If you love a drink with some twinkle in the mix, we’d like to introduce you to the dazzling Champagne Margarita. Radiant and beaming, with plenty of citrus zest and a suave tequila backbone, this tempting cocktail can always be counted on to get the party started. Part French, part Mexican, and all-out gorgeous, it’s a must-try for tequila lovers and Champagne fans alike!
Champagne Margarita
PREP TIME 2 min
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Combine the orange liqueur, tequila, and lime juice in a mixing glass with ice, and stir well to chill
02
2.
Strain into a serving glass, top it off with your choice of Champagne or Prosecco, and garnish with a lime wedge
Who dreamed up the Champagne Margarita recipe?
The sparkly Champagne Margarita is the effervescent descendant of the classic Margarita, one of the cocktails with the most hotly disputed origin stories of all time. And when we say stories, we mean plural, because there are a bunch!
Some say that a famous Texas socialite Margaret Sames (also called Margarita) stirred up the first version of this cocktail at a house party in Mexico in the 1940s. Others believe it was first shaken up for actress Rita Hayworth (whose real name was Margaret) when she visited Tijuana in the same decade.
Whatever the case may be, it’s been a classic cocktail template since at least the 1940s, and we are quite smitten with this romantic take on the original.
More Margaritas to try if you love tequila
If the Margarita with Champagne is everything you adore in a drink, there are a few other tequila summer cocktails you’ve got to try. Here are a few of our favourites:
Pink Champagne Margarita
To make a pretty pink Champagne Margarita, do one of two things. Either charge the drink with half Champagne and half pink lemonade or use a rosé Champagne instead. Using lemonade will result in a lighter drink, which is often nice for daytime celebrations.
Lime Margarita
Ah, the true-blue original Lime Margarita. This classic drink is the base that inspired all the others on our list, and we really love the simplicity of this recipe. Best of all, once you have the basic ingredients (Espolòn Tequila Blanco and Grand Marnier) in your liquor cabinet, you can conjure up a bunch of other amazing drinks!
Frozen Mango Margarita
Made with a winning combination of mango, lime, and tequila, this Frozen Mango Margarita will definitely have your guests coming back for refills. Fruity Margaritas like this one make a delicious alternative to the much-loved classic recipe and this frosty drink will keep you cool on a balmy summer day.
Apple Margarita
When everyone else is baking pies and making sauce at the height of apple season, we love using fresh apple juice to shake up a sweetly tart Apple Margarita that tastes like walking through a dew-dappled orchard (with a bit of a kick).
Margarita Mocktail
Our Margarita mocktail recipe is super simple to pull together. It’s a matter of shaking freshly squeezed lime, lemon, and orange juice with a little olive brine over ice. You can sweeten it with a little agave nectar and top it up with soda water for some fizz.
Spicy Margarita
Adding some spice to your margarita is a lot easier than you might think. Our Spicy Margarita recipe uses the same classic ingredients as a Lime Margarita and results in a harmonious balance of sweet, tart, sour, and spicy.
Blue Margarita
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 curacao (pronounced ‘cure-a-sow’) liqueur, which is one of the main cocktail ingredients.
When to serve Champagne Margaritas
We love to pour Margarita Champagne cocktails whenever we’re feeling in a festive mood that calls for a bit of bubbles. Here are a few occasions when this cocktail always *pops*:
- Valentine’s Day (perfect for hopeless romantics)
- Mexican-themed parties (it’s bubbly but it gives ¡Salud! energy)
- Global Champagne Day, celebrated every year on the fourth Friday in October
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
An un-aged Blanco tequila is a good option for a Champagne Margarita. It has a captivating taste profile that weaves together beautiful notes of agave, green herbs, and pepper with a slightly sweet finish.
To make a salt rim for a Margarita, wet the rim of the glass with a lime wedge. Spread salt on a plate, and roll the rim of the glass in the salt to coat. Add your Margarita to the glass, and serve!
