Name: Lemon Basil Margarita
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 2 oz Tequila; .5 ounce Grand Marnier or Triple Sec; 4-5 torn basil leaves; 1 oz. lemon simple syrup; club soda (optional); garnish: lemon wedge and basil leaf; lemon sugar rim or salt rim (optional but encouraged)

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This Lemon Basil Margarita recipe should be on your must-try list this week, and not just because of Cinco de Mayo. It's because tequila makes everything better! (Unless it's a hangover. Tequila might not help that.) It's also #MargaritaWeek, celebration of all things margarita hosted by my friend Kate Ramos. Check out Kate's Ginger Mezcal Fig Margarita recipe and her Spicy Raspberry Jalapeno Margarita too. So good! Fox & Briar made a color-changing margarita that I'm slightly afraid of, so I'll let y'all know if I give it a go.

On the Lemon Basil Margarita! I add a splash of club soda, which is in no way traditional margarita-making protocol. You can leave the club soda out if you'd like, but if you do, use a smaller glass than I show pictured here, and cut the lemon simple syrup in half. Otherwise it'll be way too sweet.

It’s easy to make your own simple syrup – just combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan over medium and stir until sugar dissolves and liquid becomes clear. Then boil the mixture for a minute or two, and allow it to cool. You can flavor your syrup with lemon by adding a few lemon wheels (seeds removed) while the syrup is cooking and then straining once it’s cool, or just buy some lemon simple syrup and skip the sugar-boiling part altogether.

If you make a few Lemon Basil Margaritas for you and your friends, snap a photo and tag @gfreefoodie on Instagram - I love to see your creations! You can check out my Pomegranate Pineapple Margarita recipe too, that was last year's #MargaritaWeek libation!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Lemon Basil Margarita

Try this Lemon Basil Margarita recipe soon, because tequila-based decisions make the best stories.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time2 mins

Total Time7 mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Keyword: cocktail recipes, gluten-free alcohol, margarita recipe

Servings: cocktail

Calories: 251kcal

Author: K.C. Cornwell

Ingredients

2 oz Tequila
.5 ounce Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
4-5 torn basil leaves
1 oz. lemon simple syrup
club soda optional
garnish: lemon wedge and basil leaf
lemon sugar rim or salt rim optional but encouraged

Instructions

If you're going to add a lemon sugar or salt rim to the glass, do that first, by rubbing a sliced lemon around the rim of a glass and ten dipping the rim in lemon sugar or salt.
Add the tequila, Grand Mariner or Triple Sec, torn basil leaves and lemon simple syrup to the glass, and stir briskly to combine. (You don;t want to beat up the basil, but you want it to release its flavorful oils.)
Add ice to the glass, then fill with club soda. Stir to combine, then garnish with lemon wedge and a basil leaf.