The Elderflower Margarita

The Elderflower Margarita combines citrus, tequila, Cointreau, elderflower liqueur and simple syrup. It’s sweet, tart and delicious!

Margaritas are a classic cocktail enjoyed by many, but have you ever tried The Elderflower Margarita? This twist on the traditional margarita adds a floral sweetness that perfectly balances the tart lime and tequila. In this post, we will show you how to make the perfect elderflower margarita using fresh ingredients. Give this one a try, you’re going to love it!

History of the Margarita

There are several stories that lay claim to who first invented the margarita. It’s really anyone’s guess. However, one leading story suggests that Carlos “Danny” Herrera first developed this drink at his Tijuana-area restaurant circa 1938. As the story goes, he first made this drink for an up and coming actress named Marjorie King. Marjorie apparently was allergic to all hard alcohol except tequila. To please Marjorie’s fussy palate, Danny mixed up the ingredients of a traditional tequila shot and made them into a refreshing and tasty drink. Thus, the margarita was born. 

Roughly a decade later, Margarita Sames claimed she was the first to invent the margarita. And if you believe this story, it’s apparent where the name of this drink came from. Margarita was a rich, socialite from Dallas who said she made this drink for her guests while they visited her at her Acapulco home in 1948. Apparently, Tommy Hilton, of the Hilton Hotels, loved it so much he added it to the hotel menu. 

Lastly, the another story claims Anthony Dias Blue, the importer of Jose Cuervo to the United States used this tagline in 1945 to advertise his tequila. “Margarita: it’s more than a girl’s name.” So if you believe this story, there’s no way Margarita Sames could have invented this drink. Based on the timeline, her party was three years after Anthony used this tagline connecting tequila to the margarita. 

We will never know who really invented the margarita. However, one thing we do know is that the margarita is one tasty drink!

The Elderflower Margarita: A twist on the class margarita

The addition of elderflower liqueur to your margarita is seriously going to blow you away! However, you may be asking yourself, what is elderflower liqueur? Elderflower liqueur is made from the small, white, blossoms of the elderflower bush. These flowers are handpicked and the liqueur is made with no preservatives or additives. So use it within 6 months of opening for best flavor. You may be thinking, why would I want flowers in my drink? Don’t worry it doesn’t taste like cheap perfume, but rather, it adds some hints of floral undertones that adds a nice sweet flavor to your cocktails. Adding elderflower liqueur to your margarita will create one deliciously sweet, citrusy and tasty drink that may in fact become your new favorite margarita!

How to make the best Elderflower Margarita

It’s important to use fresh/high quality ingredients for the best flavor.

• Squeeze your own lime juice! Fresh lime juice gives the margarita a bright, citrusy taste.
• Tequila is the star of the margarita, so it’s important to choose the right one. There are three types of tequila: blanco, reposado, and añejo. Blanco tequila is un-aged and has a pure agave flavor, while reposado and añejo tequilas are aged for different periods of time and have more complex flavors. Choose a tequila that you enjoy drinking on its own, as this will greatly affect the flavor of your margarita.
• For the orange liqueur, you can choose between Cointreau or Triple Sec.
• For the elderflower liqueur use St. Germain or St. Elder.
• Simple syrup is a sweet clear liquid that is often added to cocktails for sweetness. It’s simple to make!
• Salt or sugar? Rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass. Add coarse salt or sugar to the rim. Personally I like the sugar for this one and Jim likes the salt. Try them both and see what one you like best with this margarita!

Ingredients in the Elderflower Margarita

• 1 oz Tequila
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 1 oz Elderflower liqueur
• 1 oz lime juice (fresh squeezed)
• 2 oz simple syrup
• 1 slice lime for garnish
• coarse salt or sparkling sugar (for the rim of the glass)

Instructions

• Use a lime wedge and rub it around the edge of the glass. Dip the glass into coarse salt or sparkling sugar to rim the glass. 
• Add tequila, Cointreau, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and simple sugar to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 
• Shake vigorously until cold.
• Strain into the prepared glass, filled with ice.
• Garnish with a lime slice.
• Cheers!

For additional margaritas try:

Coconut Margarita

Fresh Peach Margarita

Fresh Strawberry Margarita

Frozen Watermelon Margarita

Simple Lemon Margarita

Tequila Breeze Margarita