This maple whiskey margarita cocktail is a delicious whiskey twist on the classic margarita cocktail. The flavors of Mexico and America are mixed into one irresistible drink with tangy lime juice, sweet maple syrup, tequila and smoky whiskey. It's an awesome cool whether sipper and the perfect cocktail for any barbecue!
Jump to:
- Easy Maple Whiskey Margarita Cocktail
- Why You Should Make It
- Rim the Glass with Salt
- Serve In A Coupe Or Rocks Glass
- Variations of the Maple Whiskey Margarita Cocktail
- What To Serve With Whiskey Margaritas
- Ingredients
- Step By Step Instructions
- Expert Tips For The Perfect Margarita
- Cocktail Making Equipment + Tools
- What is the alcohol content of a whiskey margarita?
- Make Ahead
- Related Recipes
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Easy Maple Whiskey Margarita Cocktail
I love homemade margaritas! They're a must-have for any Mexican themed evening and this richer tasting whiskey version is no exception. Serve them up at Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patricks day, Cinco de Mayo or any party with whiskey lovers!
As a cocktail enthusiast, I love experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to create unique and delicious cocktails. One of my new favorites is this maple whiskey margarita. It's a perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors.
Why You Should Make It
If you're a fan of classic margaritas, you'll probably love the whiskey margarita too. It's a refreshing and delicious cocktail that combines the tangy flavors of fresh lime juice, with tequila with the smoky taste of whiskey and a touch of sweetness from maple syrup.
It's a unique and unexpected twist on a typical margarita that will leave your guests wanting more. Plus, it's easy to make, so you can whip up a batch in no time.
Want more cocktails? Check out my classic Homemade Margaritas, Lavender Lemon Drop Martini, Best Empress Gin Cocktail Recipes, the refreshing Gin Mojito and the salty Classic Canadian Caesar Cocktail too! For more versions, try this Honey Dew Margarita or the Spicy Mango Margarita.
Hosting a Mexican themed evening? I've got some awesome homemade Mexican dishes you can pair with this too! Check out my Wild West Coast Shrimp Cocktail Mexican Style! (Coctel De Camarones, Albacore Tuna Ceviche, Fish Tacos With BC Cod and easy vegan Guacamole. As well, you'll find tons of Latin American flavor inspiration in my What To Serve With Ceviche page.
Rim the Glass with Salt
Rimming the glass with coarse salt is a classic margarita move, but it works just as well with the maple whiskey margarita cocktail too.
The salt adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the cocktail, and it looks great. To rim the glass, rub a lime wedge around the rim, then dip it into a plate of coarse salt. Alternatively, rub the edge of the glass with maple syrup instead of lime, then dip in the salt for a sweet and salty rim.
Serve In A Coupe Or Rocks Glass
For a pretty presentation, I like to serve my margarita in a stemmed margarita glass or coupe. (I love hunting for vintage coupes to serve them in!) This is great for more elegant dinners and parties. If you're serving up drinks at an outdoor barbecue, better to use a more sturdy rocks glass.
The whiskey margarita cocktail is traditionally served in a rocks glass, which is shorter and wider than a standard cocktail glass. The rocks glass is great for this cocktail because it allows you to enjoy the flavors and aromas of the cocktail without the ice melting too quickly. This glass is also more sturdy and won't tip as easily as the elegant stemmed glassware.
Variations of the Maple Whiskey Margarita Cocktail
A whiskey margarita is a versatile cocktail that can easily be customized to suit your taste preferences. Here are some variations to try:
- Kentucky Margarita - The Kentucky margarita uses American whiskey instead of bourbon whiskey. It's a perfect choice for real bourbon drinkers who want to try something new. This is similar to a Canadian whiskey margarita.
- Jameson Margarita (Irish Margarita)- The Jameson margarita is a variation that uses Jameson Irish whiskey instead of bourbon or rye whiskey. It's a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day or to add some Irish flair to any occasion.
- Whiskey Sour Margarita - The whiskey sour margarita is a variation that combines the flavors of a whiskey sour with a margarita. It's a perfect choice for those who like their cocktails a bit more tart. To make this one, use extra lime juice in place of tequila and add an egg white when shaking. Strain and serve in a coupe or rocks glass.
- Salty Maple Rim - Instead of using lime to rim the glass, dip the rim in maple syrup and then in salt for a sweet and salty rim.
- Blender Margaritas - Whether you have a Margaritaville, Vitamix or other blender, these are delicious as a blended margarita. Start with cold ingredients that have been pre chilled in the freezer for 1-3 hours. If possible, chill your blender jug too. Use 2 cups of crushed ice (cubed takes longer to blend and won't get to a thick consistency easily) for this recipe which makes 2 drinks.
- Use Agave Nectar Instead of Maple Syrup - If you don't have maple syrup, you can use agave nectar as a substitute. It will give the cocktail a similar sweetness without the maple flavor.
- Use Lemon Juice Instead of Lime Juice - If you don't have fresh lime juice, you can use fresh lemon juice instead. The cocktail will have a slightly different flavor, but it will still be delicious.
