Cucumber Margarita

The Cucumber Margarita is light and refreshing, making it a perfect spring and summer sipper. Sweet cucumber balances the sour lime in this tequila cocktail!

About this Cucumber Margarita recipe

I’ll let you in on a little secret — I’ve yet to meet a margarita I don’t like. I mean, lime, tequila, salt — what’s not to like?! I also love how easy it is to make a margarita. From shaking up a single drink for Taco Tuesday to a big batch in a pitcher for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, these citrus sippers are simple enough for even beginner mixologists.

Plus, margaritas are an incredibly versatile recipe. Once you’ve nailed the classic margarita and the ultra-refreshing frozen margarita, it’s easy to add flavor like peach or strawberry.

But even I’ve never had something quite like this Cucumber Margarita. The Eastside cocktail comes close, thanks to its strong cucumber flavor, but it leans more into the botanical flavors whereas this margarita stars the traditional lime.

I wouldn’t typically describe a cucumber as sweet, but in this recipe, it brings a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the tart lime. With a little salt on the rim, all of your taste buds will be satisfied!

More margarita recipes: Coconut Margarita • Cadillac Margarita • Texas Margarita

Tools & glassware

You’ll want two sets of tools to create this drink.

For the cucumber syrup, you’ll need a grater, saucepan, spatula ^* and fine mesh strainer ^*. If you’ve made any other versions of simple syrup, you probably have all of this already!

This margarita gets shaken, so grab your cocktail shaker ^* and strainer. Add a small plate to rim your glass and you’re ready to go!

When it comes to glassware, it’s really up to you. You can use a fancy margarita glass ^* or a simple rocks glass ^* — I like to consider the occasion and match my glass to that.

favorite margarita glasses

cactus margarita glasses

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art deco lowball glasses

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stemless margarita glasses

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Ingredients

This Cucumber Margarita sticks pretty close to a traditional margarita recipe.

• Tequila: Blanco tequila is commonly used for margaritas, and what I used in this recipe.
• Cucumber syrup: This homemade sweetener takes the place of simple syrup or agave and infuses fresh cucumber flavor.
• Lime juice: I always say fresh is best, but it’s a must in this recipe! The store-bought stuff is much too tart and will overpower the cucumber.

If you’re a margarita aficionado, you’ll probably notice that triple sec is missing from this list. The orange flavor typically adds a lot of sweetness to combat the tartness of the lime juice, but in this recipe it ends up totally taking over. The cucumber syrup is sweet enough to offer that balance and skipping the orange liqueur allows it to really shine.

Garnishes

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a mixologist, it’s not to skip the garnish. Not only do they make you feel like you’re sipping an elegant drink at the hottest bar in town, but they also bring aroma and flavor to the drink. They can be a sneak peek at the flavors that you’ll find when you take your first sip or dress up the drink for a themed celebration.

There are so many options for cocktail garnishes, but it doesn’t have to be complicated! For this Cucumber Margarita, I leaned into the flavors of the drink, using ingredients from the drink to decorate the glass.

Cucumber ribbons look fancy, but are really easy to make! First, slice a thin strip of cucumber down the long side (I use a vegetable peeler ^* to do this). Then, fold it gently back and forth, about 1½ inches wide and pierce with a cocktail pick. You could also opt for cucumber slices as a garnish instead.

A lime wedge pulls double duty for this marg — you’ll run one around the rim and dip into either coarse salt or margarita salt (sugar would work too).Then add a lime wedge to the glass and you’re ready to enjoy!

Best tequila for margaritas

Margaritas traditionally call for tequila, a transparent spirit hailing from Mexico that’s made from the Blue Weber Agave plant.

My favorite tequila brands (at least right now) are Sauza, El Jimador and Lunazul, but there are tons more out there. For top-shelf margaritas like the Cadillac margarita, try Don Julio, Patron or Milagro.

I like to use blanco tequila (or silver tequila) for most margs. Since it’s clear and colorless, it works really well in just about any margarita recipe and doesn’t change the color — that’s important for drinks like the blue margarita. You can really mix your favorite tequila into these margs, but if you’re looking for some guidance there are a few types of tequila in my Tequila 101 crash course that would work well.

Substitutions & variations

Customize this recipe with one of these easy swaps!

Spicy Cucumber Margarita: Sub the tequila for homemade jalapeño tequila. Since you make it yourself, you’re in control of the level of spice.

Non-alcoholic Cucumber Margarita: Swap the tequila for a zero-proof spirit. Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative ^* is a good option or you make your own zero-proof spirits right at home.

zero-proof tequilas

Spiritless Jalisco 55

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Seedlip Notas De Agave

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Ritual tequila alternative

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Flavored cucumber margaritas: While this is a riff on the classic margarita recipe, you could also add cucumber flavor to a different marg recipe. Use it in place of the sweetener that’s in the recipe, like simple syrup or agave — it would be especially tasty in a pineapple margarita! Since the cucumber flavor is more subtle, it won’t be as strong when mixed with other flavors but will definitely enhance your drink.

Instructions

It’s time to shake up a Cucumber Margarita! First, you’ll want to make your cucumber syrup, so that it has time to cool.

Grate your cucumber (either one large cucumber or about three cocktail cucumbers, but be sure to measure in cups) and combine it with water in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it has come to a simmer, let it sit for about 15 minutes, or until the water has reduced by half.

Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer ^* over a bowl, pressing gently on the cucumber with the back of a spoon to extract the most liquid possible, then discard the solids. Stir sugar to the hot liquid until it has dissolved, then set to the side to cool.

Prepare your glass by running a lime wedge around the rim. Pour coarse salt (or whatever your preference is for the rim) onto a small plate and roll your glass in the salt to coat the rim. Drop in a few ice cubes and set to the side.

Fill your cocktail shaker ^* with ice. Measure and add your cucumber syrup and fresh lime juice.

Next, pour in the tequila of your choice. Shake vigorously to combine and cool your drink, then strain into your prepared glass.

Garnish with a cucumber ribbon on a skewer and a lime wedge. Enjoy!

Food pairings

It seems almost illegal to enjoy a margarita without chips and salsa, or even guacamole! Nacho dip is another definite crowd pleaser — we even make it if the crowd is just me and my husband!

If you’re hosting Cinco de Mayo for a crowd, add a few more Cinco de Mayo cocktails and Mexican-inspired dishes to really round out the celebration.

End the meal with something sweet, like margarita bars or Rumchata pudding shots. Yum!

FAQ

More cucumber recipes

• Cucumber Agua Fresca
• Cucumber Martini
• London Mule