There’s rarely an occasion that doesn’t call for a margarita. Now that the fall season is upon us, we can start to dive into all of the fall flavors, including pumpkin spice, caramel apple, and of course, apple cider. This apple cider margarita, which recently went viral, is the perfect fall festive cocktail.
How We Dress it Up
Our rendition hews as closely to the classic margarita as possible. It features the traditional mix of tequila, triple sec and lime, which conjures the drink’s signature sweet-and-sour flavor profile. But since it’s the holidays—and this attractive drink is seemingly designed for entertaining—we wanted to amp up its seasonality with lots of warmth and spice.
To do so, Wine Enthusiast assistant editor Jacy Topps, who developed the cocktail, decided to sub the silver tequila found in many margarita recipes (including several of the apple cider margaritas currently making the rounds on social media) for more flavorful and nuanced reposado tequila. “Because it’s aged longer, it’s livelier and spicier,” she says. “Those flavors complement the apple cider with a lot of spice, nuttiness, vanilla, and a warmer mouthfeel.”
Another major difference between our recipe and the viral versions is the addition of triple sec. Many entirely forgo the orange-flavored liqueur, a core component of classic margaritas. We argue that it’s necessary for balance and a touch of sweetness. After all, it’s a traditional margarita ingredient for a reason.
Lastly, we followed the trend with a fun and festive cinnamon sugar rim. It looks great in photos and helps “brighten those flavors of the drink,” says Topps. But rather than settle for the obvious sliced apple garnish, we kicked things up a notch with a cinnamon stick and a whole pod of star anise—just to make sure your drink pics pop.
How to Make an Apple Cider Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces tequila reposado
- ¾ ounce triple sec
- 3 ounces apple cider
- ¾ ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- Cinnamon and sugar, for the rim
- Star anise and cinnamon stick, for garnish
Instructions:
Run the lime around the rim of a glass to moisten. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
Combine tequila, lime juice, triple sec and apple cider in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until cold, about 20 seconds.
Strain the margarita into the glass with the sugar rim. Fill the glass with ice and garnish with star anise and cinnamon stick.
