Orange Cadillac Margarita Recipe
Home » COOK » Recipes » Beverages » Cocktails » Margaritas »If you want the ultimate top-shelf cocktail, try our Cadillac Margarita Recipe!
This luxurious drink combines premium ingredients like reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, and fresh-squeezed citrus juices for a truly indulgent experience.
Perfect for special occasions or treating yourself, this top-shelf margarita will elevate your cocktail experience.
Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a moment of indulgence at home. So grab that cocktail shaker and margarita glass, and let’s get shaking!
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While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we recommend reading through the blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
Orange Cadillac Margarita Recipe
Margaritas are a beloved classic cocktail, made with tequila, triple sec orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice (or sour mix) and served in a glass with a salted rim.
Whether you enjoy them at your favorite Mexican restaurant, during happy hour, or on festive occasions like Cinco de Mayo, there is no mistaking that refreshing sweet and sour taste!
We LOVE margaritas on The Purple Pumpkin Blog and have some amazing, Unique Margarita Recipes to try out.
From the Classic Margarita on the Rocks to a spicy margarita like our Jalapeño Cantaloupe Margarita to fun libations like our Frozen Shark Attack Margaritas and Cotton Candy Margaritas!
And now, a new one to add to the list—the Cadillac Margarita!
What is a Cadillac Margarita?
The exact origin of this particular variation of the traditional margarita is unclear, and the exact ingredients seem slightly different, too.
Some sources say it uses top-shelf ingredients, including tequila reposado (a golden, aged tequila) and Grand Marnier, a French orange liqueur made with bitter orange peels. It’s often called the “Cadillac of Margaritas” because of those premium spirits.
Other sources say it is simply a margarita without a salt rim, others because it uses cranberry liqueur. Then, there is the story of how it was first made in the Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
We’re adding our own spin to the classic Cadillac Margarita by adding two types of orange juice—regular and blood orange to the mix.
Cocktail Ingredients & Equipment
This recipe’s ingredients and tools are conveniently linked to online retailers like Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart.
Cadillac Margarita Ingredients
- Reposado Tequila – has been aged in oak barrels between two months and one year, giving it a smoother, more refined flavor with a subtle woodsy character.
- If you don’t have this, you can use gold tequila, which, although not aged as much, is blended with caramel coloring to mimic the smoothness and golden hue of aged tequilas like Reposado or Añejo tequila.
- And if you already have a bottle of Blanco tequila and don’t want to buy another type, use that!
- Grand Marnier – A French orange liqueur made with cognac, bitter orange, and sugar.
- Lime Juice – freshly squeezed if possible.
- Orange Juice – freshly squeezed if possible.
- Blood Orange Juice – freshly squeezed if possible.
- For Glass Rim – Use Margarita Salt, coarse salt, or kosher salt for your margarita glasses.
- For Garnish – Fresh mint leaves, orange and lime slices.
- Ice Cubes – For shaking the cocktail and for serving.
Cocktail Equipment
- Citrus Juicer or Lemon Squeezer – For extracting the juice from the limes and oranges if using fresh juice in your cocktail.
- This cocktail is shaken, but don’t worry if you don’t have a cocktail shaker—use a container with a tight-fitting lid—like a mason jar or the cup on a smoothie maker.
- Cocktail Glasses – A margarita glass is the classic option, but any glass will do, from a highball to a rocks glass.
- Rimming Dish – Or a saucer for rimming the glasses with sea salt.
You will find the quantities and cocktail making instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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Orange Cadillac Margarita Variations
Here are some variations of the original cocktail recipe you might like to try.
- Spicy Cadillac Margarita: Muddle a couple of jalapeño slices into the cocktail shaker before shaking. Rim your margarita glass with Tajin Seasoning.
- Herbal Cadillac Margarita: For a herbaceous twist, muddle fresh herbs like basil or cilantro into the cocktail shaker before shaking. Add additional fresh herbs as garnish.
- Smoky Cadillac Margarita: Use Mezcal in place of some tequila to add a smoky depth to the luxurious flavors.
