Jose Cuervo Authentic Raspberry Colada Margarita 1.75L

Jose Cuervo Authentic Raspberry Colada Margarita 1.75L is a ready-to-serve tequila margarita blending raspberry and coconut flavors at 9.95% ABV (19.9 proof). This expression earned an 8.5 out of 10 aggregate score from The Daily Meal's tasting panel, which named it the standout winner for execution, creativity, and overall taste among Cuervo's lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.95%  |  Origin: Jalisco, Mexico  |  Style: Ready-to-Serve Margarita  |  Distillery: La Rojeña

Production & Heritage

The tequila base comes from La Rojeña, located in the town of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico — the oldest active distillery in Latin America. Made exclusively with Jose Cuervo tequila, the Raspberry Colada Margarita emerged from Cuervo's annual Margarita Shakeup contest, a consumer-driven campaign where fans submit and vote on new flavors. This particular recipe was created by a pre-school teacher from South Carolina and won the public vote, making it one of the few ready-to-drink cocktails born directly from consumer innovation rather than a corporate lab.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweetened flaked coconut leads, followed by fresh raspberries and hints of mixed red fruit. The initial impression leans tropical, closer to a piña colada than a traditional margarita, with coconut dominating and raspberry sitting subtly underneath.

Taste: On the palate, the balance shifts — raspberry puree and rich coconut cream arrive in equal measure, but tart, tangy lime juice cuts through decisively. The acidity is notable, pulling the drink back into distinctly margarita territory. A mild agave backbone from the Cuervo tequila base surfaces at mid-palate, grounding the fruit flavors.

Finish: Bright citrus and clean agave linger as the coconut and raspberry recede. The finish is moderate in length with a refreshing, slightly tart close that avoids cloying sweetness.

How to Drink Raspberry Colada Margarita

Serve directly from the bottle over ice in a salt-rimmed glass — no blender or additional mixing required. For a frozen variation, pour the contents into a blender with ice and blend until slushy. A Raspberry Colada Spritz works well by topping a pour with sparkling water for a lighter, effervescent take. A Tropical Punch Bowl multiplies easily for groups — combine with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with lime wheels, letting the coconut-raspberry base do the heavy lifting. A Berry Colada Float pairs a generous pour over coconut sorbet for a dessert-style serve that leans into the drink's tropical character.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and pool parties where batch-friendly convenience matters
• Hosting guests who prefer sweeter, fruit-forward cocktails over spirit-forward drinks
• Beach trips and outdoor gatherings where a blender isn't available
• Casual weeknight entertaining without the hassle of sourcing multiple ingredients

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Raspberry Colada Margarita taste like? It leads with tropical coconut cream and ripe raspberry puree, then pivots to a tangy lime-driven acidity that keeps it recognizably margarita-like. A subtle agave note from the tequila base anchors the finish.

How does Raspberry Colada Margarita compare to Cuervo Coconut-Pineapple Margarita? The Coconut-Pineapple variety leans heavily into piña colada territory and was noted by tasters as less identifiable as a margarita, causing some confusion about what they were drinking. The Raspberry Colada strikes a better balance between tropical sweetness and citrus-driven margarita acidity, which earned it higher marks in comparative tastings.

Is Raspberry Colada Margarita good for beginners? Yes — at 9.95% ABV, it sits well below most spirits and delivers fruit-forward, approachable flavors with no mixing required, making it an easy entry point for anyone new to tequila-based drinks.

Where is Raspberry Colada Margarita made? It is produced using tequila from La Rojeña distillery in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, the oldest active distillery in Latin America and the historic home of the Jose Cuervo brand.

What foods pair well with Raspberry Colada Margarita? Grilled shrimp tacos complement the coconut and citrus notes naturally. Fish ceviche mirrors the drink's bright acidity. Jerk chicken plays off the tropical fruit sweetness. Fresh fruit platters with mango and pineapple extend the tropical theme. A mild coconut flan echoes the drink's coconut cream character for a dessert pairing.

What sizes does Raspberry Colada Margarita come in? It is available in 1.75L, 750mL, and 200mL sizes, with the 1.75L handle being the most common format for group serving.

Is Raspberry Colada Margarita worth the price? It positions as a value-tier ready-to-serve cocktail, and the 1.75L format delivers strong per-serving economics compared to buying individual margarita ingredients or canned RTD options — particularly for gatherings where volume matters.

Why Raspberry Colada Margarita?

This is one of the rare commercial spirits products that originated from a consumer's kitchen rather than a distillery's product development team — the winning recipe from Cuervo's Margarita Shakeup contest, submitted and voted on by the public. That real-world origin shows in the flavor balance: instead of leaning entirely into candy-sweet coconut, the lime acidity and tequila backbone keep it grounded as an actual margarita. Cuervo's ready-to-serve line holds the number-one position in the U.S. ready-to-serve cocktail category, and the Raspberry Colada's 8.5/10 score from The Daily Meal's panel suggests this particular flavor justifies its place at the top of the range. For anyone seeking a convenient, crowd-pleasing RTD with more personality than the standard lime margarita, this expression delivers genuine tropical complexity without requiring a bartender.