Bright, fizzy, and just a little cheeky, the Cherry Coke Margarita is a playful twist on a classic cocktail. It blends the bright citrus of lime and the warm kick of tequila with sweet cherry liqueur and the familiar cola fizz. Serve it over ice for a refreshing sip that tastes like summer nights and backyard parties.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Servings: 1 cocktail
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Nutrition Information (per serving, approximate)
- Calories per serving: 210 kcal
- Protein: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
Why Make This Cherry Coke Margarita
Make this Cherry Coke Margarita when you want a fun, fizzy cocktail that’s easy to put together. It keeps the tang of a margarita but adds cola sweetness and cherry depth. It’s great for casual parties, barbecues, or a relaxed evening at home. The drink smells bright from lime, tastes of sweet cherry and citrus, and feels lively on the tongue thanks to the carbonation.
How to Make Cherry Coke Margarita
This cocktail is simple: shake the spirits and lime, then pour over ice and top with Cherry Coke for fizz. The key is cold ingredients and good ice so the drink stays crisp. You can prepare the spirit-lime mix ahead, but add the soda at the last second for the best texture.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz tequila
- 1 oz cherry liqueur
- 3 oz Cherry Coke
- 1 oz lime juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge or cherry for garnish
Directions:
Step 1: Preparation
Chill a cocktail shaker and a glass if you can. Measure 1 oz tequila, 1 oz cherry liqueur, and 1 oz fresh lime juice. Fill the shaker half full with ice.
Step 2: Mixing
Add the tequila, cherry liqueur, and lime juice to the shaker. Secure the lid and shake hard for 10–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels cold.
Step 3: Cooking
(No cooking is needed.) Strain the shaken mix into a glass filled with fresh ice. This step cools and mixes the flavors without heat.
Step 4: Finishing
Top the drink with 3 oz Cherry Coke. Give the drink a gentle stir to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge or a cherry. Serve immediately while it’s fizzy and cold.
How to Serve Cherry Coke Margarita
Serve this cocktail in a rocks glass or a short tumbler over plenty of fresh ice. For a party, serve in a tall glass with a large ice cube to slow dilution. Offer a lime wedge or maraschino cherry on the rim. Pair with salty snacks like chips and salsa or grilled skewers—the sweet fizz balances spicy and salty foods well.
How to Store Cherry Coke Margarita
- Assembled drink: Best served immediately. Once topped with soda, drink within 10–15 minutes for best fizz and texture.
- Pre-mixed base (tequila + cherry liqueur + lime): Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to 24 hours. Do not add soda until serving.
- Cherry Coke (unopened): Store at room temperature, follow bottle label. Opened soda keeps in the fridge for 1–2 days but will lose fizz.
- Ice and garnishes: Keep ice in the freezer and garnishes in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
Expert Tips for Perfect Cherry Coke Margarita
- Use fresh lime juice for bright, clean flavor. Bottled lime juice tastes flat by comparison.
- Chill all components for the coldest, crispest drink. A warm glass melts ice quickly.
- Shake well to meld tequila and liqueur before adding soda. This keeps flavors balanced.
- Add the Cherry Coke last to keep carbonation. Stir gently to avoid a flat drink.
- Adjust sweetness: use a splash less cherry liqueur or swap to diet Cherry Coke if you want fewer calories.
- If you prefer more citrus, add an extra 1/2 oz lime juice and a small simple syrup splash if needed.
Delicious Variations
- Frozen Cherry Coke Margarita: Blend the ingredients (except the soda) with a cup of ice. Pour into a glass and float a little Cherry Coke on top.
- Cherry Limeade Margarita: Replace Cherry Coke with cherry juice and a splash of soda water for a less sweet, fruit-forward drink.
- Spicy Cherry Coke Margarita: Muddle a slice of jalapeño in the shaker before adding the spirits for a gentle heat.
- Virgin version: Replace tequila and cherry liqueur with cherry juice and a non-alcoholic tequila alternative, top with Cherry Coke.
- Skinny Cherry Coke Margarita: Use 1/2 oz cherry liqueur, 1 oz tequila, 1 oz lime juice, and diet Cherry Coke to cut sugar and calories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make this cocktail without alcohol?
A: Yes. Use 2 oz cherry juice plus 1 oz fresh lime juice and top with Cherry Coke. Add a non-alcoholic spirit substitute if you like a more cocktail-like body.
Q: What tequila is best for this margarita?
A: A blanco (silver) tequila works best. It’s clean and bright and won’t overpower the cherry and lime. Reposado can add a touch of oak if you want a richer flavor.
Q: Can I make this for a crowd?
A: Yes. Multiply the tequila, cherry liqueur, and lime juice by the number of servings and pre-mix. Keep the mix chilled and add Cherry Coke to each glass just before serving to keep the fizz.
Q: Will the drink get flat if I prepare it ahead?
A: If you pre-mix the alcohol and lime, it will be fine for up to 24 hours. Don’t add Cherry Coke until serving; the soda loses carbonation quickly once mixed.
Q: How can I reduce the sugar or calories?
A: Use diet Cherry Coke and cut the cherry liqueur to 1/2 oz or replace it with a splash of cherry extract and a low-calorie sweetener. Keep in mind flavor balance when reducing sweet elements.
Q: Can I rim the glass with salt or sugar?
A: Yes. Salt contrasts nicely with sweet cola and brings out lime flavor. Use sugar or a mix of sugar and crushed cherries for a sweeter rim.
Conclusion
This Cherry Coke Margarita is an easy, refreshing cocktail with fizzy cola, sweet cherry, and bright lime—perfect for summer gatherings or a relaxed night in. If you want another version or inspiration, see the original Cherry Coke Margarita idea at Cherry Coke Margarita – Butternut Bakery. Give it a try and enjoy the bright, fizzy flavors—cheers!
Print
Cherry Coke Margarita
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Diet: N/A
Description
A playful twist on a classic cocktail blending bright citrus lime, tequila, sweet cherry liqueur, and fizzy Cherry Coke.
Ingredients
- 1 oz tequila
- 1 oz cherry liqueur
- 3 oz Cherry Coke
- 1 oz lime juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge or cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail shaker and a glass. Measure 1 oz tequila, 1 oz cherry liqueur, and 1 oz fresh lime juice. Fill the shaker half full with ice.
- Add tequila, cherry liqueur, and lime juice to the shaker. Shake hard for 10–15 seconds until the shaker feels cold.
- Strain the shaken mix into a glass filled with fresh ice.
- Top with 3 oz Cherry Coke and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge or cherry and serve immediately.
Notes
Serve in a rocks glass over fresh ice. Best served immediately for the best fizz and texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
