Quick shake infusion (instant): For a quick kick of heat in your cocktail, shake your margarita along with a few slices of Jalapeño. Use 2-3 Jalapenos or 1-2 Habaneros per 750ml bottle. Excess exposure will lead to green vegetal off-flavors. Be sure to remove all the Jalapenos and strain out any remaining seeds before storing tequila longer term. Soak 2-3 Jalapeños, seeds included, for 10-12 hours or overnight in tequila in a large mason jar or sealed container. Jalapeño-infused tequila (1 day): Make your own Jalapeño-infused tequila by soaking halved Jalapeno in your favorite blanco tequila. Here are some reliable and affordable options I recommend: There are several mid-range tequilas that are really good without breaking the bank. I enjoy top-shelf tequila for sipping but skip it for Margaritas, especially when it comes to infusions. There is no need to use expensive tequila for Margaritas. 3-4 dashes are all you need for balanced heat. My favorite Habanero-infused bitters are Fire Tincture (Firewater) by Scrappy’s Bitters.

It’s a nice way to add varying degrees of heat to a batch of Margaritas. It’s very easy to use and can easily be added to individual cocktails to taste. Spicy bitters offer very clean heat with no vegetal off-flavors. Spicy bitters (instant): my favorite hack for quickly heating up cocktails is spicy bitters.I usually leave the jalapeños in the cocktail so it continues to warm the drink as you sip. Start with 2-3 slices per drink and add more as needed. This method works pretty well but is not as efficient and requires more Jalapeños per cocktail. Quick shake infusion (instant): for a quick kick of heat in your cocktail, shake your Margarita along with a few slices of Jalapeño.If you overshoot on heat, you can cut the batch with additional tequila. Start with 2-3 Jalapenos or 1-2 Habaneros per 750ml bottle. Jalapeño-infused tequila (1 day): make your own Jalapeño-infused tequila by soaking halved Jalapeños in your favorite blanco tequila.Here are three easy ways to spice up your next Margarita: As a quick tip, you can divide a 750ml bottle of tequila between two 12-ounce mason jars and experiment with Hababeros and Jalapeños in smaller batches (pictured above). Be sure to wear gloves when handling hot peppers and never touch your eyes as they’re very potent. If you’re feeling bold you can use hotter peppers such as Habaneros or Scotch Bonnets. The key to success is quick oil extraction without any unwanted green vegetal flavors from extended contact.

I highly recommend you grab extra peppers and carefully taste them before soaking them in tequila. I’ve come across Jalapeños that are like bell peppers and others that are quite spicy. There is always going to be variance among the same types of peppers. When making your own infusions, it’s important to find Jalapeños (or any peppers) that are actually spicy. The most obvious options are buying spicy tequila or making your own Jalapeño-infused tequila at home. There are a few approaches when it comes to making spicy Margaritas. Pour over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge or jalapeño slices. If making your own spicy tequila, see the instructions in the recipe card or in the notes below. Add a cup of ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Dip in Margarita salt, rotating until coated.Ĭombine lime juice, spicy tequila, simple sugar, and triple sec in a cocktail shaker. How to Make a Spicy Margaritaįor the salted rim, take a lime wedge and coat the rim of a double old-fashioned glass. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below. Fresh Jalapeño or Habanero: if making your own spicy tequila.Cointreau or elderflower liqueur: can also be used as the sole sweetener in place of simple syrup for “skinny” Margaritas.Fresh lemon juice: adding fresh lemon juice to Margaritas adds a unique blend of fresh citrus.If you must use pre-squeezed, look for ReaLime. Fresh lime juice: I always opt for fresh limes.Honey syrup is the same concept and adds complexity to cocktails. Simple syrup or honey syrup: simple syrup is a 50-50 split of melted sugar in water.Jalapeño or habanero-infused blanco tequila: it’s really easy to make your own following the steps below.

Jalapeno mezcal margarita