Fall Margarita Recipe

by | Sep 5, 2025 | Cocktail Recipes, Holiday Cocktails, Popular Cocktails, Seasonal Cocktails, Signature Drinks

Fall Margarita cocktail recipe in a rocks glass with cinnamon sugar rim, ice, orange wedge, and cinnamon stick garnish. Cozy autumn margarita flavors on a marble bar top with blurred fall leaves in the background.

Prep time: 5 minutes | Servings: 1 cocktail

This Fall Margarita that layers crisp apple, warm spice, and bright lime over smooth tequila has already become a seasonal staple on our drink menus!

If you love easy tequila drinks you can make at home, this autumn cocktail hits the sweet-spot with a familiar margarita balance and cozy fall flavors. At our Long Island events, we batch it for tailgate drinking, thanksgiving/friendsgiving events and all sorts of seasonal parties.

If you prefer other types of margaritas then you’re in the right place! We’ve linked our top fall variations below.

Blood Orange Margarita in a rocks glass with orange slice Blood Orange Margarita
Prickly Pear Margarita with bright pink color and lime Prickly Pear Margarita
Apple Cider Margarita with cinnamon sugar rim Apple Cider Margarita

About This Fall Margarita

This recipe keeps a classic 3-2-1 margarita ratio in spirit (tequila-orange liqueur-lime) and adds a seasonal backbone: a touch of apple cider and cinnamon-maple to round the edges so no syrupy mixes needed. We favor blanco tequila for a clean, citrus-forward profile, but reposado works if you like subtle oak and vanilla.

Pro link: Planning a crowd? Use our Alcohol Shopping List Calculator to size bottles by guest count.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz blanco tequila
  • 1 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec)
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • 0.75 oz apple cider
  • 0.25–0.5 oz cinnamon-maple syrup (to taste)
  • Pinch of fine salt (optional, brightens citrus)
  • Garnish: cinnamon-sugar rim, lime wheel, thin apple slice
  • Ice

Steps

  1. Rim & prep: Mix equal parts cinnamon + sugar. Rim half the glass with lime and dip. Fill with ice if serving on the rocks.
  2. Shake: Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime, cider, syrup, a tiny pinch of salt, and ice. Shake hard 12–15 seconds.
  3. Strain: Double-strain into a chilled coupe (up) or over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish: Add lime wheel and apple slice.

Bartender Tips

  • Balance to taste: Ciders vary so we recommend you start with 0.25 oz syrup; add more if needed.
  • Fresh juice wins: Squeeze lime to order for bright acid.
  • Ice matters: Big rocks = slower dilution and bolder flavor.

Flavor Pairings

  • Goes with: apple, pear, cranberry, cinnamon, maple, ginger.
  • Food: charred chicken tacos, squash quesadillas, apple-slaw nachos.

DIY Syrups (Optional)

Cinnamon-Maple Syrup

Simmer 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup maple syrup with 2 cinnamon sticks for 5 minutes. Cool, bottle, and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

Apple Cider Reduction

Reduce 1 cup apple cider over low heat to ~1/2 cup. Cool and use 0.25–0.5 oz for a richer apple note.

Variations

  • Smoky Fall Margarita: Split tequila with mezcal (1.5 oz tequila + 0.5 oz mezcal).
  • Spiced Cran-Apple: Add 0.5 oz cranberry juice + 1 dash Angostura.
  • Highball: Build over ice and top with a splash of ginger beer.
  • Mocktail: Swap tequila/liqueur for 2.5 oz sparkling water + 0.25 oz orange juice; keep cider + lime.

Party Batch (8 drinks)

  • 2 cups (16 oz) blanco tequila
  • 1 cup (8 oz) orange liqueur
  • 1 cup (8 oz) fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 cup (6 oz) apple cider
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz) cinnamon-maple syrup (adjust to taste)

Combine in a pitcher, chill 2–4 hours, and stir before serving. Pour 4–5 oz per drink over ice. Rim glasses just before pouring.

When to Serve

Perfect for pumpkin-carving night, Friendsgiving, game day, or cozy date nights in. Need staff? Hire a bartender and we’ll batch + garnish on site.

Fall Margarita FAQs

What is a Fall Margarita made of?
A Fall Margarita keeps the classic tequila–orange liqueur–lime core and adds apple cider plus cinnamon-maple syrup for seasonal warmth.
Can I batch Fall Margaritas?
Yes. For 8 drinks: 16 oz tequila, 8 oz orange liqueur, 8 oz lime, 6 oz cider, 4 oz cinnamon-maple syrup. Chill 2–4 hours and pour 4–5 oz over ice.
Best tequila for Fall Margaritas?
A clean, citrusy blanco keeps flavors bright. Reposado adds light vanilla and oak if you prefer a rounder profile.
How sweet should it be?
Ciders vary so we recommend you start with 0.25 oz cinnamon-maple syrup and adjust to taste after a quick test shake.

See more Cocktail Recipes or our seasonal roundup: Fall Cocktail Recipes.