I absolutely love pink lemonade. Regular lemonade is OK, sure, but the pink version? Delicious. Naturally, it’s also fantastic in a cocktail – which is why you’re going to love this pink lemonade margarita recipe. It’s refreshing for summer, or great anytime of the year too.
I mean really, who doesn’t love boozy pink lemonade?
With a mix of sweet and salty you’ll feel like you’re sipping in paradise, even if you’re really only on your backyard patio.
What Makes This Pink Lemonade Margarita So Refreshing
There is something to be said about enjoying a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. Even better than that, though, is the grown up version – which is what you’re getting here.
Besides the pink lemonade, this cocktail uses plenty of ice to chill the drink and is garnished with mint leaves. While the mint doesn’t add a strong flavor, that subtle hint really steps up the refreshing factor when you take your first sip.
In true margarita fashion you’ll be combining pink lemonade (that’s your citrus) with tequila and triple sec. No expensive vacation needed here.
Not a Traditional Margarita: Perfect for Summer Sipping
This recipe breaks the classic 3-2-1 rule for making margaritas, which is another reason you’ll find it a bit more refreshing (and hydrating) than your classic margarita recipe. Of course, some people also swear by other ratios – and to be honest, margaritas are forgiving.
That being said, normally the tequila does the heavy lifting in a margarita recipe. If you prefer your drinks on the sweeter side, though, then you’ll appreciate the extra pink lemonade (which replaces lime juice) in this cocktail.
What Type of Alcohol Do I Use in a Pink Lemonade Margarita?
I want to touch on this quickly before you get down to the recipe because I find that the right booze makes or breaks a margarita. Unlike vodka, for example, tequila can have a distinctive flavor depending on the brand, variety, and age. Triple Sec also comes in a bunch of varieties – and let me tell you, they’re not all created equal.
Tequila
In our pictures you’ll see 1921 tequila cream. This award winning tequila is a sweet and creamy Blanco, which adds a creamier flavor to your margarita. It’s also less alcoholic than regular tequila – important to note depending on your preferences.
Personally, I prefer regular tequila in my margaritas – so I’d substitute with another Blanco. You could use 1921’s Blanco, which is fantastic, or my personal favorite Espolòn.
Whatever you pick, make sure it’s pure agave. I’d also avoid Mezcals for this one, too.
Triple Sec
This cocktail calls for twice as much Triple Sec as I’d normally use in my margaritas – which means you’re going to taste it. For that reason I highly recommend going with a premium brand. I would recommend Cointreau over Gran Marnier (it’s a bit cheaper, as a bonus) for this cocktail, mainly because Cointreau is lighter and more refreshing.
Can I Make it a Mocktail?
If you’re planning to make this for kids I don’t know that it would be worth it, really. You could easily serve them a glass of pink lemonade with ice and a lemon slice for garnish and be done with it.
For adults who are pregnant and sober folks, though, they may want a more robust mocktail drink. To swap out the booze but keep the flavor, the best choice is a non-alcoholic tequila. They do make them, believe it or not!
If that’s not available, though, you can use sparkling or still water instead of the tequila.
The Triple Sec is even easier to swap out since you’re just going for a sweet orange flavor. Non-alcoholic Triple Sec exists but Grenadine (cut the amount in half) would also work. Or just use a combination orange juice and orange zest (freshly squeezed is best!).
You may not want to rim the glass of a mocktail, but that’s up to your guest. Otherwise everything else is the same. Yummy!
Ingredients
With all that being said, here’s what you’ll need to make this pink lemonade margarita at home.
- 4oz Pink Lemonade
- 2oz Tequila
- 2oz Triple Sec
- Ice
- Coarse Salt
- Lemon Slices (For Garnish)
- Mint Leaf (For Garnish)
Besides these ingredients, you’ll also need a cocktail shaker and straws.
How to Make a Pink Lemonade Margarita
- Chill your margarita glass by filling it with ice.
- Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour in the pink lemonade, tequila, and triple sec.
- Shake well.
- Dump the ice from the glass.
- Coat the rim of a glass with lemon.
- Roll in coarse salt.
- Pour the mixed cocktail into the glass.
- Garnish with mint leaf and lemon slice.
Enjoy!
Straw and Rimmed Glass?
When I first saw this recipe I wondered why you’d include a straw with a rimmed glass. The point of the rim is to provide that salty to offset the tequila! But there’s two reasons for this:
- Unlike traditional margaritas, this recipe calls for the ice to stay in (not strained). This will help offset the sweetness of the pink lemonade as it melts, and add a bit of extra refreshment for hot summer days. The straw helps you dodge the ice while sipping.
- The salt is now optional when you sip so it can be used as a chaser or starter – whatever you guest decides.
Of course you can also change this cocktail up too! Strain after shaking and just rim the glass, or serve it in a highball glass (without salt) instead.
Pink Lemonade Margarita
Cool down with this refreshing pink lemonade flavored margarita! It's sweet, delicious, and easy to make for vacation vibes right at home.
Ingredients
- 4 Ounces Pink Lemonade
- 2 Ounces Tequila
- 2 Ounces Triple Sec
- Ice
- Coarse Salt
- Lemon Slices (garnish)
- Mint Leaf (Garnish)
Instructions
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in pink lemonade, tequila & triple sec.
- Shake well.
- Coat the rim of a glass with lemon.
- Roll in coarse salt.
- Pour cocktail into the glass.
- Garnish with a lemon slice & mint leaf.
- Cheers!
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