Moving on with more holiday-themed cocktails… Call this one a Christmas Margarita if you like, but heck, it would work at Thanksgiving or any other time of the year for that matter. Cranberries are good for you, too! This recipe’s perfectly balanced and extremely enjoyable.

CRANBERRY MARGARITA
2 oz Cranberry juice
1 oz Fresh lime juice
1½ oz Blanco tequila
½ oz Cointreau or Grand Marnier (optional)
¼ oz Simple syrup or agave syrup
3-4 Grinds of salt from a salt mill

I used Cointreau – it’s a little sweeter and more orange-forward, and it has less of a Cognac bite than Grand Marnier.

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake with plenty of ice until cold. Strain into a Margarita or Martini glass, or into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Salt the rim if you want to, but if you do that, omit the salt from the recipe. Garnish with cranberries and a lime wheel on a cocktail pick.