This drink proves why cranberry and rosemary are a perfect match.
The Rosemary-Cranberry Margarita is a wintery riff on a classic Margarita that features a rosemary-infused simple syrup, blanco tequila, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. The drink is served in a glass rimmed with a sugar-salt mixture that is flavored with fresh rosemary leaves.
While often a summertime go-to, Margaritas are a refreshing tequila cocktail that should be enjoyed year-round. This winter-inspired riff on a classic by bartender and cocktail content creator Kaitlyn Stewart combines traditional Margarita ingredients with the cozy flavors of tart cranberry and woodsy rosemary.
The rosemary flavor in this drink comes from a homemade simple syrup that is infused with whole rosemary sprigs. While the syrup offers plenty of herbaceous flavor, you can also infuse the tequila with rosemary for just a few hours to add extra earthy, peppery notes. Rosemary-infused simple syrup can be made up to five days in advance; remove rosemary sprigs before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The Rosemary-Cranberry Margarita is can be easily scaled up and batched for a crowd a few days in advance of serving. “Fresh citrus is always ideal to use when making drinks, batched or not,” says Stewart. “That being said, citrus does have shelf life once juiced. If you are adding fresh juice to a batched cocktail, I would suggest consuming the batch within a week. After a week, the citrus juice will not be at its best.”
Why the Rosemary-Cranberry Margarita works
This riff on a classic Margarita is all about combining sweet and tart ingredients in balance with one another. Blanco tequila has a sweet undertone with fresh citrusy aromas as well, and the orange liqueur doubles down on the citrus-peel qualities in the tequila.
Freshly squeezed lime juice adds bracing acidity, and unsweetened cranberry juice (we like the Lakewood brand) lets you customize the sweetness level of the cocktail to your own preferences. This cocktail can also be served frozen: Add the ingredients to a blender, and process with ice.
