Leftover Cranberry Sauce Mezcal Margarita

Welcome to Margarita Monday! We're taking a short break from holiday music to bring you another margarita recipe. This one is still holiday-themed, but with a twist. If you're a fan of mezcal margaritas, especially during the winter times, then you're in for a treat. The smokey flavor of mezcal is perfect for this time of year and pairs excellently with our special ingredient - leftover cranberry sauce.

Yes, you read that right! If you're like me and still have a ton of Thanksgiving leftovers, I thought it would be fun to incorporate some of that into our cocktail. The ingredient of choice? Cranberry sauce. Not only do we get to enjoy a delicious cocktail, but we also get to reduce food waste by using up our leftover cranberry sauce. It's a win-win scenario!

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Mezcal Margarita

• 2 oz Mezcal

• 1 oz lime juice

• 1/2 oz or a spoonful of cranberry sauce

• 1 oz triple sec or cointreau

• 1/4 oz agave

• Sugar rolled fresh cranberries for garnish

Method: Begin by grabbing a cocktail shaker. Add your mezcal, lime juice, cranberry sauce, triple sec, and agave. Now comes the fun part - shake it up with ice and do so vigorously. You'll need a real good shake to get that cranberry sauce mixed in. Once the cranberry sauce is fully mixed and no longer chunky, it's time to pour out your mixture!

In a rocks glass, add fresh ice and pour in your cranberry mezcal goodness! To make it even more festive, garnish with 3 cranberries that have been rolled in sugar. This cocktail is best enjoyed over some leftover green bean casserole or mashed potatoes, making it the perfect post-Thanksgiving treat.

(watch on Instagram)

So, next time you're faced with a tub of leftover cranberry sauce, instead of letting it go to waste, why not turn it into a delicious cocktail? Not only will you be using up leftovers, but you'll also be creating a festive drink that's sure to impress your guests. Cheers to that!

Cheers!