Witches Brew Plum Halloween Margarita

Witches Brew Plum Halloween Margarita is a beautiful and romantic, yet a little eerie, Halloween cocktail. If you like the sweetness of plums and the classic flavors of a margarita, this is the perfect marriage.

It has homemade (or store-bought, I don't judge) plum liqueur, lime juice, plum juice, and of course the tequila. One secret ingredient takes this to a whole new level! 

For more Halloween-worthy drinks, I urge you to try my Black Swan cranberry sangria and the poison blackberry martini. I love all things fresh, sweet, and a little sour. So if that sounds like your thing, you are definitely in the right place. And for other plum drinks, this Sugar Plum Fairy cocktail!

Why you’ll love this recipe

You will love this cocktail because it's not just a Halloween gimmick - it is a delicious cocktail all year round. It also has no artificial colors and the flavors are well balanced.

It is a cocktail that is fresh, sweet, and sour. All the things I personally love in a cocktail, so if you've tried any of my other cocktails (well hello there Penicillin), I'm sure this will hit the spot too. 

Ingredients

To make this Halloween margarita you will need

• Tequila - the main alcohol in a classic margarita. If you don't like tequila, a margarita is not your drink. Opt for a silver/blanco or aged for the best margarita, please read the recipe FAQs.
• Lime juice - that sour juice helps balance the sweetness and harshness from the alcohol.
• Plum liqueur - usually, we use an orange liqueur in a margarita, but this time we use a plum liqueur and it will not disappoint. I use a homemade one, but you can get one from the store too. But read my post on plum liqueur before heading there so you don't end up with the wrong kind! 
• Plum juice - for extra plumness. Plum juice is too sweet on its own, so we also need lime juice for this drink. However, then we don't need the simple syrup - win! Grape juice can be used if you don't have it.
• Crème de Violette - optional, for color and a floral addition. If you know my cocktails, you know I LOVE to add a little floral hint (like elderflower grapefruit mimosa or lavender bee's knees). This liqueur is so good and I will use it in several recipes going forward, so if you want to stay ahead of the game, this is your cue.
• Salt rim - a good margarita always has a salt rim! I like to use crushed sea salt. For this Halloween margarita, I also add butterfly pea powder in the salt, to get a purple hue on the salt rim. A secret little trick right there!

Step-by-step instructions

Start by preparing your margarita glasses. Bonus points if they are chilled! Take a wedge of lime or plum and drag it around the edges of the glass.

Dip the glass in a shallow bowl with crushed sea salt (and butterfly pea powder for color), and swirl it a little to make sure the salt sticks (3-4). Set the glasses aside. 

For the cocktail, add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker along with ice (1). Shake for 30 seconds, or until you can see the metal of the shaker turns frosty on the outside (2). Strain into your glasses, and make sure you avoid your beautiful salt rim. 

I love to garnish it with a sliced piece of plum and frozen blackberries. But the sky is your limit here.

Enjoy!

Storage

A margarita is best enjoyed right then and there, but you can prepare it a few hours in advance. Keep it chilled in the fridge. You may need to give it another shake when you want to drink it, as the juices may separate. 

Recipe FAQs

Expert tips

For a killer margarita every time, follow these tips:

1. Choose the Right Tequila: Opt for 100% agave tequila, preferably Blanco or reposado for a smoother, authentic flavor.

2. Fresh Citrus Juice: Use freshly squeezed lime (or plum) juice; avoid bottled lime juice for a fresher taste.

3. Triple Sec or Cointreau: For classic margaritas, use good-quality orange liqueur like Triple Sec or Cointreau. For plum margaritas, substitute plum liqueur.

4. Simple Syrup: Make a simple syrup by dissolving equal parts sugar and water to balance tartness. Adjust sweetness to your taste or omit it for this sweeter plum version.

5. Proper Ratios: While a classic recipe uses a 2:1:1 ratio of tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, adjust to your preference. Spoiler alert; I prefer a different ratio!

6. Shake, Don't Stir: Vigorously shake with ice for a well-mixed, chilled cocktail.

7. Rim the Glass: Wet the rim with a lime wedge, and dip in salt (and butterfly pea powder for plum margaritas).

8. Use Fresh Ice: Always use fresh ice to prevent dilution when serving.

9. Garnish: Lime wheel for classic or sliced plum and frozen blackberries for a unique twist.

10. Experiment: Try different tequilas, citrus fruits (check out this blood orange margarita), or herbs like cilantro or jalapeño for unique flavors.

11. Serve in the Right Glass: Traditionally a margarita glass, but use what you prefer.

12. Don't Rush: Savor your margarita slowly to fully appreciate the flavors.

Key takeaway

Remember that personal taste varies, so adjust the ingredients and ratios to suit your preferences. Whether you prefer a classic margarita or something with a twist, these tips will help you make a delicious cocktail.

Did you like this recipe? Here are more cocktails I think you’d love:

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Comment below or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. And don’t forget to Pin it for later! To make sure you’re never missing another recipe, please feel free to subscribe to my newsletter. 

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📖 Recipe

Witches Brew Plum Halloween Margarita

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Plum Halloween Margarita is a romantic yet eerie Halloween cocktail. The perfect marriage of sweet plums and the classic flavors of a margarita.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces Tequila (silver/blanco or reposado)
• 1 ounce plum liqueur*
• 1 ounce plum juice (or grape juice, preferably freshly squeezed)
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce Crème de Violette (optional, for color and floral touch)

Salt rim

• ½ teaspoon butterfly pea powder (for color, optional)
• 1 tablespoon crushed sea salt

Instructions

1. Take a wedge of lime or plum and drag it around the edges of a chilled margarita glass.
2. On a shallow plate, mix crushed sea salt with butterfly pea powder.
3. Dip the glass on the shallow plate and swirl it a little to make sure the salt sticks. Set the glass aside.
4. For the cocktail, add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker along with ice. Shake for 30 seconds, or until you can see the metal of the shaker turns frosty on the outside. Strain into your glasses, and make sure you avoid your beautiful salt rim.
5. I love to garnish it with a sliced piece of plum and frozen blackberries. But the sky is your limit here.

Notes

* Plum liqueur recipe. You can also get store-bought, but make sure you choose a sweet one with roughly 25% APV (50 proof). Avoid Slivovitz, that's a brandy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 13.7gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 11.7gProtein: 0g

Not including the sodium from the salt rim. Nutrition information isn't always accurate, estimate for informational purposes only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or tag @thegingerwithspice on Instagram, I'd love to see!