This recipe started as a happy accident. My sister and I decided we’d end the night with a couple margaritas. We’d been experimenting with some fresh orange juice, and on a whim, I decided to add a honey rim to add a little bit of sweetness. We both took a sip and immediately knew this one was a keeper.
It was the kind of drink that turned a casual Thursday into something a little more festive, and that’s how our neighborhood sunset cocktail tradition started. Now, every Thursday, a small crew of us gathers in the backyard, chatting about our weeks, and occasionally talking each other into a second round.
Sunshine Citrus Margarita
Makes 1 cocktail (scale as needed)
Ingredients:
- Salt, cayenne pepper, and honey, for the rim (optional)
- 2 ½ ounces tequila
- 1 ½ ounces Triple Sec
- 3 ounces fresh orange juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- Lime slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- If salting the rim, rim the glass with a light touch of honey and dip into coarse salt. For a spicy kick, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the salt before dipping.
- Combine tequila, triple sec, orange juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well.
- Pour over ice and garnish with a lime slice.
- If making a larger batch, you can store in a pitcher, in the fridge, for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving.
Submitted by Sarah (Apopka, Florida)
Why We Love It
This recipe is everything we love about eating and drinking locally: it’s simple, flavorful, and there are ways to highlight the ingredients grown right here in our community. Using fresh-squeezed juice (especially from a local purveyor) makes all the difference—and supporting a neighbor in the process is the cherry on top.
Make it local: When we tried this, we used locally produced Black Bee Honey, and Natalie’s Juice.
Mix it up: Try swapping in blood orange juice when it’s in season, or adding a splash of sparkling water for a little fizz. A chili-salt rim? Yes, please. However you serve it, tag us—we want to see your spin.
Want Your Recipe Featured?
This margarita is just the beginning. The Grow Community Cookbook: Sharing Homegrown Goodness is a community-sourced cookbook celebrating local ingredients and the people who bring them to life. Whether you’ve got a go-to family recipe or a creative DIY using backyard herbs, we want to see it. Check out the terms & conditions for submission guidelines and let us know what’s growing at your table. Cheers to fresh sips, local love, and neighbors who bring the good ice.
