Fresh Passion Fruit Margarita Recipe

The Passion Fruit Margarita follows the recipe of the classic Margarita cocktail with the addition of passion fruit juice and pulp. This tropical fruit adds a bright, juicy, floral flavor to the classic combination of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.

A Passion Fruit Margarita is only as good as the quality of the ingredients you use, so to get the best results, opt for the best ingredients you can find:

1. 1. Tequila: There’s no way around it: great cocktails need a foundation of quality liquor. Tequila, made from the agave plant, has a distinct, somewhat herbaceous flavor that goes well with a sweet, fruity liqueur and the acidic, citrus kick of lime. You can use tequila blanco or silver tequila. For a more complex flavor, use tequila reposado.
2. 2. Lime: Skip the Margarita mix. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to making the best Margarita. Keep extra limes on hand for garnish.
3. 3. Passion fruit juice: You can find one-hundred percent passion fruit juice in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store—avoid the overly-sweet passion fruit nectar or passion fruit syrup in the mixers aisle. You can also muddle and strain a fresh passion fruit. Frozen passion fruit puree or pulp can also work after thawing.
4. 4. Orange liqueur: An orange-flavored triple-sec like Cointreau provides sweetness to balance the lime juice. If you don’t have Cointreau, try using Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored Cognac).
5. 5. Simple syrup: You can also add simple syrup, an equal mixture of sugar and water, to balance out the acidity of the passion fruit. Agave syrup or agave nectar is a good replacement for simple syrup. Thai sweetener has a neutral flavor that pairs well with tequila-based cocktails.