Lillet Margarita Recipe
Our Lillet Margarita recipe is a slightly sophisticated spin on your favorite classic tequila cocktail! Combining the popular French aperitif wine Lillet Blanc, silver tequila, and orange juice makes this margarita sweet and flavorful. It’s refreshing, unique, and perfect for sipping while watching the summer Olympics (in Paris!). Try this Lillet Margarita recipe ASAP!
Why You’ll Love This Lillet Cocktail
This Lillet margarita recipe may not be the first thing on your mind and that’s ok. Now that you know about it, you need to try it. As self-taught drink makers who love to explore margarita variations, we know you’ll love this tequila and Lillet cocktail. Here’s why you’ll love this margarita:
- Lillet is an aperitif sweet wine (white wine infused with fruit, herbs and botanicals) so it adds lots of flavor to the drink with just one ingredient.
- This margarita cocktail is a bit on the sweeter side thanks to the Lillet but even I (Sharon) love it and I do not enjoy sweet drinks. The citrus juices keep it really nicely balanced.
- Adding muddled cucumbers lends a delicious flavor that cuts through the cocktail’s sweetness.
- Like most margaritas, it’s easy to make, and comes together in as little as 5 minutes!
- If you’re looking for the perfect Olympics margarita, this is it. Lillet is a French brand so it’s a fun nod to the location of this year’s summer Olympics.
Related: Italian Margarita Recipe (Amaretto or Almond Margarita)
This twist on the classic margarita is the perfect cocktail to sip for birthday bashes, girls’ night out, holiday occasions, spring and summer parties, and other events that could use a margarita to brighten things up!
Ingredients
- Lillet Blanc
- Blanco Tequila (also called Silver Tequila)
- Cointreau
- Orange Juice
- Lime Juice
- Cucumber Slices
A bottle of Lillet Blanc is a must-have when making this type of margarita. This infused white wine is so delicious with its honey-like, candied orange taste and floral notes! We’re rarely without this aperitif because of the various ways you can enjoy it.
Next, we grabbed a JAJA Blanco Tequila. It pairs well with Lillet Blanc in this recipe. If you don’t have this brand of silver tequila, use the one you have or prefer.
We’re using both Cointreau and freshly squeezed orange juice to give this margarita an orange burst. Typically, you swap out orange liqueur with orange juice to make a Skinny Margarita, but not in this case! We want our drink to have a deliciously sweet citrus edge.
We also need the orange zest for our orange salt rim!
For the best margaritas, fresh lime juice is a must. Do not use bottled unless you are having a drink emergency.
We muddled some cucumber slices to give this recipe a mild, herbaceous flavor. It still lets the sweet taste of Lillet and orange juice come through but really adds a nice, fresh touch.
Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for the complete recipe.
How to Make a Lillet Margarita
Salt the Rim of a Glass
Take out a salt rimming plate, then add some orange salt to it.
Add equal parts margarita salt and orange zest to make orange salt for the rim. Blend well with a fork.
Next, moisten the rim of a glass using a lime wedge. Turn the glass upside down and dip it on the salt rimming plate, making sure that the rim is covered well. Set aside as you work on the margarita.
Related: How to Salt a Margarita Glass Rim Properly
Step 1
Add some cucumber slices to the cocktail shaker. Crush them using a muddler so they’ll release all those wonderful flavors!
Step 2
Add the Lillet Blanc, tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, and lime juice to the cocktail shaker.
Step 3
Add ice and shake vigorously for several seconds to ensure all ingredients are mixed well.
Step 4
Strain the mixture over fresh ice in the glass with an orange salt rim. Garnish with cucumber strips, orange wheel, and edible flowers, then serve and enjoy!
Tips
- Chill the margarita glasses before using them! This will help keep your Lillet margarita cooler and prevent the ice from watering down your drink.
- Always use freshly squeezed fruit juices when making margaritas. While bottled versions are handy, they often lack the authentic taste of the real thing, resulting in less flavorful margaritas.
Variations to Try
Frequently Asked Questions
Lillet Blanc is an iconic French aperitif wine made from a blend of Bordeaux grapes and flavored with citrus liqueurs. At 17%, it has a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) than a regular glass of wine. But keep in mind, you usually use just a few ounces in each cocktail.
Yes! It’s fantastic chilled or served over ice. A popular way of drinking it is on the rocks and topped off with either tonic water or club soda. It’s really delicious.
Yes, especially if you plan on using it for a few weeks. Over time, it will lose its flavor, even when stored in the fridge, so it’s best to use this wine as soon as possible after opening it.
A Lillet margarita is the perfect drink for just about any occasion. Try this Olympics inspired drink for your next happy hour or margarita party.
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More Margarita Posts
Tequila and Lillet Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Lillet Blanc
- 1 ounce blanco tequila
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce orange juice (fresh plus save the zest for the rim)
- 4 pieces cucumber slices for muddling
Instructions
- Moisten the rim of a glass with lime wedge and dip on a plate with orange salt. (Mix equal parts orange zest and margarita salt. Use a fork to blend well
- Add some cucumber slices to the cocktail shaker and muddle them to release their juices.
- Add the Lillet Blanc, tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, and lime juice to the shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously for several seconds.
- Strain the mixture into the glass with an orange salt rim and fresh ice. Garnish with cucumber strips or orange wheel and edible flowers, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Chill the margarita glasses before using them! This will help keep your Lillet margarita cooler and prevent the ice from watering down your drink.
- Always use freshly squeezed fruit juices when making margaritas. While bottled versions are handy, they often lack the authentic taste of the real thing, resulting in less flavorful margaritas.