- Lemon Lime Soda - If you want to add a bit of fizz to your cocktail, you can use lemon lime soda instead of fresh lime juice. It will give the cocktail a slightly sweeter flavor and some extra bubbles.
What To Serve With Whiskey Margaritas
The Maple Whiskey Margarita Cocktail is a versatile cocktail that is easy to serve with food. They go particularly well with anything BBQ. Brown sugar marinated ribs, smoky grilled chicken, tender brisket, and any grilled seafood are all winning combinations.
And of course, these lime margaritas pair amazingly with any Mexican recipe. From classic carnitas to fish tacos, enchiladas and nachos to pozole, chiles rellenos, fajitas, sopaipillas and tamales. The sky is the limit!
Ingredients
Only a few minutes and a few flavorful ingredients stand between you these awesome margaritas!
- Tequila - The obvious but worth stating that the flavors in tequila really go spectacularly with lime so don't swap this ingredient for anything else.
- Whiskey - The twist in this rich, lovely cocktail, whiskey adds amazing depth of flavor to this drink. I've used Canadian whiskey but use your favorite, whether that is Irish whiskey, bourbon or rye whisky.
- Maple Syrup - This might seem odd but it takes the place of the sweetness from orange liqueur (Grand Marnier or Cointreau). It blends up smoothly and pairs well with whiskey and lime.
- Fresh Lime Juice - Another tip that takes this drink from ordinary to spectacular is using freshly squeezed juice. Boxed fresh juice in the cooler section is your next best bet. I don't recommend canned juice or syrup. Buy extra limes for garnishing with lime wedges, wheels or a slice of lime.
Step By Step Instructions
- Make sure you have all your ingredients handy, including good cold ice and coarse salt for the rims.
- To make a salted rim, cut a lime into wedges, make a slice through the middle of one wedge and run it around the rim of your margarita glasses. Quickly dip or roll the rims in the salt and set aside.
- Mix whiskey and maple syrup together until smooth.
- Add a generous amount of ice and then add all cocktail ingredients to the cocktail shaker. Place lid on and shake until cold and frosty. Alternatively you can stir these up in a large cup with ice if you don't have a shaker.
- Strain your Margaritas into the cocktail glasses and serve garnished with wheels or wedges of lime or other citrus for color. (Optional: add a large ice cube to each glass to keep your cocktail cold while you enjoy.)
Expert Tips For The Perfect Margarita
- Margaritas are best served very cold so use plenty of ice when mixing your drink and then pour it through a strainer into a glass. On a hot day, pour it over fresh ice in pre-chilled glasses to help keep it cold while you enjoy it.
- The larger the ice cubes, the longer they will keep your drink cold with minimal dilution.
- Use good whiskey or bourbon and tequila for the best flavor.
Cocktail Making Equipment + Tools
The following simple pieces of equipment make this cocktail creation a quick and fun project.
- Cocktail Shaker
- Citrus press or juicer
- Jigger or measuring cup
- Rocks glass or margarita glasses
- Plate for salt rimming
- Ice cube
If you love playing mixologist, it's great to invest in a few key items. Start with a cocktail shaker, Japanese bar spoon, jigger, muddler and a strainer or two (the Hawthorne, Julep, and a fine mesh strainer are commonly used). A citrus peeler and juicer also get used frequently for fresh juice and making citrus peel twists for the top of drinks.
Additionally, serving your cocktails in the proper style of glassware makes them that much more enjoyable. You can buy new or have fun hunting for vintage barware at thrift shops.
What is the alcohol content of a whiskey margarita?
This recipe contains 3 oz of alcohol per serving which is the same as that of a traditional Margarita. It comes in at about 20% alcohol by volume (abv).
To make it a little less strong, you can blend it with 1-2 cups of crushed ice in a high powered blender until it is a slushy consistency.
Make Ahead
You can pre mix these whiskey Margaritas without the ice and store in your refrigerator up to 2 days ahead. Once ready to serve, prepare glasses as per recipe. Add margarita mix to an ice filled shaker and shake until ice cold, strain into prepared glasses and serve.
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If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.
Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
Have a deliciously wonderful day!
Sabrina
📖 Recipe
Easy Maple Whiskey Margarita Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 oz Tequila
- 2 oz Rye whiskey
- 4 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz Maple syrup
- Coarse sea salt or kosher salt and a lime wedge for rims of glasses
- Cubed Ice You can sub crushed ice but it will melt more than cubed ice, adding slightly more water to your drink.
Instructions
- Rim the tops of two margarita or cocktail glasses with coarse salt by running a lime wedge around them and then pressing them into the salt-filled plate. Set glasses aside.
- In a small cup, blend whiskey and maple syrup until smooth.
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker, pour in tequila, lime and maple whiskey mixture, add lid and shake until ice cold.Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the tequila, lime, and maple whiskey mixture. Cover with a lid and shake until it's ice-cold. The shaker will begin to get frosty on the outside once it's very cold.
- Pour the Margarita through a strainer into prepared cocktail glasses. Garnish them with wheels or wedges of lime. Enjoy!
thesnowwoman
That sounds interesting and lovely!