Apple Cider Mezcal Margarita

TGIF, everyone!

I have a smokin’ new margarita recipe that I think may be just the thing for your weekend ahead. It’s made with just 3 easy ingredients. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, tart and smoky. (And it can even have a little extra-spicy kick, if you’re so inclined.)  It’s perfect for autumn, for those of you looking to “mix seasonally”.

And — let’s just cut right to it — it’s freaking amazing.

It’s my Smoky Apple Cider Margaritas!

It’s no secret that I’ve been obsessed with mezcal the past few years, after having been in “camp tequila” for so many years prior with my margaritas. For those of you unfamiliar with mezcal, I like to think of it as the “scotch” of tequila. It comes from the same agave plant, but it’s much smokier and complex-tasting. As one of my Instagram followers said, it’s the “smoky, sexier cousin of tequila.” Ha, agreed. ;)

This classic mezcal margarita is now my go-to recipe. But I’ve been playing around with apple cider cocktails with friends this past month — first making an apple cider sangria, then an apple cider bourbon smash, which were both delightful. But then it occurred to me — why oh why have I never tried mixing apple cider into a margarita?!? It sounded like a delicious mixture, especially when made with some mezcal to give it that yummy campfire smokiness.

So this week, I whipped up a quick batch. And — oh my goodness — I’m convinced you need to as well. These apple cider margaritas are absolutely delicious.  And the flavor tastes so rich and complex that you’d never know there were just three easy ingredients in there.

Just mix together some:

• mezcal (or if you don’t have any, some good anejo or reposado tequila will also work)
• apple cider (either homemade, or feel free to use a good store-bought brand as a shortcut)
• fresh lime juice (keyword: fresh, always fresh)

I like my margs nice and tart. But if you’d like to sweeten it up a bit, feel free to stir in some maple syrup or agave nectar. And then if you’d like to make it a little spicier, try muddling a little jalapeño slice in there. Delicious.

I also had fun rimming my glasses and — instead of just a traditional salt rim — I mixed together some coarse salt, sugar (any kind), and a little bit of ground ginger. SO GOOD.

All in all, a delightful autumn drink. And it literally took just a few minutes to make a batch.

So if you’re looking for a new cocktail for fall, oh friends — ENJOY. :)

Smoky Apple Cider Mezcal Margarita

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Makes: 1 serving

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This smoky Apple Cider Mezcal Margarita is made with just 3 easy ingredients, and it is SO delicious and perfect for autumn!

Ingredients

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Smoky Apple Cider Margarita Ingredients:

• 2 ounces mezcal
• 2 ounces apple cider, homemade or store-bought
• 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
• optional sweetener: maple syrup or agave nectar, to taste*
• ice
• optional garnishes: diced apples and a cinnamon stick

Sweet Ginger Salt Rim Garnish:

• 1 tablespoon coarse Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated or brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 lime

Instructions

To Make The Smoky Apple Cider Margarita:

• ▢
  Begin by salting the rims of your glasses, if you would like.  (See instructions below.)
• ▢
  Add mezcal, apple cider, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker, and shake or stir until combined.  Taste, and if you would like the mixture to be sweeter, stir in a half teaspoon of maple syrup or agave nectar at a time, until the mix reaches your desired level of sweetness.
• ▢
  Fill glass with ice.  Pour in the margarita mixture over the rocks.  Serve immediately, garnished with diced apples and a cinnamon stick, if desired.

To Make The Sweet Ginger Salt Rim Garnish:

• ▢
  Whisk together the salt, sugar and ground ginger in a shallow bowl until combined.  Run a slice of lime (the juicy part!) around the top edge of your glass, then dip it in the ginger mixture.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Mexican

Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

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