Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail Recipe

A fun twist on the classic, this Strawberry Basil Margarita cocktail recipe is bursting with vibrant flavor. Simple to whip up for a night on the patio or a dinner party with friends. Comes together in 5 minutes and is a refreshing variation of everyone’s favorite tequila drink!

A classic margarita is simple: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. A touch of agave if desired. Perhaps a salted rim. Frozen or on the rocks–and sometimes straight up.

This Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail is a fun spin on the classic. Fresh berries muddled with basil for a full on flavor experience like nothing else! Basil is not just for savory recipes–it can pair so well with sweet!

Why this recipe is the very best!

• It’s a perfect summer cocktail. Fresh summer produce mixed right into your drink. Love picking ingredients fresh from the garden and adding them straight into my glass!
• A fun twist on a classic margarita. If you love margaritas, this strawberry basil version is a flavorful and refreshing spin. The flavors are so intriguing and give the “same old” a run for it’s money for sure!
• Simple to make: Other than muddling up the strawberries and basil, this cocktail whips up in no time and you will be sitting on the patio sipping in minutes. No need to really have any bar tending ingredients, you can use a wooden spoon to muddle and squeeze those limes all on your own if needed!

Ingredients and Swaps:

• strawberries: I often use fresh strawberries because I typically crave this strawberry basil cocktail when berries are in season and we always have them around. Frozen berries will work fine, just thaw them first.
• basil: you definitely want fresh!
• tequila: I prefer blanco tequila in this recipe. My husband typically has reposado in the liquor cabinet which is why the tequila below doesn’t look clear. It has a more caramel color from the aging process in oak barrels.
• Contreau: a higher quality, smoother orange liqueur is ideal in this cocktail, but if you have another triple sec, that will still work!
• lime juice: I strongly suggest freshly squeezed over the stuff in the bottle, unless it’s your only option.
• honey or agave: honey is what most people have on hand so that is what I went with for the main ingredient. Agave feels more on par with a margarita so you could opt for that instead if preferred.
• sea salt (optional): if you like a salted rim, great, and if you don’t, that’s great too. You could also make a sugared rim for some sweetness!

How to make a strawberry basil margarita:

Put the fresh strawberries and basil leaves in the bottom of a glass or cocktail shaker.

Using a muddler or wooden spoon, or even a fork, muddle (press the ingredients against the glass) the strawberry and basil. You will know you are at the right spot when you can start to smell the basil. Try not to over muddle or the basil will become bitter.

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Transfer the muddled berries and basil to a cocktail shaker if not already there and add the tequila, contreau, lime juice and honey. Add several ice cubes. Shake well for about 15 seconds to thoroughly mix the cocktail.

Pour the cocktail over fresh ice cubes in your preferred glass. To salt the rim, rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and then dip into salt.

Garnish with fresh lime and basil or a couple of strawberries and enjoy!

Does a margarita need Contreau?

Orange liqueur, or Triple sec as it is often called, is a main ingredient in margaritas. Contreau is a type of triple sec. It is smoother and has a stronger flavor than some lower quality versions. We opt for Contreau for the best strawberry margarita, but it is not necessary.

Grand Marnier is another popular orange liqueur if you want to switch it up.

Want to make this cocktail a mocktail?

It can be done! To make an alcohol version of this strawberry basil margarita, simply shake the muddled berries and basil with lime juice and orange or lime seltzer water. Still refreshing and delicious flavors, minus the alcohol.

Expert Tips:

• Bond said it best, “Shaken, not stirred.” To really make the best strawberry basil cocktail, shaking is key. It aerates the cocktail giving the liquid more texture. Even if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can still do it. Put it in a jar or container that you can close and seal.
• When it comes to ice cubes, bigger is better. Love small crushed ice pieces? They are not ideal in margaritas. Larger ice cubes melt at a much slower rate so your cocktail will not get overly diluted too quickly.
• It may be tempting to dump this into the blender, but frozen margaritas are not equal to on the rocks. I have not tested this frozen to date, but plan to do so soon. Frozen margaritas typically require more honey or agave and more lime juice.

You can also make this large batch:

To prepare this strawberry basil margarita larger batch in a pitcher, use the following measurements. You can also prepare it several hours in advance if desired.

• 1 lb. strawberries
• 1/2 cup packed basil leaves
• 1 1/2 c tequila (12 oz.)
• 3/4 cup Contreau
• 1 cup plus one tablespoon lime juice
• 3 – 4 tablespoons honey

This will make about 6 servings.

Other cocktails you may like:

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