Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila: Silver (blanco) tequila works best to let the fruit flavors shine, but reposado adds a lovely warmth if you prefer.
- 1 oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice: Essential for that classic, bright margarita tang.
- 4 oz Mango Nectar: Gives the drink its smooth, tropical sweetness and rich texture.
- 1 oz Simple Syrup: Just enough to balance the tart lime juice. chilled and drained
- 8 Fresh Dark Sweet Cherries: Pitted. You will muddle these to release their rich juices and vibrant color.
- Ice: Crushed or cubed for shaking and serving.
- For Garnish: A cocktail skewer with 2 fresh cherries and a fresh lime wedge.
Instructions
- Muddle the Cherries: Place the 8 pitted fresh dark sweet cherries directly into the bottom of your serving glass. Use a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon) to firmly press and smash the cherries, releasing all their deep red juice right into the bottom of the glass.
- Add the Ice: Fill the glass generously with fresh ice right over your muddled cherries to lock in that chill.
- Pour the Rest: Pour the 1 oz of simple syrup, 1 oz of fresh lime juice, 2 oz of tequila, and 4 oz of mango nectar directly over the ice.
- Stir and Blend: Use a bar spoon (or a long spoon) to gently stir the drink from the bottom up. This blends those gorgeous red cherry juices into the velvety mango nectar, creating a beautiful, vibrant finish.
- Garnish: Thread two fresh cherries and a lime wedge onto a cocktail skewer, rest it across the top of the glass, and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
Make it Spicy: Muddle a slice or two of fresh jalapeño with the cherries for a sweet-and-spicy kick.Tip text
Add a Rim: While beautiful without, this drink pairs incredibly well with a chili-lime seasoning (like Tajín) or a simple coarse salt rim to contrast the sweet mango.
Frozen Cherry Mango Margarita: Throw all the ingredients—swapping the ice cubes for 1 cup of frozen mango chunks and a handful of frozen cherries—into a blender and blend until completely smooth and slushy.
Mocktail Version: Skip the tequila and replace it with 2 oz of sparkling water or club soda added at the very end for a refreshing, family-friendly fizz
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!