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With just a few shakes, you'll be mixing up and sipping down this irresistible dirty Margarita in no time!
What Is a Dirty Margarita
Vodka lovers are not the only ones who get to enjoy the cloudy, boozy drink filled with olives; In fact, I've made many of my friends tequila converts with this dirty Margarita recipe.
This simple cocktail takes the very best of a classic Margarita and the cloudy flavor of a dirty martini into one. The olive juice takes it over the top, and it only needs a bit of sweetener to cut through the peppery taste.
Ingredients
Everything you need to make this dirty Margarita can be found in the recipe card below, but before you make any swaps, here is why each ingredient is needed:
- Tequila: takes the place of Vodka in this recipe, use your favorite brand of Blanco or Silver.
- Cointreau: or triple sec, a staple in every great Margarita recipe!
- Lime juice: freshly squeezed is the best.
- Olive juice: because you can't say it's dirty without this ingredient.
- Simple syrup: adds a bit of sweetness to the mix.
- Garnish: this drink isn't complete without cocktail olives on a pick!
Best Olives for a Dirty Margarita
I prefer to use green Spanish Manzanilla olives or their larger cousins, the Spanish Queen olives, whenever I make this dirty Margarita. Stuffed olives also work well for this drink! And if tangy cocktails like this are your happy hour jam, you'll love my pickle Margarita!
How to Make a Dirty Margarita
Crack open your olive jar, and let's get shaking! Here is how to make the best dirty Margarita with a few additional tips in each step to ensure the perfect sip:
- Prep the glass
You'll want to start by skewering olives through a cocktail pick to enjoy as a garnish once you shake up your drink. - Make the cocktail
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add all required ingredients. Give everything a good shake until the sides of the glass are nice and frosted. - Serve & Garnish
Be sure to give your shaken mixture a good strain as you pour it into your prepared glass with fresh ice. Garnish with skewered olives. Enjoy!
Garnishes
I recommend serving this cocktail with your favorite olives skewered on a cocktail pick, as it provides extra flavor and a delicious snack to enjoy while you sip! Other garnish ideas include a salted or Tajín rim, jalapeños for a kick of heat, and pickled vegetables for a fresh and briny combo!
What to Serve with a Dirty Marg
A cocktail with this much flavor needs something just as delicious to enjoy the night with! My Asian Thai rib tacos or tequila lime pulled pork tacos topped with this easy blender salsa make for the perfect pairing!
More Margaritas to Enjoy
Other fun Margarita recipes to try for your next happy hour include a Mezcal Margarita, a spicy cucumber Margarita, a ginger Margarita, a Grand Marnier Margarita, and my rosemary Margarita!
Dirty Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces tequila
- ½ ounce Cointreau or triple sec
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce olive juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- Cocktail olives
Instructions
Prep:
- Poke the olives through a cocktail skewer and set aside.
Make the marg:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, olive juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until the sides are fully frosted.
Serve:
- Strain the margarita into the glass. You can also serve it with the ice inside the shaker; this is up to you.
- Garnish with the skewered olives.
Eva says
This is a Mexican Martini! Famous in Austin and delicious!
Callie says
That's exactly what I thought it was!
Taylor says
Great recipe for a dirty margarita! I had this drink for the first time in a bar this weekend, so I was really happy to be able to mix one up for myself at home, tonight.