It’s 5 o’clock somewhere—and if you’re craving a refreshing margarita, reach into your fridge and grab…pickle juice. While it may sound odd, this jarred staple actually does wonders for creating the salty, sweet and slightly bitter margarita of your dreams. It doesn’t hurt to also add a couple of pickle slices on top for a crunchy garnish. Pickle brine margaritas have garnered lots of attention recently, especially on TikTok. So, read on to learn about this spin on a traditional margarita and for a simple recipe that takes five minutes to make!
The basics of a margarita
A standard margarita is made by shaking tequila, triple sec (an orange liqueur) lime juice and ice straining the mixture into a glass. Extra touches including a salt or sugar rim add more flavor and flair to the drink. However, if you’re looking to give this cocktail a surprise twist, incorporate pickle juice into the base.
Why you should add pickle juice to your margarita
The liquid used to brine pickles consists of water, salt, vinegar and other add-ins like fresh dill or mustard seeds. Instead of letting that flavorful juice go to waste, one way to use it up is by making a margarita. The juice will add the perfect amount of savoriness without overwhelming the drink. Plus, its salty flavor complements the smooth tequila and sweet triple sec. One ounce of pickle juice is all you need to put a tasty spin on this classic cocktail. You can also use one or two pickle slices as a briney and crunchy garnish.
Easy DIY cocktail shaker for a flavorful drink
A cocktail shaker helps combine the ingredients so each sip of your margarita is constantly delicious. Though, if you don’t have one handy a mason jar will work in a pinch. Simply place the ingredients in the jar, screw on the lid and shake until thoroughly combined. Then, strain the mixture into the serving glass and enjoy.
YouTuber Jay at the Bar prefers using a 32-ounce jar as it provides enough room for muddling and then shaking the ingredients. But, he says a 12-ounce mason jar works fine if you’re making a single-serve drink that doesn’t require muddling such as a margarita. Watch his video below to see this clever cocktail hack in action.
How to make a pickle margarita
This Pickle Brine Margarita recipe posted on NYT Cooking’s TikTok is the perfect drink for your at-home happy hour! If you’d like to make a non-alcoholic pickle margarita, use zero-proof options like Ritual’s Tequila Alternative and Atrevo’s Triple Sec Syrup. (Prefer a tropical margarita? Try this recipe for Spicy Pineapple Margaritas.)
Pickle Margarita
@nytcooking … and for a big batch: Ice 1 ½ cups reposado tequila or tequila blanco 1 cup pickle brine 1 cup fresh lime juice ¾ cup triple sec 1/3 cup granulated sugar Mix it all together in a large pitcher filled about halfway with ice, being sure to stir the mixture vigorously to dissolve the sugar, and serve immediately. #summercocktail #foodtock #drinktok #picklebrine #margarita
Ingredients:
- Ice
- 1½ oz. reposado tequila or tequila blanco
- 1 oz. pickle brine
- 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ oz. triple sec
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 to 2 pickle slices, for garnish
- Few dashes of habanero hot sauce (optional)
Directions:
- Place all ingredients into cocktail shaker and shake until ingredients are fully combined.
- Strain margarita into ice-filled glass. (Note: For added flavor and texture, coat the rim of the glass with coarse salt or sugar.)
- Garnish with pickle slices, sip and enjoy!
