This Highland Margarita is sweet, tart, and a touch savory with a combination of tequila blanco, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave nectar.

pink grapefruit margarita highland margarita  

This aint your average margarita. This delicious grapefruit margarita recipe is similar to a Paloma only it’s made without soda so it’s not watered down. Mexico’s favorite tequila cocktail just got even better!

freshly squeezed grapefruit for a highland margarita

If I could survive on one cocktail it would be a margarita on the rocks with a salted rim. But not made with that fake mix from a bottle! These ingredients are fresh and simple.

This grapefruit margarita is the answer to your case of the blahs. Sweet pink grapefruit juice and tequila are meant for each other. One sip and you’ll be transported to paradise.

grapefruit margarita homemade cocktail paloma

The ingredients you’ll need to make one for yourself are simple:

  • tequila (a gentle and good-quality tequila blanco)
  • agave nectar (to sweeten)
  • fresh grapefruit juice (or a quality organic store-bought juice if fresh ones aren’t in season)
  • fresh lime juice (I don’t drink margaritas without it!)

highland margarita grapefruit margarita being made by Yvette Marquez Latina blogger

You won’t find any orange liqueur in this recipe. It’s expensive, syrupy sweet and I find that this margarita tastes clean and refreshing without it. Feel free to add additional agave nectar if you want this margarita sweeter. 

Which tequila should I use?

Since the principal flavor of the margarita is the tequila, it’s important to make sure you’ve got good-quality tequila for a gentle flavor. Here are a few of my favorite tequilas.

  • Tequila Cazadores
  • Exotico
  • El Mayor Tequila Cristalino
  • Espolòn Blanco

pink grapefruit margarita on the rocks

How to make a Highland Margarita

  1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip in salt. Fill the glass with ice.
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave nectar. Shake to combine.
  3. Strain the cocktail over the prepared glass and garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a lime wheel.

highland margarita Mexican Kitchen food blogger holding a margarita on the rocks

Products used in this recipe

More citrus margaritas you’ll love

pink grapefruit highland margarita

Salud!

Have you made this margarita? Rate the recipe and leave me a comment below to let me know how it turned out! 

Highland Margarita

5 (2 ratings)
This grapefruit margarita recipe is delicious and oh-so-refreshing when made with fresh grapefruit juice.
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 1 serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 parts tequila blanco
  • 4 parts grapefruit juice
  • 1 part fresh lime juice
  • 1 part light agave nectar

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Instructions 

  • Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip in salt. Fill the glass with ice.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave nectar. Shake to combine.
  • Strain the cocktail over the prepared glass and garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a lime wheel.

Notes

  • Select a gentle and good-quality tequila blanco.
  • Fresh grapefruit juice is best (or a quality organic store-bought juice if fresh ones aren’t in season).
  • Fresh lime juice is a MUST in this recipe.
Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 278kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 5mg, Potassium: 184mg, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin C: 39mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican

Originally published: February 2019. 

Photography by Jenna Sparks