Pink Margarita
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 16.8% ABV ∙
The Pink Margarita is a shaken tequila sour: tequila blanco, triple sec, and fresh lime, tinted and lengthened with grapefruit soda and Creole bitters. Tart lime and bittersweet grapefruit lead, with agave warmth from the tequila and a faintly spiced bitters edge; a bright, easy aperitivo-hour sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Rim the glass with salt
- Shake the first 5 ingredients with ice: Tequila blanco 40 mlTriple sec 20 mlLime juice 20 mlCreole-style bitters 2 dashesSaline solution 1 dash
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Top with Grapefruit soda
Tips
- Shake the tequila, triple sec, lime, and bitters hard with ice, then add the grapefruit soda last to keep its fizz.
- Fine-strain into a chilled coupe so no ice shards dull the crisp lime edge.
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice, not bottled — it is the difference between bright and flat.
- Two dashes of Creole bitters is plenty; more will muddy the pink hue and overtake the citrus.
History
The Pink Margarita is a contemporary, color-driven variation of the classic Margarita, emerging without a single definitive creator. While the foundational template traces its lineage to the Mexican adaptation of the classic spirit sour known as the Daisy (margarita being the literal Spanish translation), modern pink iterations achieve their signature hue through varied modifiers. While mainstream versions rely on muddled red fruits or Italian red bitter liqueurs like Campari, this specific specification takes a different structural approach. It bypasses fruit purées, achieving its blush tint through a precise combination of grapefruit soda and aromatic Creole-style bitters. The result sits between a traditional Margarita and a Paloma, the bitters' dry spice modifying the tequila base while adding subtle effervescence.
FAQ
What's in a pink margarita?
A pink margarita is tequila blanco, triple sec, and freshly squeezed lime juice, with the pink color coming from an added element. This recipe uses grapefruit soda and a couple of dashes of Creole-style bitters, which also lengthen and lightly spice the drink.
How do you make a pink margarita?
Shake tequila blanco, triple sec, fresh lime juice, and Creole-style bitters with ice, then strain into a chilled coupe and top with grapefruit soda. The soda and bitters give it a soft pink tint without any fruit puree.
Can a margarita be pink?
Yes. A Margarita turns pink when you add something red or pink to the classic tequila, orange liqueur, and lime base — commonly strawberry, raspberry, a red bitter aperitif, or, as here, grapefruit soda with a dash of bitters.
Is a pink margarita shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The tequila, triple sec, lime, and bitters are shaken hard with ice to chill and mix them; the grapefruit soda is added afterward so its carbonation survives into the glass.
What glass is a pink margarita served in?
This pink margarita is served up in a chilled coupe glass, with no ice in the drink. That suits its lighter, spritz-like build, unlike a classic margarita often poured over ice in a rocks glass.
Is triple sec needed for a margarita?
Triple sec is a core margarita ingredient, providing the orange sweetness that balances the lime; this recipe uses it. You can substitute another orange liqueur such as Cointreau or curaçao, but leaving it out entirely makes a much sharper, less balanced drink.
