Margaritas are awesome. Blackberry Margaritas are more awesome. Add a touch of smoke and you’ve got a Smoked Blackberry Margarita that’s so good it’s practically stratospheric – as in so damn good, I could happily drink these all summer long. Blackberries take to smoke, and while I normally prefer smoking stronger, darker, more caramel-y alcohols, this one has moved up my list of favorites to number 1.
I LOVE margaritas. Not the syrupy too-sweet kind made from a commercial mix, but hand-crafted margs made with fresh lime juice. Living in Texas for more than 20 years infused margaritas into my blood stream, and I know a good margarita from a not-so-good one.
And these Smoked Blackberry Margaritas are ALL KINDS OF GOOD. Seriously. The blackberry flavor really comes through, they’re not too sweet, and the touch of smoke really wakes up all the flavors adding a touch of dramatic flair in the process.
Forget regular margaritas. Make this one. Trust me; it’s fabulous!
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT Smoked Blackberry Margaritas
- A lick of smoke gives this cocktail so much dramatic flair!
- The smoke enlivens the flavors, really amping up the dark, dusky notes of the blackberries.
- They’re easy to make with a smoked cocktail kit!
What Is A Smoked Blackberry Margarita?
Imagine a regular margarita with the addition of blackberries. This fruity twist gives the margarita a lovely color and flavor, and now add smoke! The addition of smoke really accentuates the berry flavor, and the drama from the escaping smoke makes these a show-stopping cocktail.
What You Need TO Make a Smoked Blackberry Margarita
- Fresh blackberries
- Agave syrup
- Tequila – Use the good stuff!
- Creme de Cassis – This is blackberry liqueur.
- Lime juice – From a fresh lime.
- A cocktail smoking kit
- Cocktail shaker and muddler
How To Smoke Cocktails
First, you need a smoked cocktail kit. These kits come with everything you need to make a smoked cocktail. A good kit will have the following in it:
- A small torch – Refillable torches are best.
- Wood shavings – Simple kits have 1 kind of wood shaving. More expensive kits can have quite a few different flavors of wood shavings.
- A wood tray with mesh insert – The tray will fit over the top of your glass.
Then, mix your cocktail and add some smoke! Here’s how:
- Put the wood plate over the top of the cocktail glass and add a pinch or 2 of shavings to the mesh insert.
- Torch the shavings, keeping the flame on the shavings until the top of the glass under the wooden plate fills with the desired amount of smoke.
- Stop the flame and cap the plate to prevent the smoke from escaping.
- Remove the wooden plate when ready to drink.
How To Make A Smoked Blackberry Margarita
- Muddle the berries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. You’ll need a muddler but in a pinch you could use the back of a spoon. You want to squeeze out as much of the juice as you can.
- Add the lime juice, agave syrup, tequila, and creme de cassis.
- Add 2-3 ice cubes and put the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 1-2 minutes.
- Strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer to catch all the blackberry seeds.
- Put the wooden plate with mesh shavings basket over the top of the glass.
- Add shavings to the mesh basket and ignite it with the torch.
- Hold the flame on the shavings until the top of the glass fills with the desired amount of smoke.
- Turn off the torch, and when ready, remove the wooden plate.
- Garnish and enjoy!
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- Have everything ready to go so that your cocktail doesn’t get watered down by melting ice while you gather things.
- You are working with a live flame – be super careful. This Smoked Blackberry Margarita recipe isn’t hard to make, but you should use the torch with caution.
- Use good-quality tequila for this whiskey cocktail recipe.
Recommended
What To Serve With a Smoked Blackberry Margarita
If you’re going full Southwestern style with your cocktail and snacks, pair your margarita with a killer guacamole and chips or opt for another tasty dip with big, bold flavors like this Corn Dip. Fruity margaritas are also stellar paired with anything from the grill or smoker. I love them with these spicy Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo or bacon-wrapped smoked pork tenderloin.
Step By Step Process
Smoked Blackberry Margarita
Equipment
- 1 smoked cocktail kit
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh blackberries
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 0.5 ounce agave syrup
- 0.5 ounce creme de cassis
Instructions
- Muddle the berries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. You'll need a muddler but in a pinch you could use the back of a spoon. You want to squeeze out as much of the juice as you can.
- Add the lime juice, agave syrup, tequila, and creme de cassis.
- Add 2-3 ice cubes and put the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 1-2 minutes.
- Strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer to catch all the blackberry seeds.
- Put the wooden plate with mesh shavings basket over the top of the glass.
- Add shavings to the mesh basket and ignite it with the torch.
- Hold the flame on the shavings until the top of the glass fills with the desired amount of smoke.
- Turn off the torch, and when ready, remove the wooden plate.
- Garnish and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
-
- Have everything ready to go so that your cocktail doesn’t get watered down by melting ice while you gather things.
- You are working with a live flame – be super careful. This Smoked Blackberry Margarita recipe isn’t hard to make, but you should use the torch with caution.
- Use good-quality tequila for this margarita recipe.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
