Way to make it tropical! A classic Margarita marries the intriguing sweetness of the prickly pear in this fantastic twist, enriched even more by the sumptuous presence of Grand Marnier. Roll up your sleeves and clean up your shaker; it’s time to mix some Prickly Pear Margarita.

Opposite to their pointy appearance, prickly pears hide a mild, fresh and sweet flesh. No wonders it pairs in great fashion with the more earthy, green notes of high quality tequila, and finds a perfect partner in the rich elegance of Grand Marnier. Don’t forget some fresh lime juice, and here you have it: your Prickly Pear Margarita.

Following are the ingredients you will need for a Prickly Pear Margarita:

• 50ml 100% Tequila Blanco such as Espolòn
• 20ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• 15ml Grand Marnier
• 15ml prickly pear syrup*

Prickly Pear Syrup:

• Remove the skin and cut the pricly pear in chunks;
• Put the chunks in a saucer and cover with water;
• Boil the chunks for up to 15 minutes;
• Cool down, filter and bottle;

If you want to know how to make a Prickly Pear Margarita, here are the key steps you should follow:

• Pre-chill your shaker by stirring a few good quality ice cubes in it; then remove the ice and excess water;
• Pre-chill a cocktail glass by storing it in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before serving, or filling it up with ice while concocting the cocktail;
• Add all the ingredients in the shaker;
• Add more good quality ice cubes and shake vigorously;
• Strain into the pre-chilled cocktail glass

To achieve the best Prickly Pear Margarita recipe, try adopting some, or all of the suggestions that follow, to elevate your drinking experience:

• Different forms, same deliciousness: In our recipe, we suggest you to make a prickly pear syrup, to smooth up the process and have a standard ingredient. It’s not the only way you could add the prickly pear to the mix: you could try muddling a few chunks of the fruit in the bottom of your shaker (but don’t forget to strain well after shaking, as the seeds could end up in your glass!), or using a pre-made purée, as the quality available on the market nowadays is definitely good.
• Watch your balance: To follow up the previous tip, keep in mind that juice and purées have different sugar content compared to a syrup. This means that depending on your choice, you might want to re-balance the dose of Grand Marnier and/or lime juice, to keep the harmony of your Prickly Pear Margarita.

There you have it: bright in its color and slight tartness, ready to be enjoyed on a late afternoon. Your Prickly Pear Margarita is best served on the rocks, to allow some more slow dilution and longer sipping time, and as an ultimate experiment, don’t be shy: try to create a salt rim on the edge of your glass, to enhance the flavors and fully dive in your experience. Here is our guide on How to create a Salt Rim.