Chili's 2 New Margaritas Feel Very 'Wicked'-Coded—But How Do They Taste?

I can sum this one up in three words: Apple Jolly Rancher. A second taste-tester came to the same conclusion, independently, and a server who'd tried it said she could totally see the comparison. The Granny Smith syrup provides a sweet-tart note that makes it the dominant flavor in the margarita, and the house-made sour keeps it from veering too much into liquid-candy territory. It's a solid choice for serving alongside the brand's new Southwestern queso, as it cuts through salty flavors cleanly, and can act as a palate cleanser between bites of the Ancho Salmon or Fajita Trio.

I'm not big on soda water—often, the fizz overpowers the drink—and dragon fruit can be super sweet, so I had to check both biases as I took my first sip. And I was pleasantly surprised! It turns out the two cancel each other out; the splash of soda water provided a mild effervescence, which cut the sweetness of the syrup dramatically. It made for a milder drink overall, which let the tequila shine through a bit more.

In fact, as I sipped, I wound up liking this marg more and more, and ultimately, it became my favorite of the duo. It's more sweet than sour, but there's a lightness to it that makes it very easy to sip. And as such, it pairs well with most items on the menu, particularly as a refreshing foil to ones with strong flavors, like the Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks or Honey-Chipotle Chicken Tenders.

As someone who loves spooky season but isn't crazy about pumpkin spice, a themed margarita is much more my speed. And at $6 per drink, it's a fun way to make going to the movies—or any fall-themed adventures—a bit more festive. Make like Cynthia and Ariana and hold space for this launch, OK?