Updated on: 6/3/2025
Mexican Martini with Grand Marnier: Recipe, Flavor, and Tips
A Mexican martini with Grand Marnier takes the best of a Margarita, levels up the complexity with orange cognac, and marries it with the style of a classic martini. This hybrid drink is popular in Austin, Texas, and showcases how a single liqueur can transform a familiar cocktail.
How Grand Marnier Changes the Mexican Martini
Traditional Mexican martinis use triple sec or Cointreau, delivering crisp citrus edges. Swapping to Grand Marnier—a blend of orange liqueur and cognac—brings deeper orange flavors, subtle oak notes, and a richer body. Instead of sharp, brisk sweetness, Grand Marnier lays down rounded, complex aromatics and a lingering finish. The drink becomes silkier, with more weight and a mellow warmth behind the lime.
Classic Mexican Martini Recipe with Grand Marnier
This recipe balances tart lime, tequila's bite, and Grand Marnier's orange-cognac depth. Unlike a standard martini, the Mexican martini is vigorously shaken and typically served up, not stirred. Always use fresh-squeezed lime and a good quality blanco tequila for the cleanest flavors.
- 60 ml blanco tequila
- 22.5 ml Grand Marnier
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- 15 ml olive brine
- 10 ml simple syrup (optional, to taste)
- Green olives, for garnish
- Add tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, olive brine, and simple syrup to a shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with 2–3 green olives on a pick.
Flavor Tips: Maximizing Aroma and Balance
- Salt the rim lightly—even just half—for a pop of savory contrast.
- Use high-quality Grand Marnier to let the orange-cognac character shine.
- Fresh lime juice is essential; bottled juice will flatten the cocktail.
- A dash of orange bitters (1 ml) can further elevate aroma.
- Experiment with reposado tequila for more oak and depth, though the traditional version prefers blanco.
Serving & Variations
The Mexican martini is famously served with a mini carafe on the side in some Austin bars—ideal for topping off. For home celebrations, pre-batch the base mix without ice and shake each portion fresh to order. Swap green olives for jalapeño-stuffed olives to add a spicy edge, or introduce 10 ml orange juice for extra fruitiness.
