Cranberry Ginger Margarita

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Now more than ever we need to be focused on our health!  Many people (myself included) consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. Research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure. Cranberry is one of my favorite flavors! I often use them to snack on, cook with, and make drinks with. Another one of my favorite for it’s flavor and health benefits is ginger.  Ginger has a long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine.  It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few. Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice.  In one of my favorite drink recipes it is candied and paired with cranberries to infuse tequila! 

Depending on your patience, you can either bruise/crush the cranberries to release the flavor and juice for more instant gratification, or you can just drop them in whole and wait longer for a slightly more subtle effect.

The nice thing about doing it whole is that you can put it in a decorative bottle/decanter for presentation. If they're crushed, they wouldn't look as pretty, though you're likely going to get the flavors and color more quickly.

HOW TO MAKE A CRANBERRY GINGER MARGARITA

First, get ready for a super delicious cocktail!

Now, on a flat plate make a mixture of salt and sugar. Here are your ratio options depending on how you like your margaritas garnished:

  • Sweet- all sugar

  • Sweet and Salty- half sugar, half salt

  • Little More Salty- 3/4 salt and 1/4 sugar

  • Super Salty- all salt

I prefer the “sweet- all sugar” option for my Margarita.

Take a cut lime wedge and run it around the rim of your glass. Now dip the glass into the sugar/salt mixture.

Fill the glass with ice and add 1.25 ounces of cranberry and ginger infused tequila, .25 ounces of your favorite margarita mix (I prefer On-Time mixers brand), and .25 ounces of triple sec. Shake until the outside of your shaker is frosty. Pour over ice and float with your favorite Champagne or Sparkling Wine (Mine is Cooper’s Hawk Blanc de Blanc) Garnish with 2 drunken cranberries and one candied ginger cube!

If you want a drink that isn’t quite as strong, (but why would you?) make the Cranberry Margarita with .5 ounces of cranberry and ginger infused tequila, .5 ounces of margarita mix, and .5 ounces of triple sec.

Piera Norris