Backyard BBQ

Hibiscus Margarita From Shannon Mustipher

by:
May 17, 2021
5
5 Ratings
Photo by ROCKY LUTEN. PROP STYLIST: MEGAN HEDGPETH. FOOD STYLIST: SAMANTHA SENEVIRATNE.
  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 20 minutes
  • makes 1 cocktail
Test Kitchen Notes

This Hibiscus Margarita was “inspired by growing up in Charleston, which is a really bright and floral city—just like the flavors in this cocktail,” says Shannon Mustipher, a Brooklyn-based cocktail consultant and spirits educator. The key to pulling off this drink is an easy-to-make, super-aromatic hibiscus syrup. All you'll need are three ingredients (clove, cinnamon, and dried hibiscus flowers), which toast on a dry pan before getting simmered with simple syrup. Once your syrup’s done, just add your margarita ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and (you know the drill) shake and strain. Finish this vibrant sipper with the classics: salt rim and a lime wedge.

Want to shake up this margarita at home? Have all the ingredients delivered to your doorstep with our nifty Cocktail Courier kit.

This recipe is shared in partnership with Patrón Tequila. —The Editors

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Hibiscus Margarita From Shannon Mustipher
Ingredients
  • For the margarita:
  • 1 1/2 ounces Patrón Silver Tequila
  • 3/4 ounce hibiscus syrup (see below)
  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 ounce orange Curaçao
  • For the hibiscus syrup:
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
  • 1 quart simple syrup
Directions
  1. For the margarita:
  2. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake to combine and strain into a chilled, ice-filled rocks glass rimmed with salt. Garnish with a lime wheel, and serve.
  1. For the hibiscus syrup:
  2. Add the whole cloves and cinnamon sticks to a dry saucepan set over medium-high heat, and let toast for 15 to 20 seconds. Then, add the dried hibiscus flowers to the pan and stir together until aromatic, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  3. To the saucepan, add the simple syrup and stir to combine. Let simmer for 20 minutes—it should be a deep purple-pink color and fragrant.
  4. Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 1 hour. Strain off the solids and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

4 Reviews

lablue17 May 6, 2022
My attempt at this recipe was fraught with mistakes, and yet it turned out wonderfully. First, I've never even heard of dried hibiscus flowers. After going to three stores with unsuccessful results, I purchased Trader Joes sweetened, dried hibiscus flowers. Then I watched the video associated with this recipe and realized that I had the wrong product. Didn't matter! I followed the recipe faithfully with my extra sweetened hibiscus juice, and it was fabulous. Amazingly, not too sweet because the other ingredients balanced the flavors. I'd make this again in a heartbeat.
Tequila April 17, 2022
I was heading out to a family gathering and loved the idea of this cocktail as we are big tequila fans. Unfortunately, I was out of hibiscus so just quickly thought of something with a similar flavor profile and substituted in raspberry jam and my other hack, given the timeframe was, limeade. Thus, I added no simple syrup. It was amazing thank you!
LakeRuby March 25, 2022
The best margarita I've ever had! These were a huge hit at a recent family celebration. Everyone came back for seconds. I swapped in Grand Marnier for the orange curacao.
SanFam January 29, 2022
This was beautiful......I never enjoyed Margaritas until now!