If you picture a frozen “pool drink” in a hurricane glass when you hear the words “strawberry margarita,” listen up! 👀 This fresh strawberry margarita is nothing like the icy, artificial concoctions you’ll find at most resort bars. Made with fresh strawberries, a homemade strawberry syrup, premium blanco tequila, and freshly squeezed lime juice, this cocktail delivers REAL berry flavor in every sip.
I’m a margarita enthusiast through and through, and when it comes to variations of a classic margarita cocktail, I don’t play. 😤 Some favorites of mine include using limoncello for an Italian-inspired margarita, and this Star Wars themed margarita straight out of a galactic theme park bar! THIS seasonal strawberry marg strikes the perfect balance of bold berry taste with classic margarita flavor. It’s perfect when berries are in peak season (aka SUMMERTIME!) and a real crowd-pleaser!
👀 the secret sauce…
✨ the flavor: This cocktail uses The Intrigue Flavor Factor to captivate you with sweet syrupy strawberry taste muddled with chunks of fresh berries to keep every sip interesting! The Balancing Act helps keep the acidity of fresh lime juice in check with the punch of silver tequila.
🎯 the method: Muddling fresh strawberries releases their natural juices and flavor, while the strawberry syrup adds concentrated sweetness and depth. Shaking with ice chills and dilutes the cocktail to perfection, creating a smooth, balanced drink.
🏆 the win: You get a super fresh cocktail full of real berry flavor, with nothing artificial, and no blender necessary!
📚the backstory of developing this fresh strawberry margarita
(aka everyone’s favorite part of food blogs!)
I tested this recipe multiple times using different methods; from muddled berries to fruit-infused tequila to strawberry puree. And I landed on this version because it hits the ✨perfect balance✨ of flavor. The strawberry syrup amplifies the fresh berry flavor while adding just the right amount of sweetness to offset the lime’s acidity and tequila’s bite. Plus, you still get that signature margarita taste instead of it being overwhelmed by fruit.
- Test #1: Agave syrup instead of strawberry syrup – I tried this with both muddled berries and puree. The flavor was good, but it was missing that intense strawberry POW I was after.
- Test #2: Strawberry puree – While this made a genuinely good drink, it was almost too strawberry-forward. The berry flavor was so dominant that it overshadowed the margarita character I wanted to preserve.
- Test #3: Muddled berries with strawberry syrup – This combo gave me exactly what I was looking for. The syrup amplified the fresh berry flavor while adding just the right sweetness to balance the tart lime and bold tequila.
The final results: The muddled berries with strawberry syrup won by a landslide. But if you don’t have strawberry syrup on hand and really don’t want to make it, you can still get comparable flavor using pureed berries with agave syrup.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 step-by-step process for making fresh strawberry margs
1: If you want to garnish your glasses, prepare your glasses by brushing with fresh lime juice or strawberry syrup, then pressing into lime salt.
2: Allow the lime salt rim to dry so the garnished sets.
3: Add fresh strawberries to your cocktail shaker with lime juice and strawberry syrup and muddle them thoroughly until they’re broken down and juicy.
4: Add the tequila to the shaker with the muddled strawberry mix.
5: Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
6: Using a Hawthorne strainer, strain the cocktail into your prepped glasses.
7: Garnish each glass with a fresh strawberry, either sliced in half and perched on the rim or skewered on a cocktail pick.
8: Serve immediately!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- balance the flavor – limes can be tricky and vary a lot in acidity, so make sure to taste your drinks before serving them. If they’re too tart, you can add a few drops of homemade saline solution for drinks, or you can add another 1/2 ounce of strawberry syrup.
- not enough berry flavor – if your strawberries aren’t ripe, you might need to add more to get a bigger berry flavor. You can also puree them in a blender to get a strawberry “juice” that is more potent in taste.
- too chunky – make sure to strain the larger chunks out of your drinks, this is especially important if you’re going to be drinking your cocktails through a straw!
🔆 top tip
Don’t skip making the strawberry syrup! While you can substitute with agave and extra muddled berries, the syrup is what gives this margarita its incredible depth of flavor and perfect sweetness.
