Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas

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These mezcal and lavender cocktails are the perfect smokey and slightly floral iteration of the Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas and would make Sally, Gillian, and the Aunts proud! These are the perfect Halloween cocktails to bring out your inner witch for the season!

Mezcal is tequila's smokey cousin and is the perfect spirit for a witchy margarita that is best enjoyed while kitchen dancing at midnight. They also have a little lavender for luck because who doesn't need that?!

Mezcal lavender Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas in a pumpkin shaped wine glass sitting on moss.

Why this recipe works:

Practical Magic is a 90's witchy classic starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and it has always been one of my favorite movies to watch during Halloween. One of the best scenes in the movie is when the Aunts make midnight margaritas, and the four women dance around their kitchen.

This recipe really celebrates the movie by using flavors that the family of witches would appreciate. Mezcal, instead of tequila, to make a smokier witchy cocktail, lavender because the family always plants lavender for luck, and fresh lime juice because it's a margarita after all.

Mezcal lavender Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas in a pumpkin shaped wine glass sitting on a wood tray on moss.

About this recipe:

Taste - Smokey, sweet, slightly floral.
Effort - Easy! This margarita has just a few ingredients, and you can use any store-bought lavender syrup.
Time - Less than 5 minutes.

Midnight margarita ingredients on a wood tray.

Key Ingredients:

Mezcal: Mezcal is a spirit similar to tequila. It is also made from agave, but it is cooked in pits in the ground, which gives it its signature smokey flavor. For this recipe, I used Del Maguey Vida Mezcal which is known for its smokey flavor and for being pretty decently priced.

Lavender Syrup: Just a touch of lavender syrup lightens up this cocktail, and as they say in the movie, lavender brings luck.

Simple Syrup or Agave Nectar: this cocktail has just a bit of sweetener to perfectly balance and complement the lime juice. You can use agave, simple syrup, or even honey, whatever you have on hand.

Lime Juice: no margarita is complete without lime juice, and fresh squeezed is always best!

Salt: As Aunt Jet says "Cragged Salt like a sailor's stubble!"

Lime juice being added to a glass cocktail shaker.

Step 1: Add the lime juice to a cocktail shaker.

Mezcal being added to the cocktail shaker.

Step 2: Add in the mezcal.

Add lavender syrup to the cocktail shaker.

Step 3: Add in the lavender syrup.

Step 4: Add in the agave and shake!

How to make this recipe:

This cocktail is so easy to make!

Start by adding ice to a cocktail shaker.
Add in the mezcal, lime juice, agave, and lavender syrup.
Shake for 30 seconds.
Pour in a salt-rimmed glass with ice.
Garnish with lavender and lime!

Substitutions:

If you aren't a lavender fan, you can make this into a more traditional margarita by swapping it for an orange liqueur-like triple sec.
You can also substitute the mezcal for your favorite tequila if you don't have any on hand.

FAQ's:

Can I make this margarita into a pitcher?

Yes! Just use the tool in the recipe card and multiply the recipe by how many margaritas you want to fill in your pitcher. Add it all the pitcher and stir!