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Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita, my favorite quick and easy, but oh so warming fall margarita. Smoky mezcal (or tequila) mixed with a splash of orange liquor, spiced apple cider, a touch of citrusy lime, and sweet maple. This autumn harvest margarita is a cozy take on the classic, and the perfect warming fall cocktail to sip on with friends and family. Finish this smoky margarita off with fresh rosemary, apple slices, and a smoking cinnamon stick for that extra special touch.
Because every Saturday is made better with a cocktail in hand, right?
Yes, yes, correct! Happy to be back for yet another HBH Cocktail Saturday recipe! I LOVE these posts so much. And I LOVE this margarita. It basically has all the things I love about fall, with the addition of tequila and a smoky cinnamon stick. It’s easy to make and so very delicious. Not too sweet, perfectly spiced, and just a touch bit smoky.
So very fall. So very me.
It’s a tried and true favorite and has been my go-to fall margarita for years. This was one of the first “real” drinks that I made for my family a few Octobers back. It was then that I began to have a lot of fun mixing drinks and experimenting with them. Crazy that I’ve now shared so many new cocktails recipes over the last few fall and early winter Saturdays leading up to Christmas.
My next new “test” is a whiskey sour…with an egg white. What are your thoughts…an egg white cocktail? Into them…or not so much?? If you have tips, let me know!
The very quick details…
This margarita is easy.
First, you should rim your glass with salted cinnamon sugar. It might not seem necessary, but it’s salty, sweet, and the perfect rim for this fall margarita. Plus, it’s pretty, and that really counts for something to me.
Next, find your favorite bottle of smoky mezcal. Or if you can’t stand mezcal (some love it, some hate it), use your favorite silver tequila. But the mezcal is what gives this margarita its smokiness.
Now, add a splash of orange liquor, a good amount of spiced cider, a little citrusy lime, and sweeten it up with maple. Shake and strain into glasses.
SIMPLE. But SO GOOD.
If you want to make this margarita “extra” special. Add the garnishes…
Meaning, apple slices, a sprig of rosemary, and most importantly, a smoking cinnamon stick. It’s fun, it adds smokiness, smells incredible, and you really just need to do it.
And that’s it. Serve this up tonight, tomorrow, or maybe over Halloween. Or, if you’re already planning out your Thanksgiving menu, this makes for a pretty great holiday margarita too!
Looking for something a little spookier? Try last Saturday’s Sleepy Hollow Cocktail!
If you make these smoky harvest apple cider margarita, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita.
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 603 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- cinnamon sugar and flaky sea salt, for the rim
- 2 ounces mezcal or silver tequila
- 1/2 ounce orange liquor
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) apple cider
- juice from 1/2 a lime
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup use more or less to your taste
- apple slices and cinnamon sticks, for serving
Instructions
- 1. If desired, rim your glass in salted cinnamon sugar. Mix equal parts cinnamon sugar and sea salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and coat in sugar.2. Combine the mezcal or tequila, orange liquor, apple cider, lime juice, and maple in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake to combine. Strain into the glass. Garnish with apple slices, rosemary, and cinnamon sticks. If desired light the cinnamon on fire for a smoky effect.
Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita Pitcher
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 212 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- cinnamon sugar and flaky sea salt, for the rim
- 12 ounces mezcal or silver tequila (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 3-4 ounces orange liquor (about 1/4 cup)
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup use more or less to your taste
- apple slices and cinnamon, sticks for serving
Instructions
- 1. In a large pitcher, combine mezcal or tequila, orange liquor, apple cider, lime juice, and maple. Chill until ready to serve.
2. When ready to serve, if desired, rim glasses in salted cinnamon sugar, fill with ice. Pour the margarita into glasses. Garnish with apple slices, rosemary, and cinnamon sticks. If desired light the cinnamon on fire for a smoky effect.
