This fun and refreshing margarita switches things up with sweet, seasonal strawberries and fresh basil!
What I love most about margaritas is that perfect balance between sweet and sour. Add in a hint of salt and you’ve got the perfect hot weather beverage! Strawberry season is still going strong, so naturally I had to turn that beautiful bounty into a delicious cocktail. The fresh basil flourishing in our patio pots completed my inspiration for this margarita. With sweetness from the berries, herbaceous aroma from the basil, and the perfect amount of lime, this margarita will quickly become one of your summer favourites!
Ingredient Notes
Strawberries: This margarita is perfect for strawberry season, but, if you can’t get good fresh strawberries, frozen strawberries work too. Whichever you choose, avoid those out-of-season strawberries that you can find year-round in the grocery store – they just don’t pack as much delicious strawberry flavour!
Basil: A large handful of fresh basil leaves adds a delicate, herbal aroma to this margarita. If you can’t find fresh basil, then I suggest skipping it rather than using dried basil. The flavour of dried basil won’t work as well in this application. We’re going for summer berries not marinara sauce!
Tequila: You can’t make a margarita without tequila! Blanco (or white) tequila is the traditional go-to for margaritas. It is minimally aged and has a purer agave flavour. The fresh, clean flavours of blanco tequila work well with the fresh flavours of the strawberries and basil. I like to use Teremana brand, but any blanco tequila will work in this recipe.
Orange Liqueur: Another must for a margarita. I have used Cointreau in this recipe, but it can be used interchangeably with Triple Sec. In a pinch, I’ve even used Grand Marnier – but that is a more expensive substitute.
Lime juice: If there’s no fresh lime juice, can it even be called a margarita?
Kosher salt: I love serving margaritas with a salt rim on the glass, but it is entirely optional. Kosher salt is perfect for the job, or you can purchase specially made margarita salt.
How to Make Strawberry Basil Margarita
First prepare the Strawberry Basil simple syrup. In a small saucepan combine the water and sugar over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup comes to a simmer. Turn down the heat and add the fresh sliced strawberries. Continue to cook on a low simmer for about 5 minutes. Add a large handful of fresh basil leaves, stirring them into the syrup.
Turn off the heat, cover, and let the syrup steep for half an hour. Strain the syrup through a fine wire mesh strainer, gently pressing the solids to drain all the syrup. Let the syrup cool and then chill until you’re ready to use.
Prepare the glass by rubbing a lime wedge around the edge of a glass. Holding the glass upside-down over the sink generously shake the kosher salt around the rim of the glass. Shake to remove the excess salt. Fill the glass half-way with ice cubes and set aside while you prepare the margarita.
To make the margarita, add the tequila, orange liqueur, strawberry basil syrup, and fresh lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Add ice, cover, and shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass, garnish with a lime slice, sliced strawberries, and fresh basil and enjoy!
More Summer Cocktails
If you’re looking for more refreshing cocktails to cool off with on the patio, try my Elderflower Grapefruit Spritzer or my Rhubarb Lavender Gin Cocktail Recipe.
