A Grapefruit Margarita is a recipe served with love from my back porch. Sorry kitchen table—you’ve been replaced.
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While the kitchen table can boast its position as the heartbeat of our home most of the year, in precious spring and summer, I play favorites, and the porch is my sacred spot.
If you came to visit me, we’ll drag the kitchen chairs outside, eat too copious amounts of chips with the Best Homemade Guacamole, and help ourselves to a big pitcher of grapefruit margaritas.
After the sun goes down, we’ll wrap ourselves in blankets and ignore the cool evening air.
Just when you should be heading home, I’ll offer to pour us another round (perhaps a Spicy Grapefruit Marg this time around). Please say yes.
5 Star Review
“These are so very good–equal parts refreshing and boozy. My family and I enjoyed a pitcher of these this evening and everyone loved them.”
— Jennie —
How to Make Grapefruit Margaritas
Though I believe a well-made classic margarita (like this Skinny Margarita) always deserves the reaction of ahhhhhhh, today’s pink grapefruit margarita is a flirty, fresh twist on the classic.
The Ingredients
- Grapefruit Juice. Grapefruit juice adds an extra dimension of citrusy tartness.
- Lime Juice. For some classic margarita flavor and pucker.
TIP!
I’m an unapologetic margarita snob. When making these grapefruit margaritas (or this St. Germain Margarita recipe), only use freshly squeezed fruit juice, if possible.
- Never ever use the lime juice that comes in those plastic little bottles. It will taste flat and completely unlike the vibrant, fresh, back porch-worthy grapefruit margarita we are after.
- If you must, bottled grapefruit juice is OK (as long as it’s the kind that’s found in the refrigerated section and not in the aisle with the unrefrigerated juice). I like Simply Grapefruit.
- Silver Tequila. My favorite type of tequila for any fruit-based margarita (like this Skinny Blackberry Margarita recipe). On some brands, it’s labeled as “blanco” tequila.
- Orange Liqueur. A splash of Triple Sec or Grand Marnier for sweetness and an added layer of bright citrus flavor.
- Club Soda. For a finishing splash of bubbly fun (also how I like to finish these Peach Margaritas).
The Directions
- Rim a glass with salt and sugar.
- Fill with the desired amount of ice.
- Combine the cocktail ingredients in a cocktail shaker topped off with ice, close, and shake vigorously.
- Strain into the prepared glass, and top with a splash of club soda.
- Garnish with lime and grapefruit wedges. ENJOY!
To warm evenings and joyful celebrations filled to the brim with fizzy grapefruit margaritas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Note that I tend to like my margaritas on the tart side. If this recipe has too much pucker for your taste, add a half teaspoon or so of light agave to reach your desired level of sweetness.
Stir all of the ingredients except for the club soda together in a pitcher and refrigerate. When ready to serve, fill individual glasses with ice, pour in the margarita mixture, then top each glass with a splash of club soda. Alternatively, you can add ice and the club soda to the whole pitcher just before serving.
This cocktail is VERY similar to a Paloma—another classic Mexican tequila-based cocktail. This cocktail differs in that a classic Paloma typically is made with a grapefruit-flavored soda (like Squirt) rather than fresh grapefruit juice. Although, sometimes fresh juice is added. Additionally, Palomas don’t usually contain orange liqueur. Instead, they rely on the grapefruit soda to sweeten the drink.
Grapefruit Margarita
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Ingredients
For each margarita:
- 3 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, about 1/2 large grapefruit
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice, about 1 large lime
- 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
- ½ ounce orange liqueur such as triple sec or Grand Marnier
- Splash club soda
For the rims and garnish:
- 1 part kosher salt
- 1 part granulated sugar
- Lime wedges for garnish
- Small grapefruit wedges for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the glasses: Place the sugar and salt on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the edge of the glasses to moisten them, then tap the edges of the glass in the sugar/salt mixture so that it sticks.
- Fill with the desired amount of ice and set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker or jar with a tightly fitting lid, add the lime juice, grapefruit juice, tequila, and triple sec. Top off the shaker with ice, then close the lid and shake vigorously.
- Strain margarita into the prepared glasses.
- Top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with lime and grapefruit wedges. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- PITCHER RECIPE: Stir all of the ingredients except for the club soda together in a pitcher and refrigerate. When ready to serve, fill individual glasses with ice, pour in the margarita mixture, then top each glass with a splash of club soda. Alternatively, you can add ice and the club soda to the whole pitcher just before serving.
- NOTE: The recipe as written will yield a more tart margarita. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add a half teaspoon of light agave nectar, to taste.
Nutrition
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This is one of my favorite drinks! I also love Deep Eddy ruby red vodka and 1/2 shot elderflower liquer in place of the other alcohols here, and a little less lime. It is so delicious!
Katie, that sounds PHENOMENAL. Thanks for the great suggestion. Cheers!
These are so very good–equal parts refreshing and boozy. My family and I enjoyed a pitcher of these this evening and everyone loved them. Thanks for the great recipe, Erin!
I’m so so excited to hear that Jennie! Thanks for trying the recipe and letting me know. Cheers!
Good cocktail! Thank you!
I enhanced with a sparkling pink grapefruit like Fever Tree, or even Fresca. It brings the grapefruit up a level.
So glad to hear, thank you J!