If you love to make a splash with a cool-looking cocktail that’s a little bit out of the ordinary, this easy Blue Margarita recipe definitely deserves a place of honour on your DIY drinks list. Learning how to make Blue Margaritas is easy as pie, and the results of this simple recipe is almost always a big hit with newbies and cocktail aficionados alike.
Blue Margarita Recipe
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour your tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, and simple syrup
02
2.
Shake well and pour everything through a strainer into a glass with a salted rim
03
3.
Garnish to your taste and serve
What is Blue Curaçao?
Full of zesty flavours and wonderfully refreshing from the very first sip, the Blue Margarita is also sometimes referred to as the Electric Margarita or Moonlight Margarita due to its distinctive colour. This, of course, is the result of the blue curaçao (pronounced ‘cure-a-sow’) liqueur, which is one of the main cocktail ingredients. Curaçao is an orange liqueur alternative to Grand Marnier, made from an orange varietal called laraha grown on the Dutch island of Curaçao. The blue curaçao liqueur is dyed blue and gives our Blue Margarita recipe it’s signature blue colour.
How to make a Blue Margarita
Making our Blue Margarita recipe could not be simpler. The magic happens when all the ingredients are shaken over ice briefly. No fancy bar kit is needed, a mason jar or a cocktail shaker is perfect. Pour it into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Dip the cold (damp) glass into a saucer of sea salt. Be fancy, mix in a little lime zest to the salt and only dip one side of the glass.
Blue Margarita variations
If you want to play around with Blue Margarita ingredients to create your own version of this popular drink, there are a few exciting tweaks you can make. Here are a few ideas:
Swap the tequila for vodka. Although a Margarita is traditionally made with tequila, you can also quite easily build this drink on vodka as your spirit base. In fact, if you will be serving drinks to cocktail newbies, a vodka-based drink could very well be more to their liking since the flavour profile is quite neutral.
Try orange or pineapple juice instead of lime. If you want to take the Blue Margarita into a sweeter space, try using orange or pineapple juice instead of lime. It might affect the drink‘s colour, so you may need to call it a Green Margarita rather than a blue, depending on what transpires when you pour the drink for your guests…
Use another orange-flavoured liqueur. If you love the taste of a Blue Margarita but don’t feel too sure about the bright-blue hue, you can use a different other orange-flavoured liqueur like Grand Marnier or triple sec, if you have it to hand. This will also mean that the drink won’t live up to its original name, so you may need to get creative and dream up a new moniker for your signature drink.
Where did the Blue Margarita come from?
The Blue Margarita’s story is tied to the rise of colourful, playful cocktails that became popular in the mid-20th century. While its origins aren’t as clear as the classic Margarita, many credit its invention to the desire to add visual appeal to the standard recipe. Blue curaçao became a game-changer, giving cocktails a striking look that immediately grabs attention. These days, it’s a hit at parties where you want something eye-catching and different from the crowd.
Read next: What is the Best Margarita Recipe? 10 Ways to Make a Margarita
Can you make a Blue Margarita without curaçao?
If you’re looking to make a Blue Margarita but don’t have curaçao on hand, don’t worry! You can substitute it with any orange-flavoured liqueur like Grand Marnier or triple sec. However, keep in mind that while the taste remains orange-forward, the colour of the cocktail will change—so you might have to settle for a Margarita that’s more golden or clear.
How to elevate your garnish game
While a simple lime wedge is always a solid choice, why not add a little extra flair? Try an orange twist for a hint of sweetness or add a maraschino cherry for a retro vibe. For something unexpected, garnish with edible flowers—they’ll add a pop of colour that contrasts beautifully with the electric blue cocktail. It’s all about presentation, and this drink gives you the chance to wow your guests before they even take a sip.
Also see: Ultimate Guide to Edible Flowers for Cocktail Garnishes
Blue Margarita vs. classic Margarita
While both the Blue Margarita and the classic Margarita share tequila and lime juice as key ingredients, the flavour profiles differ. The classic Margarita leans into the tartness of lime with the smooth kick of tequila, but the Blue Margarita introduces a sweeter, slightly tropical orange note thanks to the curaçao. If you’re torn between the two, think about the occasion. Going bold and colourful? Blue Margarita all the way. Prefer a classic taste? Stick to the original.
More cocktails to try if you love a Blue Margarita
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Blue curaçao syrup is a non-alcoholic, highly concentrated syrup that's tinted blue and orange flavoured. It's an ideal pick if you're wanting to turn this Marg into a mocktail.
Sip our blue margarita slowly, it's a spirit-forward drink, made with 40% ABV tequila and 30% ABV curaçao. Its boozy content sits around 20-25 percent ABV. Not as strong as a shot of tequila, but double a glass of vino.
Blue curaçao is a bitter orange liqueur not too dissimilar to Grand Marnier, although much sweeter, which makes the bitter orange profile more subtle.
Our Blue Marg calls for an unaged clear or blanco tequila; one that doesn't add any colour like some of the aged ones. We favour a top-quality tequila like an Espolòn Tequila Blanco. It's clean, zesty flavours (with pineapple notes) are perfect for this cocktail. It's made from 100% pure Blue Weber agave, no nasties included. You're less likely to end up with a sore head when you use a decent tequila for this Blue Marg.
Our Blue Marg contains a single shot of Espolon Tequila Blanco, but we mustn't forget our Margarita also contains a shot of blue curaçao.
Absolutely! Just toss all your ingredients into a blender with some ice, blend until smooth, and you’ve got a frozen version. It’s the perfect drink for a sunny day or when you want to make your cocktail feel extra fancy.
