Gin Margarita

The Gin Margarita is a delicious and refreshing twist on the classic tequila-based margarita. This recipe uses gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave to create a perfectly balanced and flavorful cocktail.

What is a gin margarita called?

Ever wondered if you can make a margarita with gin? The answer is yes, and it’s called a margatini. It is a variation of the classic margarita cocktail that swaps tequila for gin. The ingredients typically also include orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec), fresh lime juice, and agave nectar or Simple Syrup (for sweetness).

Ingredients Needed

• Gin – When making a gin margarita, you’ll want to choose a gin that complements the other flavors in the cocktail, while still allowing the gin’s unique botanical notes to shine through. London dry gin, citrus-forward gin, floral gin, and barrel-aged gin will all work.
• Orange Liqueur – the type of orange liqueur you use can have a big impact on the flavor of the cocktail. Here are a few types of orange liqueur that work well with gin Cointreau, Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, and Mandarine Napoleon.
• Fresh Lime Juice – using fresh lime juice is essential for creating a well-balanced and flavorful gin margarita. While bottled lime juice can be used in a pinch, it’s always best to use fresh lime juice for the best flavor
• Agave Syrup – agave nectar is a versatile and delicious sweetener that can add a unique twist and is my preference when making a margarita. You can use a different sweetener like simple syrup or honey if you prefer.

How to Make a Margatini

1. Coat the rim. Prepare the glass by running a lime wedge along the rim that you have just squeezed, coating it.
2. Salt the rim. To salt, the glass rim spread coarse salt onto a flat surface, such as a plate. Dip the lime-coated glass rim into the salt and gently wiggle it back and forth while lightly pressing it to ensure that the salt adheres to the rim.

3. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Begin by filling a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave nectar to the shaker.
4. Shake and strain. Shake the ingredients vigorously for about 15 seconds to combine and chill the cocktail. Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice. Garnish your gin margarita with a lime wheel or wedge, and serve immediately.

Make it a Pitcher

You can actually prepare this cocktail ahead of time and store it in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to three days. However, after the third day, the flavor of the lime and orange may start to deteriorate. To ensure the best taste, it’s recommended to shake the mixture with ice right before serving.

To make a gin margarita pitcher multiply the recipe by 4 or follow the ingredient amounts below.

• 6 ounces of Gin
• 4 ounces of Orange Liqueur
• 8 ounces of Lime Juice
• ¼ cup Agave

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Salting the glass rim is a must! Salting the glass rim is an important step in making a gin margarita because it adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the cocktail. Since this isn’t a traditional margarita using tequila the salt rim is a key component.
• Use fresh lime juice. Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor. You can squeeze your own limes, or use store-bought lime juice as long as it’s fresh. Similar to salt the rim, fresh lime juice is key because it’s one of the factors that increase the margarita-like flavor.
• Don’t skip shaking the cocktail. Don’t skip the shaking step! Shaking the ingredients together is what creates a well-balanced cocktail and ensures that all the flavors are evenly distributed.
• If you like margaritas without tequila then try a Vodka Margarita or a Rum Margarita next.

More Margarita Recipes

Vodka Margarita

Rum Margarita Recipe

Pink Margarita

Gin Margarita Recipe

The Gin Margarita, also known as margatini, is a delicious and refreshing twist on the classic tequila-based margarita. This recipe uses gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave to create a perfectly balanced and flavorful cocktail.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 serving

Calories: 265kcal

Author: Aimee Mars

Equipment

• ▢
  Cocktail Shaker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1½ ounces Gin
• ▢ 1 ounce Orange Liqueur
• ▢ 2 ounces Lime Juice
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Agave
• ▢ Coarse Salt

Instructions

• Coat the rim. Prepare the glass by running a lime wedge along the rim that you have just squeezed, coating it.
• Salt the rim. To salt, the glass rim spread coarse salt onto a flat surface, such as a plate. Dip the lime-coated glass rim into the salt and gently wiggle it back and forth while lightly pressing it to ensure that the salt adheres to the rim.
• Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Begin by filling a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave nectar to the shaker.
• Shake and strain. Shake the ingredients vigorously for about 15 seconds to combine and chill the cocktail. Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice. Garnish your gin margarita with a lime wheel or wedge, and serve immediately.

Notes

• Salting the glass rim is a must! Salting the glass rim is an important step in making a gin margarita because it adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the cocktail. Since this isn’t a traditional margarita using tequila the salt rim is a key component.
• Use fresh lime juice. Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor. You can squeeze your own limes, or use store-bought lime juice as long as it’s fresh. Similar to salt the rim, fresh lime juice is key because it’s one of the factors that increase the margarita-like flavor.
• Don’t skip shaking the cocktail. Don’t skip the shaking step! Shaking the ingredients together is what creates a well-balanced cocktail and ensures that all the flavors are evenly distributed.
• If you like margaritas without tequila then try a Vodka Margarita or a Rum Margarita next.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 28IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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