Highland Margarita

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/23/21
Drambuie Highland Margarita Cocktail Recipe
A485 / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Highland Margarita is where tequila and Drambuie meet! Appropriately, it's also called a Drambuie Margarita. This is an extraordinary margarita because of that one ingredient, which most people would not think of mixing into a sour tequila cocktail. Surprisingly, it works very well, so you'll just have to give it a try and find out for yourself!

Drambuie is a scotch-based liqueur that's flavored with honey, herbs, and spices. It's most often associated with dark cocktails like the rusty nail, though it's fantastic in a bright citrus mix like this. And, you don't want to pair that with the average orange liqueur. To match Drambuie's quality, go with the cognac-based Grand Marnier or a high-end triple sec such as Cointreau or Combier.

With all of these premium additions to the average margarita, one can only expect that a cheap tequila will bring it all down. To avoid this predicament find a nice blanco or reposado tequila. You will thank yourself when that first sip hits your lips.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. If desired, rim a margarita or highball glass with salt, using a lime wedge to wet the rim.

  3. In a cocktail shaker, pour the tequila, Drambuie, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Fill with ice.

  4. Shake and strain into the prepared glass with or without ice.

  5. Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • If you're unsure about adding the salt rim (it's a tricky decision with this particular margarita), there's no need to make a full commitment: Rim only half the glass. This allows you to alternate sips between salt and no salt to see which you like best.
  • This cocktail has a very delicate balance of flavors. Be sure to measure the ingredients to ensure you get a taste of it as it was intended. After that first drink, you might find that you want a little more Drambuie or less lime. Take note and make adjustments to suit your personal taste.

How Strong Is a Highland Margarita?

The three liquors in this margarita are each bottled at 80 proof, which would indicate that the cocktail's going to be strong. The factor that affects the recipe's actual alcohol content is the lime juice; a single lime can yield between 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce of juice. Using the larger volume, the margarita mixes up to about 27 percent ABV (54 proof) and with less juice, it will be even stronger. This is not unusual for shaken margaritas, but it is one of the more potent options and something to keep in mind before mixing up another round.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
216 Calories
0g Fat
19g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 216
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 44mg 218%
Calcium 46mg 4%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 156mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)