Do you love a chilled margarita with a classic salt rim, and a delightful balance of tequila and lime juice?
Well, it’s time to forget everything you think you know about margaritas. This pumpkin spice version is a drink that you are going to want to mix up over and over again throughout the fall season.
You might think that it’s a bit strange to add fuse fall flavors with a classic tequila cocktail, but I promise you that this combination of ingredients is a pure delight.
The warming spices that infuse the homemade simple syrup make a lovely sweet counterpart to the real pumpkin that’s in this drink, contrasting nicely with the brightness of the lime juice. There’s richness, there’s acidity, and there’s a nice boozy kick at the end of every single sip.
The key to making this cocktail truly delicious is using the right tequila. You have to start with a solid base base to make an amazing drink, after all.
My recommendation is to use a reposado tequila for this particular margarita recipe. The golden, slightly aged tequila gives the cocktail richness and balance. It’s the ideal tequila to use with mixed drinks like this one.
So what is reposado, versus other golden variations of tequila like anejo?
Let’s start at the beginning, with blanco. Blanco is silver tequila that is described as “new,” since it is bottled almost immediately after the final distillation. It’s held in containers for less than 60 days, so it doesn’t possess the more aged flavors that reposado does.
Reposado tequila can be aged anywhere from 60 days to one year, usually in oak barrels. You still get the flavor of agave and the distinctive aroma that is characteristic of tequila. It has a mellow oak flavor, and that’s why it works so well in mixed drinks.
The final of the three most popular varietals is anejo. Anejo tequila is aged for one to three years in oak barrels, but those barrels are usually smaller than the ones that house reposado tequila. These have more of an aged flavor, and really should be reserved for sipping, because the flavor is so unique and varied.
The lightly aged flavor of a reposado is all that you need to give this margarita body and character, without being completely overwhelming or taking away from the other flavors in the drink.
The next time Taco Tuesday rolls around this fall, I hope you will think of this pumpkin spice margarita to wet your whistle.
This cocktail pairs well with a lot of different meats, as well as seasonal vegetables that are at their peak throughout the harvest season. Serve it with any fall meal, and you’re guaranteed to fall head over heels for it.
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Pumpkin Spice Margarita
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
An autumnal twist on the traditional margarita, our pumpkin spice version is a delicious fall-flavored way to enjoy tequila.
Ingredients
For the Flavored Simple Syrup:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- One 1/2-inch piece of fresh peeled ginger
For the Rimming Mix:
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
For the Cocktail:
- 2 fl oz reposado tequila
- 1/2 fl oz Cointreau, or your favorite orange liqueur
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 fl oz pumpkin spice simple syrup
- 1 1/2 Tbsp 100% pumpkin puree
Instructions
To Make the Simple Syrup:
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cover. Let steep for 25 minutes.
- Drain the mixture and discard the cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger. Set aside to cool completely, or transfer to a lidded jar or airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
To Make the Sugar Rim:
- When you’re ready to make the cocktail, add the sugar and pumpkin pie spice to a small bowl. Stir to combine. Transfer to a small plate or shallow saucer.
- Wet the rim of a cocktail glass and rim with spiced sugar. Set aside.
To Make the Cocktail:
- Add all cocktail ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well to combine.
- Fill your rimmed cocktail glass with ice and strain the margarita into the glass. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutritional information below includes the quantity of simple syrup used to make one cocktail, not the entire batch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Margaritas
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Keywords: fall, autumn, pumpkin spice, pumpkin, margarita
Cooking By the Numbers…
Step 1 – Make Simple Syrup
Measure out all of the ingredients that you need for the simple syrup.
Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it’s boiling, stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Remove from the heat and let steep for 25 minutes.
Strain out the cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger through a fine mesh strainer. Let the syrup cool completely before making the cocktail. If you want to make this ahead of time, it can be stored in the refrigerator a week to 10 days. It’s also delicious in homemade coffee drinks!
Step 2 – Make Rimming Sugar
Measure out the ingredients for the rimming sugar.
Add the sugar and pumpkin pie spice to a small bowl, and stir to combine. Pour the spiced sugar onto a plate.
Wet the rim of a cocktail glass, invert, and twist to rim with the spiced sugar. Set aside.
Step 3 – Make Cocktail
Measure out all of the ingredients for the cocktail.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add all of the ingredients. Shake well to combine and thoroughly chill.
Fill the rimmed cocktail glass with ice. Strain the beverage into the glass.
Serve immediately.
If You Love Pumpkin Spice, We Have More Recipes for You
Obviously, if you are on this page, you love pumpkin spice. After you get a taste for that traditional fall flavor, you can’t help but crave more.
If you would like even more recipes to revel in this delicious combination that just screams “Fall!” check out a few of my personal favorites below:
- Cool off with a pumpkin spice latte cocktail for a boozy twist on the PSL that you will love. It’s creamy, dreamy, and spiked to pure spiced perfection.
- Wake up to pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls, fresh from the oven. They are homemade, fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness.
- Need a snack? Look no further than this pumpkin cream cheese. It’s perfect for pairing with strawberries, gingersnap cookies, and so much more.
- Want a healthy start to your morning? Make two of our favorite smoothies: pumpkin pie or pumpkin oatmeal smoothies, with all the sweet tastes of the classic pie, but with good-for-you ingredients!
If you want even more recipes, visit our full archive of pumpkin spice goodies.
Which pumpkin spice recipe do you want to try next? Tell us in the comments below, and come back to rate the recipe once you’ve enjoyed your last sip of this deliciousness.
Looking for more tasty fall cocktail recipes? These should float your boat:
- Classic Gespenstischbowle (Spooky Punch)
- Moosebeereherbstblätter Bowle (Cranberry Autumn Leaves Punch)
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Cocktail
- Pumpkin Pie Creamer (for all your coffee drinks in the morning!)
Photos by Meghan Yager, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details.
Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.
About Meghan Yager
Meghan Yager is a food addict turned food and travel writer with a love for creating uncomplicated, gourmet recipes and devouring anything the world serves up. As the author of the food and travel blog Cake 'n Knife, Meghan focuses on unique foodie experiences from around the world to right at home in your own kitchen.
Can you make this into a frozen margarita?
Absolutely! Instead of shaking, just blend with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ice until slushy. You can also multiply the ingredients as needed to make this drink in the blender in batches. Some mixologists will increase the quantity of lime juice and flavored simple syrup to taste since cold blended drinks can have a more mild flavor. Enjoy!