Cadillac Mezcal Margaritas

This cadillac mezcal margarita is made with top-shelf Grand Mariner, smoky mezcal, and fresh lime juice. Topped off with bubbly club soda, it’s the most refreshing cocktail that everybody will love. Quick & easy to make in just about five minutes.

What’s more refreshing than an ice cold cocktail on a hot summer night? As a Registered Dietitian, I practice balance in my lifestyle, and for me that means enjoying my favorite alcoholic beverages every now and then. In the summertime, a margarita on the rocks Is one of my favorite cocktails to sip on at a cookout, on the beach, or just hanging out with friends.

This cadillac mezcal margarita recipe is a result of a happy accident one night. My favorite pilates instructor, Kara Duval, posted her margarita recipe on Instagram. I knew I wanted to recreate it with friends, but using mezcal in place of tequila.

Prefer mocktails? Try my refreshing blackberry mojito mocktail or strawberry lemon mocktail!

We did not have Cointreau when we set out to make mezcal margaritas, the orange liqueur typically used for margarita recipes. But, we did have a bottle of Grand Mariner, a different cognac-based orange liqueur. The result of replacing Cointreau with Grand Mariner was SO delicious and smooth, I knew I had to share this recipe with you guys!

This mezcal margarita has no added sugar and is dairy free and gluten free. The recipe makes two margaritas, but you can easily double or triple it for a crowd and make a pitcher!

What is a cadillac margarita?

A cadillac margarita is basically an upgraded margarita. It uses top-shelf ingredients so the result is complex, smooth, and so refreshing. Instead of Cointreau or triple sec, you’ll use Grand Marnier, which has a deeper flavor with notes of oak and vanilla. Yum!

Cadillac margaritas traditionally use reposado tequila that has been aged in oak barrels, but for this recipe we are using mezcal! If you’re wondering, “what is mezcal?”, it is a distilled alcoholic beverage from Mexico made from the hearts of agave plants that have been slow roasted and smoked. Mezcal is related to tequila as it is made from the same agave plant, and is traditionally produced in Oaxaca, Mexico.

What does mezcal taste like?

Since it comes from slow roasted agave, mezcal has a signature smoky flavor. Depending on where the agave plants were grown and how they were processed, mezcal can have various flavor notes including citrus, pepper, pineapple, floral, vanilla, peppermint, or other less desirable flavor notes like rubber or petrol. Because of this, it’s super important to buy a high quality mezcal – even better if it’s a Mexican-owned mezcal brand.

Ingredients in cadillac mezcal margaritas

You need just five ingredients to make these cocktails:

• Mezcal
• Grand Mariner
• Limes
• Club soda
• Kosher salt for the rim of the glasses (optional)

How to make margaritas

1. Put a bunch of ice in a cocktail shaker.
2. Pour in mezcal, Grand Mariner, and fresh lime juice.
3. Cover and shake, or use a cocktail spoon to mix everything up thoroughly.
4. Salt the rim of two rocks glasses.
5. Fill the glasses with ice.
6. Strain the margaritas into the prepared glasses.
7. Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy!

Wondering if alcohol can be a part of a healthy lifestyle? Check out this post for my guide to healthy drinking!

How to salt the rim of a glass for margaritas

1. Chill glasses in the fridge for at least ten minutes.
2. Pour Kosher salt into a shallow dish or plate in an even layer.
3. Remove the glasses from the fridge, then rub a freshly cut lime wedge around the rim.
4. Twist the glass rim in the salt a few times so it sticks to the lime juice.
5. Add your ice and margarita and enjoy!

What food to serve with mezcal margaritas

I love to enjoy a margarita with any Mexican-inspired foods! Try this mezcal margarita recipe with homemade guacamole, vegetarian enchiladas, tacos, Crunchwraps, or burrito bowls!

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

Print