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Cocktail History
The Pumpkin Spice Margarita is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as an autumn variation of the classic lime-flavored Margarita. The recipe calls for tequila, triple sec, and citrus similar to the original, but our version swaps out the regular simple syrup with our homemade pumpkin spice syrup and uses lemon instead of lime for better balance.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with blue agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged from two to twelve months. We used Arette Tequila Reposado because it has a light and peppery flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila.
Pumpkin Spice Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, white sugar, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s sous vide recipe.
Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, and alcohol. We used Cointreau because it’s one of the highest quality orange liqueurs on the market. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Orange Sec Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the orange liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Cinnamon Stick: This is a dried spice that has been rolled into a stick. We used cinnamon sticks from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Tasting Notes
The Pumpkin Spice Margarita has aromas of agave and baking spices and a taste that marries the initial sharper notes of tequila and citrus to the subtle depth of pumpkin and spices on the finish, giving it an air of an agave-laced pumpkin pie.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Honestly, we both found the Pumpkin Spice Margarita to be better than expected. We think it’s the perfect mix for your PSL-loving friends, and that’s coming from two people who don’t usually ever drink them.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Okay, so, I know that using lemon instead of lime means this isn’t technically a Margarita, but we tried it with lime, and the pumpkin and lime did not agree. This version of the drink is far better than you’d expect with all of the flavors of tequila on the forefront followed up by the deep, dark flavors of pumpkin and baking spices on the finish, making for a truly seasonally appropriate version of this cocktail that will make anybody who loves a PSL swoon.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“Our first shot at making a Pumpkin Spice Margarita was a miss, but only because, as Alex said, the lime just didn’t work. We ended up trying a second version a few weeks later with lemon instead, and that one was much more balanced. I still think I prefer recipes that pair pumpkin spice with other spirits such as brandy or whiskey over this one, but I have to agree with Alex. It was much better than I expected, and I would make a batch on a girls’ night.”
Recipe
Add tequila, pumpkin spice syrup, triple sec, lemon juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a margarita glass.
Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Ingredients
Directions
Add tequila, pumpkin spice syrup, triple sec, lemon juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a margarita glass.
Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila and Lyre’s Orange Sec Non-Alcoholic Spirit in place of the orange liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Autumn Cocktails
If you like this autumn-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Thanksgiving Nog: A dark rum cocktail made with water, heavy cream, pumpkin purée, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground allspice, ground nutmeg, ground mace, whipped cream, and a cinnamon stick
Spiced Pumpkin Punch: A gin cocktail made with apple cider, pumpkin purée, honey syrup, lemon juice, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon sticks
Flannel Shirt: A Scotch cocktail made with apple cider, Amaro Averna, lemon juice, simple syrup, St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram, Angostura Aromatic Bitters, and an orange peel
Pumpkin Spiced Russian: A vodka cocktail made with coffee liqueur, milk, caramel sauce, pumpkin spice syrup, and a cinnamon stick
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