.
Prefer a sweeter cocktail? - Add simple syrup or agave to your margarita as desired.
To make simple syrup - Add sugar and water at a 1:1 ratio (ex: ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water) in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute, or until all sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow your simple syrup to cool before adding to your cocktail.
Frequently asked questions
A classic margarita is made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. Some margaritas also include simple syrup and other fruit juices for sweetness.
A lime wedge or slice, a grapefruit wedge, and a salt or sugar rim are classic margarita garnishes. You could also add a jalapeno slice, a sprig of mint, or a tajin rim.
Both cocktails are made with tequila and lime. A paloma is prepared with grapefruit juice and club soda, or a grapefruit soda, and has a light, effervescent quality. A grapefruit margarita is made with grapefruit juice and orange liqueur (like Cointreau or triple sec) for a stronger citrus flavor.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Grapefruit Margarita
Ingredients
- 3 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1.5 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
Notes
- Fruit: You'll need about half of one grapefruit and one lime per cocktail.
- Squeeze it fresh: Freshly squeezed juice has the best flavor. Bottled juices taste flat in comparison to the bright flavor of freshly squeezed juice.
This is such a refreshing summer cocktail. This is going on my favorites list! I used agave nectar instead of simple syrup and used fresh squeezed juice like the recipe recommends. Add this to your favorite margarita recipes!
I cheated and used bottle grapefruit juice, but I love it!! Very refreshing and different!!
Very refreshing margarita! Thank you!!
These were great, so light and fresh!