🍽️ serving ideas for strawberry margaritas
- summer parties – serve your margs with classic party food like mini appetizer pizzas, your favorite chips, mixed nuts, and well-seasoned snack mix for the perfect summer party spread!
- spice it up – you can add a couple slices of jalapeño into the cocktail shaker to muddle with the berries, or use a blend of salt and tajin to rim your glass for a sweet-n-spicy blend of flavors!
- margarita bar – wanna let your guests choose their own flavor adventure?! Pick a few fresh fruits and infused fruit syrups and set up a DIY margarita bar to let your guests customize their own cocktails!
♻️ customize your strawberry margaritas
- agave syrup – you can use ½ ounce agave nectar syrup and increase the muddled strawberries to 3 per drink. The flavor won’t be as intense, but it’ll still be delicious.
- swap the tequila – substitute with a reposado tequila (or another variety of tequila) for a slightly deeper, more complex flavor, though it will change the drink’s “light-n-fruity” character.
more seasonal margaritas to make
Looking for more cocktail inspo?! Check out some more margarita recipes on the site!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 can you store fresh margaritas?!
Like other cocktails, fresh margaritas are best enjoyed immediately after making them. However!! You can prep the strawberry syrup up to 2 weeks in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Fresh lime juice can be squeezed and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
If you’re prepping for a party, you can make your margs in a pitcher up to 24 hours in advance, but don’t mix any ice in! Shake over ice just before serving for the best flavor!
💬 q+a
What’s the best tequila to use?
Use a quality 100% blue weber agave blanco tequila. Some great options include Espolòn, Cazadores, Dobel, Lalo, or Milagro Silver. Avoid cheaper mixto tequilas that aren’t 100% agave, or other varieties with lots of additives.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
No, this drink is best made with fresh berries. If you only have frozen berries on hand, then you can make this recipe in a blender for a frosty frozen version!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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Fresh Strawberry Margarita (Easy Strawberry Margarita on the Rocks)
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Equipment
- cocktail shaker or cocktail mixing glass
- muddler
- hawthorne strainer
- cocktail glass old fashioned or rocks glass
Ingredients
- 2 whole fresh strawberries about 33g total
- 2 ounces tequila blanco 100% agave tequila
- 0.75 ounce fresh lime juice freshly squeezed
- 0.75 ounce strawberry syrup or agave syrup
- ice for shaking and serving
- lime salt optional, for rimming glass
- 1 fresh strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- Prep glassware. Brush lime juice on a small portion of the glass rim and dip into lime salt. Set aside to dry as you prepare the cocktail.lime salt
- Muddle berries with juice + syrup. In a cocktail shaker, muddle strawberries, lime juice, and strawberry syrup together, making sure to really smoosh the berries well.2 whole fresh strawberries, 0.75 ounce fresh lime juice, 0.75 ounce strawberry syrup
- Add tequila. Add the tequila to the shaker.2 ounces tequila blanco
- Shake to chill. Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to chill the drink.ice
- Fill glass with ice. Add ice to your prepared glass to fill to the top.ice
- Strain into glass. Using a hawthorn strainer, strain the cocktail into your prepared glassware. Straining the drink helps keep chunks of berries from getting caught in the straw!
- Garnish + serve. Garnish the drink with a strawberry sliced in half or skewered on a cocktail pick. Enjoy immediately!1 fresh strawberry
Notes
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- balance the flavor – limes can be tricky and vary a lot in acidity, so make sure to taste your drinks before serving them. If they’re too tart, you can add a few drops of homemade saline solution for drinks, or you can add another 1/2 ounce of strawberry syrup.
- not enough berry flavor – if your strawberries aren’t ripe, you might need to add more to get a bigger berry flavor. You can also puree them in a blender to get a strawberry “juice” that is more potent in taste.
- too chunky – make sure to strain the larger chunks out of your drinks, this is especially important if you’re going to be drinking your cocktails through a straw!
♻️ customize your strawberry margaritas
- agave syrup – you can use ½ ounce agave nectar syrup and increase the muddled strawberries to 3 per drink. The flavor won’t be as intense, but it’ll still be delicious.
- swap the tequila – substitute with a reposado tequila (or another variety of tequila) for a slightly deeper, more complex flavor, though it will change the drink’s “light-n-fruity” character.
