Devil’s Margarita

The Devil’s Margarita is devilishly good. With a float of red wine on top, this sophisticated tequila cocktail has a depth of flavor. This dark, moody cocktail is perfect for Halloween — or anytime.

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Devil’s Margarita recipe

Classic cocktail recipes that take a spooky spin are some of the best choices for Halloween parties. They don’t completely re-invent the wheel or require any special effects.

Take the black magic cocktail for example. It’s a dark spin on the French 75 with black vodka. There’s also the zombie cocktail and the vampiro drink, two more delicious cocktails with mischievous names.

And then there’s the Devil’s Margarita, a spooky twist on the classic margarita. It features a layer of red wine floating on the top of the drink, giving it a bloody look.

The result is an elegant classic cocktail reminiscent of the New York Sour, which is essentially a whiskey sour with a red wine float.

You can serve this Devil’s Margarita cocktail outside of Halloween, too, such as at a classy dinner party, elevated happy hour or for a regular Taco Tuesday.

More Halloween cocktail recipes: Glow-in-the-Dark Jello Shots • Vodka Gummy Worms • Dry Ice Cocktails

Why you’ll love this recipe

You’ll love this Devil’s Margarita recipe for a few reasons:

• It tastes like a regular lime margarita but with a slightly bittersweet, unique twist thanks to the red wine.
• With the light and dark layers, it’s a fun drink to make, even if you’re a beginner bartender.
• This two-layered drink is a showstopper that will wow your friends.
• It’s a rosy, sophisticated sipper that works for a Halloween party, Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday.

Tools & glassware

You’ll need a basic bar tool set for the Devil’s Margarita, containing a cocktail shaker, Hawthorne strainer and jigger.

To get the red wine float on top, you’ll also need a bar spoon. You can use a regular dessert spoon if you don’t have one.

Serve the cocktail in an elegant, stemmed glass like a coupe glass or a martini glass. A rocks glass will also work.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

Blanco tequila: Be sure to use a clear, silver tequila in this drink. Using a gold tequila or reposado tequila, which are both amber in color, can change the look of this drink. If you like to add triple sec to your margaritas, replace ½ ounce of the tequila with a clear orange liqueur. 

Don’t miss Tequila 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.

Simple syrup: While I often use agave nectar in margaritas, a clear simple syrup made with granulated sugar works best to keep the light-colored layer bright.

Lime juice: Fresh lime juice is always the best in a margarita . Store-bought does work just fine, but it tends to be a bit darker in color so it could change the look of this cocktail a little bit. Also, store-bought lime juice has a lot more pucker.

Red wine: You can use any red wine in this recipe, but a dry red wine tastes the best against the sweetness of the margarita. Try a cabernet sauvignon, merlot or pinot noir.

Garnish: For the garnish, cut a lime into slices. Make a cut down the radius of the lime so it can perch on the rim of the glass. You can add a salted rim if you like, but you don’t have to. Black sea salt would give this a perfect look for a spooky cocktail. 

How to make a Devil’s Margarita

Here’s how to make this devilishly fun margarita recipe:

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, simple syrup and lime juice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a coupe glass or margarita glass. 

Then, hold a bar spoon upside down over the glass. (The domed, convex side should be facing up.) You can also use a teaspoon or dessert spoon.

Slowly pour the red wine over the back of the spoon so it spills off all around it. The wine will float to the top.

Garnish with a lime wheel. Cut a slice of lime, then make a slit from the peel to the center. Perch the wheel on the edge of the glass.

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:

• Keep the margarita layer light in color by using blanco tequila and a clear simple syrup.
• Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor and color. Store-bought lime juice is more tart and darker in color.
• Go for a dry red wine versus a sweet one, as it will balance this cocktail better. Try a cabernet sauvignon, merlot or pinot noir.
• When adding the float of red wine, be sure to hold the bar spoon about an inch over the top of the cocktail. Pour the wine slowly over the back of the spoon.

What to serve with a Devil’s Margarita

Planning to serve these Halloween margaritas at a spooky dinner party? These adobo chicken feet would be a macabre and fun recipe and so would this skeleton elote.

Taco night is another great time for a good margarita. Enjoy it with your faves like chips and guacamole, succulent pork tacos or cheesy queso fundido.

For dessert, enjoy some margarita bars which are made with real tequila.

FAQ

More tequila drinks

• Cadillac Margarita
• Paloma Drink
• Prickly Pear Margarita
• Frozen Margarita
• Apple Cider Margarita