This blackberry basil margarita recipe is a variation of my classic agave margarita using homemade blackberry simple syrup, basil, and a few other classic margarita components. It’s a fun take on a timeless cocktail that’s sure to impress!
When you’ve been making cocktails at home for over a decade, you definitely grow fond a few recipes. For me, margaritas hold a special place in my heart. But, it’s gotta be a GOOD margarita, because there are just too many bad ones out there trying to ruin it for everyone.
💕 why this blackberry basil margarita recipe is perfect…
☀️ summer-ready. Blackberries have one of the longest growing seasons out of all berries, with varieties being in season from spring to fall. Peak blackberry season is in the summer, making this drink perfect for pool parties!
🌿 herbaceous. Basil pairs perfectly with berries, offering up a deep and herbal layer of flavor that complements the sweet-tart blackberry taste.
🥳 party-perfect. There is literally no better cocktail made for pitchers than margaritas. That’s a fact!
🛒 ingredients
- blackberry simple syrup – fresh blackberries can be too tart or sour in cocktails, especially with lime juice in the mix. The solution? This blackberry simple syrup, which has been cooked down into a deep and jammy syrup that’s perfect for using in cocktails!
- blanco tequila – choose a 100% agave blanco tequila for the best margaritas! Avoid any brands that don’t say they are made of 100% agave, and thank me later.
- Cointreau – Cointreau is an orange liqueur similar to triple sec. It’s a classic margarita ingredient that adds a bit of depth, complexity, and a bit of sweetness.
- limes – this recipe uses freshly squeezed lime juice and lime wheels to garnish the finished cocktails.
- blackberries – fresh berries muddle together with the basil to create a double-layer of blackberry flavor. You’ll also need some berries to garnish the drinks.
- basil – you’ll need fresh basil leaves to flavor this margarita, including some smaller sprigs of basil for garnishing the drinks.
- saline solution for cocktails – this special salt solution is the secret weapon in creating perfect margaritas, every time! The salt balances tartness, acidity, and sweetness to create a well-balanced cocktail.
optional ingredient
- homemade lime salt – I love using flavored salts instead of plain salt to help take cocktails to the next level! This lime salt is one of my favorites to use for margaritas!
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
For garnishing the glass:
1: Slice and juice one lime into a small dish.
2: Use a pastry brush to brush the lime juice onto the side of the glass in a stripe, or dip 1/4 of the rim in the dish of lime juice.
Gently shake off any excess, being careful not to allow the juice to get all over the glass.
3: Pour a few tablespoons of lime salt into a small dish that can fit the rim or side of the glass you will be dipping into it. Gently press the glass into the dish of salt.
4: Allow the glass to sit for a few moments to let the salt adhere to the glass, then fill the glass with ice to chill while you prepare the margarita.
For making the cocktail:
3: Add blackberries and basil leaves to a cocktail mixing glass or cocktail shaker.
4: Add in the lime juice and blackberry syrup.
5: Muddle the ingredients to combine.
6: Fill the cocktail mixing glass or shaker with ice and add the tequila.
7: Add in the Cointreau and the saline solution
8: Shake or stir well to combine. Fill your prepared glasses with ice, and strain the cocktail into each glass.
Hint: Blackberries have large seeds that can be irritating to drink. Double straining the drink helps to keep the seeds and basil leaves out, while still being able to enjoy the flavor.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Garnish
- Garnishes are perfect for giving a little clue to your guests about the flavor of the drink. I love using a bit of basil, lime, and blackberries to garnish this drink.
- Homemade lime salt adds another layer of citrus flavor while also adding the classic salt rim garnish to your cocktails.
- You can also use a dehydrated lime wheel to garnish this drink.
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ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too tart or sour – fresh blackberries are tart, and limes can also be very acidic or sour. If your drink is too tart, you have a couple of options. You can add a few more drops of saline solution, or you can up the amount of simple syrup to 1 ounce.
- not enough basil flavor – if you want more basil flavor you can add more whole basil leaves! I love basil, so I tend to be a little more heavy handed when adding this herb to my drinks. 😛
♻️ substitutions & variations
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- agave – you can use agave simple syrup or plain agave nectar in place of the blackberry syrup if you don’t have the time to make it. You may want to muddle a few more berries in to amp up the berry flavor.
- use another tequila – reposado or añejo tequila will impart a deeper flavor into this cocktail, more reminiscent of an old fashioned.
- use another orange liqueur – if you don’t have Cointreau, you can use Grand Marnier or Triple Sec.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- cocktail mixing glass or cocktail shaker – I use a cocktail mixing glass because it’s easier to muddle in, but you can also use a cocktail shaker!
- muddler – I love OXO’s muddler because it’s strong, dishwasher safe, and I don’t need to worry about splintering wood getting into my drinks.
- cocktail strainer – blackberries are full of big seeds, which can be irritating to drink. I like to strain my blackberry cocktails to get the seeds out of the drinks, and make it more enjoyable to sip.
- cocktail glasses – choose a glass with a 6-8 ounce capacity. Some ice will melt and dilute your drink when you’re mixing it, which will add to the volume of the drink. Overall, expect to have about 4 – 4.5 ounces of liquid in this drink.
💬 q+a
Why do I need to muddle the drink?
Muddling the first few ingredients helps to express the flavors of the basil and berries and incorporate them into the drink. If you don’t have a muddler, you can use the end of a spatula or wooden spoon.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
Blackberry Basil Margarita (Summer Berry Basil Margarita)
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Equipment
- 1 cocktail mixing glass or cocktail shaker
- 1 cocktail strainer
- 1 muddler
- 1 cocktail glass
- 1 pastry brush
- 1 citrus juicer or handheld citrus press
- 1 knife & cutting board
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounce blanco tequila 100% agave blanco tequila
- .75 ounces blackberry simple syrup
- .75 ounce lime juice
- .5 ounce cointreau or other orange liqueur
- 3 whole basil leaves
- 3 whole blackberries
- 5 drops saline solution
Optional Ingredient (but recommended!)
- 1 tbsp homemade lime salt or other coarse salt
Instructions
To Garnish the Glass
- Juice one lime into a small dish.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the lime juice onto the side of the glass in a stripe, or dip 1/4 of the rim in the dish of lime juice. Gently shake off any excess, being careful not to allow the juice to get all over the glass.
- Pour 1-2 TBSP of lime salt into a small dish that can fit the rim or side of the glass you will be dipping into it.
- Gently press the glass into the lime salt.
- Allow the glass to sit for a few moments to let the salt adhere to the glass, then fill the glass with ice to chill while you prepare the margarita.
To Prepare the Drink
- Add 3 blackberries and 3 basil leaves to a cocktail mixing glass or cocktail shaker.
- Add in .75 ounces of lime juice.
- Add in .75 ounces of simple syrup and muddle the ingredients to combine.
- Fill the cocktail mixing glass or shaker with ice.
- Add 1.5 ounces of tequila.
- Add in .5 ounces of Cointreau.
- Add 3-5 drops of saline solution.
- Shake or stir well to combine.
- Strain into cocktail glasses.
- Garnish each drink with a small sprig of basil, a lime wheel, and a blackberry.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
