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Fruity red wine sangria, a shot of tequila, some orange juice and lime juice. The best of both worlds: a cocktail and a sangria at the same exact time! The perfect summer cocktail for a BBQ - just make a big pitcher and you're all set!
The best part of this cocktail is that you don't need any simple syrup or added sugar! The bottled sangria does that for you and makes this the easiest pitcher drink EVER!
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It's no secret that I'm a sucker for a sangria. I always talk about how much I loved going to tapas bars in New York City when I lived there. I can't even tell you how many red wine sangrias I've tried!
Typically a red wine sangria can be heavy and I prefer them in the winter or over plenty of ice cubes. To lighten it up and make this cocktail for optimal Summer sipping, I turned it into a margarita to combine my two favorite drinks!
What is a skinny margarita?
A skinny margarita is a low-calorie version of the typical margarita.
A traditional margarita uses lime juice, orange liqueur and tequila. A skinny margarita replaces orange liqueur with orange juice. (Orange liqueurs often used in margaritas are: cointreau, triple sec, or gran marnier)
How to make a Skinny Sangria Margarita
Making a sangria margarita is not too different from your traditional skinny margarita.
STEP ONE: Add lime juice, orange juice and tequila into a cup filled with ice.
STEP TWO: Stir.
STEP THREE: Top with bottled red wine sangria.
Ingredients and Substitutions
This recipe uses similar ingredients to a traditional margarita but with one addition:
- TEQUILA. Tequila is absolutely necessary in this red sangria margarita. You can substitute for mezcal for a smokier taste.
- ORANGE JUICE. This replaces an orange liqueur (like Gran Marnier, Triple Sec, Cointreau). Substitute for another fruit juice like pineapple juice, mango juice.
- LIME JUICE.
- RED WINE SANGRIA. Use any type of bottled sangria. White wine sangria bottle works as well to make this a white sangria margarita! You can also use traditional red wine.
TIP! The bottled red wine sangria already has sugar, so there is no need to add agave or simple syrup. If you use traditional red wine you may have to add some sugar.
Orange Zest Margarita Salt
This step is totally optional, but I recommend a salted rim. Rim your sangria margarita with a combination of orange zest and margarita salt. The sweetness of the orange zest combines with the saltiness of the salt. It's absolute perfection!
TIP! If you don't have a cocktail rimmer, use a small flat plate with a rim for margarita salt. If you want to keep this for ongoing, make sure to dry out the orange zest before adding to the salt.
How do I make orange zest margarita salt?
Zest one orange and toss with margarita salt. Pour onto a cocktail rimmer.
Slice a small slit into the lime wedge halfway through. Place the slit in the lime wedge onto the rim of your margarita glass (before pouring the cocktail in). Slide the lime wedge around the rim in a circle to cover the entire glass.
Gently dip the glass into the margarita salt on the plate, and turn the glass in a full circle to ensure the salt sticks. Place upright and continue with making the skinny margarita!
Garnishes
The best garnishes are those that look pretty and stress the flavors of the sangria. I used the orange zest margarita salt on the rim of this skinny margarita. BUT, this cocktail is flexible and versatile - you can garnish it and enjoy it many different ways:
- Traditional. Garnish it like a traditional sangria and add fruits like citrus wheels or fresh berries.
- Herbaceous. Garnish it with mint leaves or rosemary for an herbaceous twist.
- Lazy. (C'mon we all have our days!) No garnish at all and still beautiful!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of sangria to use?
Have you ever thought to yourself: "what do I do with bottled sangria?"
Any type of pre-bottled sangria will work in a sangria cocktail recipe like this one. I prefer using a red wine sangria, but you can use a white wine sangria too. For this recipe I used Mija Sangria - it's packed with natural flavors!
What to do if I don't have a bottled sangria?
If you don't have bottled sangria or don't want to buy it, use traditional red wine. You can even make a pitcher (Instructions and recipe above)
Other Sangria or Tequila Recipes
- The Best Ranch Water Cocktail
- 5 Ingredient Red Wine Sangria
- Fall White Wine Sangria
- Rose Sangria with Berries and Elderflower
- Skinny Margarita
- Spicy Mezcal Margarita with Carrot
š Recipe
Red Sangria Margarita
Ingredients
Single Serving
- 2 OZ Tequila
- ½ Orange
- 1 Lime
- 4 OZ Bottled Red Wine or Red Wine Sangria
Pitcher (6-8 servings)
- 750 ML Red Wine or Red Wine Sangria
- 1 Cup Tequila
- ½ Cup Lime Juice
- ½ Cup Orange Juice
- 2 TBSP Agave or Simple Syrup
Instructions
Single Serving
- Squeeze lime and orange into a glass filled with ice. Add tequila.
- Stir.
- Top with red wine sangria until the liquid reaches the top of the glass.
Pitcher
- Pour all ingredients together in a large pitcher.
- Stir together.
- Pour into glasses filled with ice, or into the fridge for 30-minutes before serving.
Even as a self-proclaimed fan of the classic margarita, I really enjoyed this take. The addition of sangria to the classic cocktail really took it in a unique direction. I could definitely see this drink going well with a light lunch!
So glad you enjoyed it Riley! It's the perfect boozy sangria!