Virgin Margarita

- March 27, 2020

This virgin margarita tastes just as good as the real thing! This mocktail is tangy and lightly sweet, with a secret ingredient that takes it over the top.

Craving a margarita but can’t drink? Or serving a crowd and need a non-alcoholic option? Enter this virgin margarita! It’s tangy and refreshing, punctuated by that classic salt rim. Even better, it’s got a surprise that brings a bit of “funk” to the flavor that’s reminiscent of tequila. With a focus on tart flavors and balanced with just enough sweet, it’s truly the mocktail version of our Classic Margarita! (Side benefit: it’s lower calorie too!) Here are all our secrets.

What’s in this virgin margarita?

Here’s how to make everyone’s favorite cocktail into a margarita mocktail! The margarita is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an “official” definition of the margarita: tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. But how to make that taste as intriguing…with no alcohol at all? (A zero-proof margarita, if you will?) Here’s what we used did:

Lime juice: Always.
Lemon juice: Using lemon as well as lime brings nuance to the citrus.
Tonic water: Bubbles add a sparkle!
Maple syrup or simple syrup: Just a drizzle balances the tartness.
Pickle juice: Yes, pickle juice adds that tequila “funk”! Keep reading for why…

The secret? Pickle juice.

The secret to making this virgin margarita taste over the top delicious? Pickle juice. Adding intrigue to the flavor of a mocktail is essential to making them more than just fruit juice. It’s customary to experiment with all sorts of things, including non-alcoholic spirits. But we didn’t want to add a special ingredient you’d have to purchase specially.

That’s where pickle juice comes in! It brings a briny funk to this virgin margarita that makes you feel like there’s a little alcohol in it. But it’s not so much that it’s noticeable! It’s also totally optional, so you don’t have to do it if it weirds you out. But after multiple taste tests, pickle juice in a virgin margarita was the clear winner!

Less sugar than the standard virgin margarita!

We love our cocktails crisp and tart around here. So just like our Classic Margarita, there’s barely any added sugar in this margarita. This stands out from the standard margarita mocktail, which is usually so sickly sweet it’s barely a margarita at all! This shouldn’t taste like sweet syrupy juice: it should be crisp and tart. The sugar comes from two sources:

Only 1/4 teaspoon maple syrup or simple syrup (use whichever you’d like: maple syrup is a great natural sweetener with no refined sugar)
A hint of sugar in the tonic water

What is tonic water? Can I use sparkling water?

Tonic water is a carbonated water that also contains quinine and is lightly sweetened. It was originally was used against malaria, but these days the quinine levels are much lower. Quinine adds a slightly bitter flavor, but its not as detectable with today’s lower levels. Even so, if you taste tonic water there’s something about the nuance of bitter and sweet which is hard to replace.

True cocktails and mocktails use tonic water, so we’d recommend finding some if you can! Sparkling water adds only bubbles, but doesn’t have the nuance in flavor. We buy a brand that comes in small cans, which is nice since you’ll only use a little in this virgin margarita.

More margarita variations

If you also drink alcohol (or have friends who do), we’ve got lots more variations on this classic drink! Here are some of our favorites:

Skinny Margarita Less calories means you can drink more!
Margarita Pitcher Making this drink pitcher-style makes for easy entertaining.
Frozen Margarita Freeze your margarita into a smoothie.
Jalapeño Margarita Heat up your cocktail repertoire with this spicy version with just the right kick!
Cadillac Margarita Use top-shelf tequila and Grand Marnier liqueur to add sophistication.
Mezcal Margarita Add mezcal for a rich and smoky vibe.
Italian Margarita Substitute amaretto for Cointreau and you’re transported to Italy.
Watermelon Margarita This hot pink margarita is sweet tart and a little salty.

When to serve a virgin margarita

Anytime works for a virgin margarita! This one is perfect as a:

Zero proof margarita for guests who don’t drink alcohol
Mocktail for pregnant women
Baby shower drink (make one for mom, then classic margaritas for guests)