16 Delicious Cinco de Mayo Margaritas 

Margaritas are citrus-forward cocktails, made with tequila, fresh lime juice, and other simple ingredients. Perfect for any happy hour or taco night, they’re also a delicious option for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. 

The more I work with cocktails and spirits, the more margaritas have become my most favorite cocktail. Which is why you’ll find a lot of margarita recipes and variations on this site (including a Non-Alcoholic Margarita that I’m pretty proud of)! 

You’ll need a few tools for a great homemade margarita, including a cocktail shaker, jigger, lots of ice, and a rocks glass. Stock up on limes, and pick up a red grapefruit. You’ll also want silver tequila (the clear kind), and orange liqueur. You can use agave nectar or agave syrup to sweeten your drinks, or use simple syrup (my fave since I can make it at home). 

Bar Tools for Margaritas

3 Piece Cocktail Shaker

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Citrus Press

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Jigger Measure

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Looking for delicious and authentic Mexican recipes to go along with your margaritas? Check out two of my favorite Mexican food bloggers – Isabel at isabeleats.com and (fellow Michigander) Sarah at Growing Up Sarita on Instagram. 

About Cinco de Mayo

Before we dive into this delicious list of citrus-based cocktails with salted rims, let’s do a quick review of the Cinco de Mayo holiday so we know what we’re celebrating and why. 

• Cinco de Mayo IS a celebration of Mexican culture, but it is NOT Mexican Independence Day. (That’s in September.)
• In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. (Source) In the U.S., it’s also a celebration of Mexican-American culture. 
• Cinco de Mayo became a holiday in Mexico in 1867.
• Up until the 1980s and 1990s, Cinco de Mayo was mostly celebrated in Mexico in the state of Puebla, and in the U.S. by Mexican-Americans as a source of cultural pride. (Source). 
• In the 80s and 90s, food and beverage companies started using the holiday as a marketing push to get American’s eating and drinking more Mexican food and especially, imported Mexican beer which led to much of the Cinco de Mayo parties we know today. (Source)

2. Blood Orange Margarita

Full of bold, citrus flavor with a hint of berry sweetness, Blood Orange Margaritas are a delicious celebration of winter citrus season and sure to be your new favorite drink. Served on the rocks with a salted rim, it’s an easy and refreshing cocktail to make at home. >Get the Recipe

3. Creamy Coconut Margarita

Sweet coconut, fresh lime juice, and your favorite tequila blanco combine for a creamy, tropical twist on the classic margarita in this Coconut Margarita recipe. >Get the Recipe

4. Fresh Strawberry Margarita

This delicious homemade strawberry margarita recipe made with fresh berries is the perfect way to enjoy a fruity margarita on a warm night. >Get the Recipe

5. Triple Citrus Margarita

Fresh lime, grapefruit juice, and fresh squeeze orange juice combine for my favorite twist on a margarita. This is the recipe to make for people who tell you they don’t like tequila. >Get the Recipe

6. Classic Lime Margarita

A classic margarita only needs 4 ingredients, fresh lime, simple syrup, blanco tequila and orange liqueur (or triple sec). As the “house margarita” at most Mexican restaurants, this traditional combination is hard to beat. >Get the Recipe

7. Blackberry Margarita 

Traditional margarita meets fresh berry flavor with this blackberry margarita. Served on the rocks with a salted rim, this delicious margarita recipe is one of my favorite ways to enjoy blackberries. >Get the Recipe

8. Hibiscus Margaritas

These are the best margaritas when it comes to gorgeous color. Hibiscus flowers have a natural citrus flavor that makes them an ideal addition to the classic margarita. >Get the Recipe

9. Non-Alcoholic Margarita Mocktail

A salt rim and fresh fruit juices combine to make this margarita mocktail recipe one you won’t realize is alcohol-free. It’s bright and refreshing and delicious! >Get the Recipe

10. Elderflower Margarita

A subtle twist on the classic cocktail, this elderflower margarita uses St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur to level up your next taco night. >Get the Recipe

11. Frozen Mango Margaritas (and Mock-ritas)

There has to be one frozen margarita on the list! This blended treat is made with frozen mango and fresh lime. It’s the perfect cocktail to easily turn into a mocktail that everyone can enjoy. >Get the Recipe

12. Prickly Pear Margarita

Not too sweet, slightly floral, and full of fresh flavors, a prickly pear margarita is a fun twist on the classic tequila cocktail. >Get the Recipe

13. Watermelon Margaritas

A lime wedge and salty rim pair so perfectly with watermelon that there’s almost no better way to enjoy this summer fruit than juiced into a margarita. >Get the Recipe

14. Blue Margarita (Blue Curaçao Margaritas)

Homemade blue curaçao syrup stars in this Blue Margarita when paired with fresh lime and orange liqueur. It’s the fun color and citrus boost you didn’t know your margaritas needed. >Get the Recipe

15. Peach Margaritas

Full of fresh juicy peaches muddled with lime juice and peach simple syrup this Peach Margarita is a summery drink that perfectly balances the sweetness of the fruit with brightness of fresh lime juice and smoothness of blanco tequila. It’s perfect for your warm weather happy hours and taco nights. >Get the Recipe

16. Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

Fresh lime juice muddled with ripe raspberries makes creates a naturally sweet-tart balance in these Fresh Raspberry Margaritas. A splash of orange liqueur adds depth, while a quick homemade simple syrup lets you control the sweetness so the raspberry flavor really shines. >Get the Recipe