Sour Patch 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 01/12/22
Sour Patch Margarita

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios 

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Do you remember those little sugar covered gummy children called Sour Patch Kids that made you pucker when you were a kid? That's what this margarita tastes like—and it's fantastic.

The sour patch margarita captures the spectrum of sour flavors, mixes them up and strains them out into a flavor-filled, sugar-lined drink. It is perfect for hot summer afternoons or anytime you have a sour-sweet tooth. Like the gummi bear margarita, you can also add the gummy candies into the ice for an extra treat when you serve this on the rocks.

The base of this margarita is a lime-infused tequila on top of which layers of fruit flavors are added. Midori gives it a brilliant green color and melon taste, triple sec backs up the orange juice, and sour mix brings in a sweet-tart citrus flavor. To complete the "sour patch" experience, a splash of tart lime finishes it off and you won't want to skip the sugar rim or sugar-coated lemon.

Ingredients

  • Granulated sugar, for rimming, optional

  • Sugar-coated lemon wedge, for optional garnish

  • 2 ounces lime tequila

  • 1/2 ounce melon liqueur

  • 1/2 ounce triple sec

  • 1 ounce sour mix

  • 1 ounce orange juice

  • 1 splash lime juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Rim a chilled margarita glass with sugar, using a lemon wedge to wet the rim before rolling it in sugar. While you have the sugar, dip half a lemon slice in it as well, gently shaking off any excess sugar.

  3. In a cocktail shaker, pour the tequila, melon liqueur, triple sec, sour mix, and orange juice. Fill with ice.

  4. Shake well.

  5. Strain into the prepared glass.

  6. Add a splash of lime juice and garnish with a sugar-coated lemon. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • There are a number of options on the market for lime-infused tequila because it's a popular margarita ingredient. Some are actual infusions of lime while others are sweetened, turning them into tequila liqueurs. Look for bottles like Dulce Vida Lime Tequila, Hornitos Lime Shot, and Patron Citrónge Lime Liqueur.
  • Another option is to do your own infusion. Use 2 or 3 limes, rinsed and cut into wedges for a full bottle of tequila. The infusion should take three to four days, though you'll want to check it and let it infuse longer until it reaches your desired flavor.
  • Fresh-squeezed citrus juices will give this cocktail the punch of tartness that it needs. For the lime, you can even simply squeeze a wedge over the drink.

Recipe Variations

  • This margarita can also be served on the rocks or blended with 1 cup of ice.
  • You could always use a non-flavored tequila, though it's a good idea to increase the lime juice a little bit.

How Strong Is a Sour Patch Margarita?

Typical for a shaken margarita, this cocktail's alcohol content should fall in the 19 percent ABV (36 proof) range. That's almost half the strength of a straight shot of tequila. While the sweet-tart taste may tempt you to drink more if you want to avoid a hangover that may not be the best idea.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
333 Calories
0g Fat
40g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 333
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 33mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 35g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 89mg 443%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 574mg 12%
*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.)