I just tried this with cinnamon spice apple cider, Espolon Respasado and Tres Agave Anejo-I was comparing as I will be making it for a signature drink at Thanksgiving dinner. I have to say-they were both EXCELLENT! Makes me want to run out and try Mezcal which I have never had. However, I do need to make about 8-9 drinks and the pitcher calculations don’t appear to be correct based on the single recipe. I am thinking I will multiply the single recipe by 8 as it was so delicious I don’t want to mess with it. Why is the pitcher recipe not an excat multiplication of the single recipe?
Hi Maggie,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! The pitcher recipe is not an exact multiplication because I went off of taste, I felt it was too strong for me:) I hope this helps! xx
Didn’t have mezcal so used reposado and was absolutely delicious- what a perfect fall cocktail!! Don’t skip the salt/sugar/cinnamon rim!!
Hey Ellie,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I appreciate you making it and your feedback! x
What silver tequila brand do you like to use?
Hi there,
I really like Casamigos! Let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
When it says orange liquor, do you mean orange liqueur? Or is there a straight orange liquor? Thank you!
Hi Anna,
Yes, you will want to use orange liqueur. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
I’ve made these several times with great success. This latest time, I did 50/50 mezcal and tequila to balance out the smokiness a little bit since my husband isn’t a huge mezcal fan. We have some jalapeno tequila hiding in our bar cabinet, so next time I may try making these spicy & smoky. Will come back to this recipe many times over!
Hey Anna,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this cocktail is always a winner, I appreciate you making it so often and your feedback! xx
Is one serving 600 calories? 😳
Love this one, making this for second (third?) year in a row. Made exactly as directed, light on the maple syrup. Added edible gold glitter to the salt+cinnamon+sugars rim. Delicious and not as sweet as one may assume. Shaken & served w/ large square cube.
Mocktail version for my hubs & daughter: apple cider, 1/2 lime, 1/2 orange, maple, topochico + rim & cinnamon stick.
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! Love the mocktail you made too! 🙂 xT
Hi,
If we are making 24 servings, do you recommend tripling the recipe or making 3 separate batches? What Orange liqueur do you recommend?
Hey Victoria,
You could totally triple the recipe! I like to use Triple Sec. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
Cant wait to try!
Hope you love it Pamela! xT
This was delicious and incredibly balanced. The ratios were perfect. I had to make a second one. Definitely makes a nice fall (or anytime) margarita.
Thank you for trying out the recipe! Have a great week! xT
Made them tonight for a fajita night with the family, they were delicious!!! Love the smokiness if the mezcal and it mixes so well with all the flavors. Yum yum yum !
Thank you for trying out the recipe! Have a great week! xT
Super tasty! A great balance of smoke, sweet and the autumn season.
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe! Hope you enjoyed! xT
So good!!!! I’ve had one every day since I found this recipe! Thank you for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Hope you’re having a lovely weekend! 🙂 xT
Crazy, but how do I smoke a cinnamon stick? Perplexed.
Hello! I’d like to batch make this for my wedding, however, when I adjust the numbers in the “Margarita” recipe versus the “Pitcher” recipe to be the same numbers- I am getting different amounts. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Hi Holly! I’m not quite sure what your question is, are you wanting to make the pitcher version?
Hi – I think I have the same question as Holly. The “math” doesn’t add up between the single cocktail and the pitcher version and I’m wondering if that is an error or intended. For example – the pitcher says it serves 8, so I would expect 2 oz of tequila x 8 would be 16 oz for the pitcher version, but it shows 12 oz instead. The apple cider measurements also look wrong for the pitcher. Does that make sense?
Hi Mark,
I didn’t make the pitcher recipe based on the “math”, I adjusted the measurements to what tasted the best:) I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Love this cocktail! It ends up being a regular in my house from Canadian Thanksgiving through and past American Thanksgiving. So delicious!
Hey Katherine,
Happy Wednesday!! I truly appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit:)
HI! I can’t wait to try. I think you have the calories mixed up. On the single serving you have 612 calories.