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Home » Recipes » Cocktails

Grand Marnier Margarita

Published: Dec 9, 2021 by Lexi

138 shares
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This simple Grand Marnier Margarita is made with reposado tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, and some freshly squeezed blood orange juice for color and a punch of flavor. It's easy to make, perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious for any occasion!

Front view of grand marnier margarita garnished with a blood orange slice.
We used a pink salt rim for a show-stopping margarita, but regular salt works just fine!
Jump to:
  • 🍸 Why We Love This Recipe
  • 🍶 Ingredients
  • 📋 Ingredient Notes
  • 🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
  • 💭 Expert Tips and FAQs
  • 🍽 Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

🍸 Why We Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make: you just need 5 ingredients and less than 10 minutes to throw together a batch of these Grand Marnier margaritas!
  • Best of the best ingredients: every ingredient in this Grand Marnier margarita is top of line. High quality reposado (aged) tequila and orange liqueur, freshly squeezed orange and lime juice – it's absolutely delicious.
  • Perfect for any occasion: this Grand Marnier margarita is fancy enough for a special occasion, but also easy enough for every day.

🍶 Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make our Grand Marnier margarita:

Front view of grand marnier ingredients, including Grand Marnier, lime juice, blood orange juice, and simple syrup.
Just 5 ingredients needed!

📋 Ingredient Notes

  • Grand Marnier: This is a French liqueur made with cognac and orange liqueur. We used the cordon rouge variety, which is indicated on the label on the neck of the bottle, and is the easiest to find in stores. Grand Marnier has a more complex flavor profile than other orange liqueurs, which is why it's our first choice when it comes to a classic margarita.
  • Choice of tequila: We used a reposado tequila, which has been aged or "rested" in barrels for up to a year. It has nice notes of spice and doesn't pack an aggressive bite like some other tequila varieties. If you don't have reposado tequila, using whatever you have on hand will still result in a delicious cocktail.
  • Orange juice: Since this Grand Marnier margarita is the best of the best, we use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best possible flavor. We used freshly squeezed blood oranges in this recipe (we love the intense flavor!) but any variety of orange will do. And, of course, if you don't feel like squeezing your own, just use your favorite store bought orange juice. (The higher quality, the better!)
  • Lime juice: trust us – freshly squeezed is ALWAYS best in a cocktail.
  • Simple syrup: We used a bottled variety, which is very convenient and helps cut down on prep time. You can also substitute 1:1 with agave nectar. You can also make your own simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water until the sugar is completely dissolved.

🔪 Step-by-step Instructions

(1) Add the tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orange juice and simple syrup/agave to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds.

(2) Strain the margarita mixture into a salt-rimmed glass and serve cold.

On the left: all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. On the right: cocktail being poured out into a glass.
In just 5 minutes, you can make a delicious Grand Marnier margarita!

💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

  • Make ahead: if you want to make a large batch for entertaining, you can measure out all of the ingredients several hours before serving. Just be sure to stir or shake well again before serving so all of the ingredients are evenly mixed.
  • Want to try making infused tequila for your next margarita? Check out this post on how to infuse liquors with fruits, spices, herbs and more.
  • We used pink salt for the rim, which we think looks great, but is purely an aesthetic choice. Regular salt works just fine!
  • Garnish: you don't need anything fancy to top off these margaritas, but a fresh orange slice/peel always looks beautiful!
What is a good Grand Marnier substitute?

Cointreau, another orange liqueur variety, is the best Grand Marnier substitute. Another orange liqueur or even brandy will also work in a pinch.

How do you salt the rim of a cocktail glass?


Pour about ¼ cup of salt on a small plate. Cut a slit in a lime wedge, then run it around the rim of the glass to moisten. (You can also dip the edge of the glass in agave or simple syrup.) Roll the rim of the glass in salt until well coated.

What's the best kind of salt for a margarita rim?

We've found that kosher salt is the best option. Kosher has a larger grain, great flavor, and it's easy to find. Sea salt can work in a pinch (we used Himalayan pink salt in this Grand Marnier Margarita), but definitely don't use iodized table salt!

What other cocktails use Grand Marnier?


A few of our favorites include:
-Pineapple Mimosa
-Tequila Mule
-Raspberry Daiquiri
-Guava Rum Cocktail
-Pineapple Jalapeño Margaritas

Front view of grand marnier margarita set atop a metal tray.
Cheers to these Grand Marnier margaritas!

🍽 Related Recipes

  • Front view of apple cider margarita garnished with apple slices and cinnamon.
    Apple Cider Margarita
  • Blueberry margarita in a glass with a salted rim, garnished with mint, blueberries, and lime.
    Blueberry Margarita
  • Blood Orange Kombucha Margaritas
  • Cranberry Orange Whiskey Cocktail

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

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📖 Recipe

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Front view of a grand marnier margarita garnished with a blood orange slice.

Grand Marnier Margarita


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cocktail
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This simple Grand Marnier Margarita is made with reposado tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, and some freshly squeezed blood orange juice for color and a punch of flavor. It's easy to make, perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious for any occasion! 


Ingredients

  • 1 oz reposado tequila
  • 1 oz Grand Marnier
  • 2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice 
  • ¾ oz lime juice
  • ½ oz simple syrup or agave syrup
  • Salt for the rim


Instructions

  1. Pour about ¼ cup of salt on a small plate. Cut a slit in a lime wedge, then run it around the rim of the glass to moisten. (You can also dip the edge of the glass in agave or simple syrup.) Roll the rim of the glass in salt until well coated. 
  2. Add the tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orange juice and simple syrup/agave to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds.
  3. Strain the margarita mixture into a salt-rimmed glass and serve cold.

Notes

Grand Marnier substitute: Cointreau, another orange liqueur variety, is the best substitute. Another orange liqueur or even brandy will also work in a pinch.

Orange and lime juice: freshly squeezed always makes for the best tasting cocktail!

Choice of tequila: We used a reposado tequila, which has been aged or "rested" in barrels for up to a year. It has nice notes of spice and doesn't pack an aggressive bite like some other tequila varieties. If you don't have reposado tequila, using whatever you have on hand will still result in a delicious cocktail.

Make ahead: if you want to make a large batch for entertaining, you can measure out all of the ingredients several hours before serving. Just be sure to stir or shake well again before serving so all of the ingredients are evenly mixed.

Best salt for rim: kosher salt is the best variety of salt for a margarita rim. We used pink salt here (mostly for the color!) and it worked fine as well. 

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: No cook
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cocktail
  • Calories: 171
  • Sugar: 13.2 g
  • Sodium: 1256.8 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18.6 g
  • Fiber: 0.3 g
  • Protein: 0.6 g

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  1. Alana says

    December 29, 2021 at 8:37 pm

    Loved this cocktail! I had a hard time finding blood oranges so I used grapefruit and navel oranges (separately) both were delicious substitutes! Can’t wait to try it with blood oranges too.

    Reply
Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

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