Perfect Pomegranate Margarita

Take your holiday parties and anytime happy hours to a whole new level with this Pomegranate Margarita recipe! This holiday twist on a timeless classic will elevate your home bar and drink menu to delicious heights. You could even leave this cheery pomegranate margarita out for Santa on Christmas Eve!

This recipe was originally published on December 20, 2022. It was updated with new recipe information on December 16, 2024.

You may have noticed a theme to my recent cocktails: they’re pretty, fruity, boozy, and many of them are full of pomegranate! I seriously love this fruit and am always buying it because it is Baby J’s favorite. As fate would have it, the options for cocktails with pomegranate juice continue to abound. So, with leftover arils and juice, I decided to make myself a pomegranate margarita!

I love hosting beautiful holiday parties, and this fabulous cocktail really delivers big on festive flair. It’s easy to make and tastes great with a pink salt rim. I sweetened the margarita up with some agave, but feel free to add more for more sweetness or leave out it out for a tart drink. You can also make any of my other favorite variations to make it your own!

For more pomegranate recipes, check out my Perfect Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Autumn Kale Salad, or Freekeh Porridge with Pomegranate.

The Best Tequila for Pomegranate Margaritas

Silver tequila, also known as tequila silver or tequila blanco, is the best option for these margaritas. It is smooth, crisp, and clean, making the tequila and pomegranate juice a match made in heaven! Use a decent, mid-shelf tequila, such as El Tesoro, Tapatio, or Cimmaron, though your favorite top-shelf tequila certainly works too.

Though you can use gold or reposado tequila if preferred or they are all you have on hand, they can overpower the juice, making it a more tequila-forward drink.

Other Ingredients

Pomegranate Juice: Though you can juice fresh pomegranates if you have them and know how to do so, I usually just use store-bought bottled pomegranate juice. You can find it in most grocery stores’ juice or refrigerated aisle. Simple and delicious!

Triple Sec: For this recipe, I just use classic triple sec, though you can substitute a top-shelf orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau, for a fancier twist.

Agave Syrup: To sweeten things up! If needed, you can swap maple or simple syrup.

Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best pomegranate juice cocktails; it’s so much better than bottled.

Himalayan Sea Salt: For making a salt rim. You can use fine, medium, or coarse salt.

Pomegranate Seeds: Though technically optional, a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds before serving adds a cheery and fruity touch.

How to Make Pomegranate Margaritas

• Rim the Glasses. If desired, give the cocktail glasses a salt rim. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to a small, shallow dish or plate and a few tablespoons of Himalayan pink to another. Holding a cocktail glass rim side down, dip the edge of the glass into the juice as you slowly rotate, coating the entire rim with juice. Immediately transfer the cup to the small salt dish and rotate it rim side down in the salt until the entire rim is covered. Complete the steps with the second cocktail glass.

• Add Ice. Scoop the ice into the cocktail glasses, being careful not to knock the salt from the rim with it.

• Add Ingredients to Shaker. Add a large handful of ice, lemon juice, pomegranate juice, triple sec, tequila, and agave syrup to the cocktail shaker

• Shake and Serve. Cap the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain the cocktail into the cocktail glasses. Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds and enjoy immediately!

Recipe Pro-Tips

• Carefully add ice to the glasses. Scoop or drop the ice into the center of the rimmed cups to keep from knocking the salt from the rim.
• Alternative: Rim with a lemon wedge. Instead of dipping the rim in lemon juice, you can cut a slit in a lemon wedge before running it around it.
• Chill the cocktail glasses. Keep your drink cool for longer by adding the glasses to the freezer for 15-30 minutes after rimming them.
• Shake until frosty. Vigorously shake the pomegranate cocktails until the outside of the cocktail shaker is cold and frosty.

Recipe Variations

These pom margaritas are quite perfect as written, but you can add your own spin with any of these optional substitutions and additions!

• Use Lime Juice: Swap freshly squeezed lime juice for lemon for a brighter, more tropical tequila pomegranate cocktail.
• Make It Sweeter: The agave syrup adds natural sweetness, enhancing the sweet fruitiness of the pomegranate juice. If the drink is still too tart, just mix in another teaspoon or two of syrup.
• Rim It with Sugar: Make the cocktail glass rims shimmer by dipping them in sanding or cane sugar instead of salt.
• Use a Different Tequila: Smooth silver tequila is my top pick for this pomegranate margarita recipe. You can use gold or reposado tequila if you prefer a bolder margarita, however!
• Add Cranberry Juice: Add a fruity twist using an equal mix of pomegranate juice and cranberry juice cocktail.

Alternative Serving Options

Enjoy this pomegranate tequila cocktail as you wish with any of these serving variations:

• Martini Glasses: Strain the margarita into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a lime wheel or twist for a sophisticated touch.

• Frozen: Make a frozen pomegranate margarita by blending the ingredients with a large handful of ice. Pour into wide-rimmed margarita glasses for a fiesta-worthy presentation!

• Pitcher: Serve a crowd with a pomegranate margarita pitcher! Just combine 1/2 cup each of fresh lemon juice and pomegranate juice, 1 cup triple sec, 2 cups silver tequila, and 1/4 cup agave syrup in a pitcher. Stir well and serve over ice; this makes 8 servings!

Frequently Asked Questions

More Fruity Cocktail Recipes

• Pomegranate Aperol Spritz
• Strawberry Rose Bramble Cocktail
• Apple Cider Sangria
• Pineapple Summer Sangria
• Winter Sunrise Cocktail