Blackberry Margarita Recipe

Tart berries add a vibrant color to this refreshing classic.

By
Kelly Carámbula
Kelly Carámbula is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kelly Carámbula

Kelly Carámbula is an artist and sculptor based in San Francisco. Kelly was the designer and publisher behind Remedy Quarterly (2009–2018), a magazine about food memories and the recipes that inspire them, as well as an award-winning food blogger at The Best Remedy.

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Updated May 24, 2024
Side view of a blackberry margarita.

Serious Eats / Kelly Carámbula

Why It Works

  • Tart blackberries are perfectly at home in this classic cocktail, adding to the acidity of the lime juice without throwing the drink off-balance.
  • Muddling the berries, mixing the cocktail, and then pouring it through a fine-mesh strainer is a simple and effective way to add blackberry flavor to the drink.

The steamy months of summer seem like they're made just to give us a reason to drink margaritas. The cool, citrusy cocktail garnished with a rim of glittering salt is one of the best ways to forget about the temperature and get lost in good times.

Margaritas are also a great way to use up some of that fresh fruit from the market—especially fruits with a hint of tartness. Blackberries add deep berry flavor and a vibrant red color to this margarita. The salted rim provides the perfect contrast to the sweet and tart citrus and berry flavors while the blackberry garnish helps dress this drink up.

August 2011

Recipe Details

Blackberry Margarita Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 serving

Ingredients

For Rim:

  • Small slice lime

  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt

For Cocktail:

  • 5 ripe blackberries

  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 1 1/2 ounces 100% agave tequila

  • 1/2 ounce Cointreau

  • 1/8 to 1/4 ounce agave nectar (to taste)

  • Garnish: 2 blackberries, wooden skewer

Directions

  1. Pour the salt onto a plate in an even layer. Rub a slice of lime around the outside rim of the glass, then rotate the edge of the glass in the salt until the entire rim is covered in salt. Set aside.

  2. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries until completely mashed. Add lime juice, tequila, Contreau, and agave nectar to taste. Fill shaker with ice and shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds.

  3. Add 1 large ice cube to salt-rimmed serving glass. Using a mini fine-mesh strainer in addition to a cocktail strainer, pour the margarita into serving glass. Garnish with a few blackberries on a skewer.

Special Equipment

Muddler, cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer, mini fine-mesh strainer, skewer

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
181Calories
0gFat
14gCarbs
1gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories181
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 316mg14%
Total Carbohydrate 14g5%
Dietary Fiber 3g12%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 20mg98%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 122mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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