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Margarita with Red Wine FloaterMargarita with Red Wine Floater
October 21, 2021 | Updated August 11, 2022 | Laura
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This elegant and delicious cocktail is a spicy jalapeno and cilantro margarita on bottom and dark red wine on top. It's the best of both worlds. Serve this up at your next dinner party for a show-stopping cocktail. I, personally, think it makes for a great Halloween cocktail giving off its moody and spooky vibes.
Beautiful Cocktail with a Slight Kick
I love this cocktail, and it's almost too pretty to drink. ALMOST. The bottom is a margarita (kind of) and the top is a dark red wine which makes for a very tasty combination. My recipe is a spin on a classic Devil's Margarita.
Oh! And this cocktail has my jalapeno & cilantro simple syrup in it which gives it a slight spicy kick and extra flavor.
This cocktail was combined with my Carrie movie night! It fits perfectly thanks to that beautiful red floater on top to represent all the blooood!
Plus, doesn't this cocktail just look like it should be a Halloween drink?! So spooky and mysterious.
Margarita with Red Wine: Ingredients
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
✽ Silver Tequila: Tequila blanco is best for margaritas to give your cocktail a true agave flavor.
✽ Lime Juice: Adds a bit of sourness to the cocktail which is perfect with the tequila. Freshly squeezed lime juice will give you the best flavor.
✽ Cilantro & Jalapeno Simple Syrup: Jalapenos, Cilantro, Sugar, & Water. I LOVE this simple syrup. It's a bit spicy and the cilantro in it tastes so good. It adds a kick and so much flavor to any margarita recipe.
If you don't like cilantro, you can simply leave it out. If you don't want as spicy of a margarita, you can leave out the seeds in this simple syrup. Or if you don't want cilantro flavor, jalapeno flavor, or spiciness, you can simply just leave them out of the simple syrup and use plain simple syrup instead.
✽ Red Wine: Any dry red wine will work for this recipe. I usually grab a cabernet or merlot for this cocktail floater.
How to Make a Spicy Margarita with Red Wine Floater
➊ For the simple syrup, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring frequenly, over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved (about right up to the point it begins to simmer). Don't let it simmer! Remove from heat, and add 1 sliced jalapeno and 1 small bunch of cilantro. Let sit for at least 15-20 minutes at room temperature. The longer it sits with the jalapeno and cilantro, the more flavorful it will be. Strain when ready to use.
➋ In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 1/2 ounces silver tequila, 1 ounce lime juice, and 3/4 ounce of the jalapeno & cilantro simple syrup with a couple of ice cubes. Shake for about 10 seconds until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass.
➌ Float 1/2 ounce of red wine on top of the margarita by slowly pouring the red wine over the back of a bar spoon. Garnish with a jalapeno and/or lime wedge. Cheers!
Carrie Movie Night
✽ Strawberry Syrup; If you're here for a Carrie movie night, make this strawberry syrup to drizzle over a bowl of ice cream for a Carrie-themed snack! With this "bloody" margarita and some "bloody" ice cream, you are sure to have the perfect Carrie movie date!
Looking for more cocktail ideas?
→ Check out all of my favorite cocktail recipes!
Jalapeno Margarita with Red Wine Floater: Questions
✽ Why do you not include Triple Sec in the ingredients?
Since this recipe doesn't contain triple sec, it technically isn't a margarita. But I found the taste was much better without the triple sec here since red wine was being added to the cocktail.
✽ What kind of red wine is best to use?
You want to use a dry red wine for this margarita recipe. I used Merlot but any dry red wine would work such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, or Malbec.
31 Days of Halloween
This margarita with red wine floater is a part of my 31 Days of Halloween. For each day in October, I come up with a cocktail recipe and snack recipe that perfectly matches a scary movie, Halloween movie, or a fun spooky activity. Check out 31 Days of Halloween for all of your Halloween snack and drinking desires!
Margarita with Red Wine Floater
By Laura | Laura the Gastronaut
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Cooling Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail
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This elegant and delicious cocktail is a spicy jalapeno and cilantro margarita on bottom and dark red wine on top. It's the best of both worlds. Serve this up at your next dinner party for a show-stopping cocktail. I, personally, think it makes for a great Halloween cocktail giving off its moody and spooky vibes.
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Ingredients
For the Jalapeno & Cilantro Simple Syrup:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 jalapeno, sliced
• 1 small bunch cilantro
For the Cocktail:
• 1 1/2 ounces silver tequila
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 3/4 ounce jalapeno & cilantro simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce red wine
• Lime wedge and/or jalapeno slice, for garnish
Instructions
➊ Make the Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Stirring frequently, cook over medium heat just until all the sugar has dissolved (just right before it begins to simmer). Remove from heat. Add in the jalapeno slices and cilantro, and let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes. Strain when ready to use.
➋ Make Cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, lime juice, and 3/4 ounces of the jalapeno cilantro simple syrup with a couple of ice cubes. Shake for about 10 seconds until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass.
➌ Slowly pour red wine over the back of a bar spoon while hovering over the margarita so that it floats on top. Garnish with lime wedge or jalapeno slice.
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✽ Did you make this recipe?
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Category: Cocktails, Halloween Cuisine: American
Keywords: margarita with wine floater, red wine margarita, devil's margarita, margariat red wine, devils margarita recipe, halloween cocktail, spooky cocktails
More Boozy Halloween Drinks:
✽ Avocado Margarita (inspired by Frankenstein, this cocktail is green, creamy, and so delicious)
✽ Sparkling Red Cherry Rum (this red bubbly cocktail is filled with all the cherry goodness)
✽ Green Apple Martini (a sour apple schnapps cocktail that a must for green apple fans)
→ Check out all of my cocktail recipes!
Bon appétit!
October 21, 2021 by Laura Ehlers
*This Margarita with Red Wine Floater blog post and recipe may contain some Amazon affiliate links. These link to products that I personally use and recommend. If you purchase anything using my links, it will not cost you anything. It will though give laurathegastronaut.com some financial support which helps me keep this blog running. Thank you for reading my blogs and your continued support.