- Berry Cadillac Margarita: Replace the orange juices with different fruit juices like blackberry, raspberry, or cranberry. Garnish accordingly with fresh berries.
Cadillac Margarita Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
So that non-drinkers can enjoy this drink, we simply remove the alcohol and replace it!
To make two mocktails, shake the following drinks together in a cocktail shaker with ice:
- 3 oz lime juice
- 4 oz orange juice
- 2 oz blood orange juice
- ½ oz agave syrup
Pour into salt-rimmed glasses (optional) with ice and top up with club soda or sparkling water. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Virgin Cadillac Margarita with Non-Alcoholic Spirits
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives.
In the UK, try Lyre’s, which is also available on Amazon in the UK and Amazon.com.
Other brands include Strykk (UK) and Ritual (US & Canada). Non-alcoholic spirits are a growing trend, so look in your local stores and online.
- Instead of Tequila, use Lyre’s Agave Blanco Spirit.
- Instead of Grand Marnier, use Lyre’s Orange Sec.
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
Frozen Cadillac Margarita
Want to turn this orange margarita into a frozen cocktail or mocktail slushie? Here’s how!
Put all the ingredients in a blender with a generous amount of ice, then blend until smooth. Serve with a straw, and watch out for brain freeze!
Big Batch of Cadillac Margaritas
Want to make a big batch of these margaritas for a party or gathering? It’s easy – here’s how!
If you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct, and you can make as much as you need to.
Mix together:
- 4 parts Reposado Tequila
- 3 parts Grand Marnier
- 1 part Lime Juice
- 6 parts Orange Juice
- 2 parts Blood Orange juice
Serve large batch cocktails in drinks dispensers or pitchers, or go retro and serve from a punch bowl!
Add plenty of ice to your serving container to keep the cocktail chilled. You can add some slices of orange and lime in there too.
Saving Leftovers
While it’s best to enjoy the cocktail fresh to savor its flavors, you may have some left at the end of your party—don’t let it go to waste!
- Transfer it to an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Or, to make it last longer, turn it into a Cadillac Margarita Granita!
- Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.
- Transfer the cocktail to a shallow freezer-safe container and place it in the freezer for 6 hours (or overnight). You can add some simple syrup or another sweetener if desired.
- Use a fork to break the frozen cocktail into small pieces. Serve and enjoy!
- Or pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Use the cocktail cubes to chill and flavor future cocktails without diluting the drink.
Setting Up Your Cocktail Bar
When setting up your cocktail bar or serving area, you could include the following:
- Ice Bucket—Filled with ice, of course! Don’t forget a scoop or tongs.
- Cocktail Glasses
- Cocktail Napkins
- Cocktail Stirrers/Swizzle Sticks
- Cocktail Sticks/Picks—For cocktail garnishes.
- Cocktail Decorations—Such as cocktail umbrellas.
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
How Do I Make An Orange Cadillac Margarita?
The printable recipe card is below—please leave a star rating and quick review to share your experience with others!
Orange Cadillac Margarita
Ingredients
For Glass Rim
- Lime Wedge
- Salt
For the Margaritas
- 4 oz Reposado Tequila
- 3 oz Grand Marnier
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- 6 oz Orange Juice
- 2 oz Blood Orange juice
- Ice
For Garnish
- Fresh Mint Leaves
- Lime and Orange Slices
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- To add salt rim to margarita glasses, pour some salt onto a plate. Then rub the lime wedge around the rim of each glass. Dip the glass rim into the salt and twist. Fill glasses with ice and set them aside.
- Pour the Reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, lime, orange, and blood orange juices into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well for 15-30 seconds to combine.
- Pour cocktail into the prepared glasses.
- Garnish as desired with fresh mint, lime, and orange slices. Cheers!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Dinner Party Menu Suggestions!
The beverage is covered, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Tortilla Chips and Fresh Homemade Tomato Salsa
- Soup: Mint and Cucumber Gazpacho
- Salad: Mexican Chopped Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
- Main Dish: Quick & Easy Steak Street Tacos
- Side Dish: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Dessert: Mexican Buñuelos – Delicious Fried Cinnamon Sugar Treats