Spicy Margarita recipe
Heat meets citrus — the margarita's fiery younger sibling.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 5 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Blanco Tequila
- 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.75 oz Agave Syrup
- 2-3 Jalapeño Slices (muddled)
- 0.5 oz Triple Sec
How to make a Spicy Margarita
- Muddle jalapeño slices in the bottom of a shaker.
- Add tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, and triple sec.
- Add ice and shake hard for 12-15 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice with a chili-salt rim.
- Garnish with a fresh jalapeño slice on the rim.
Garnish
Jalapeño slice and a Tajín or chili-salt rim.
Pro tip
Remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeño if you want flavor without face-melting heat. The capsaicin lives in the white membrane, not the flesh. Start with 2 slices and taste — you can always add more heat but you can't take it away.
History of the Spicy Margarita
The Spicy Margarita exploded in popularity in the 2010s, though bartenders had been adding chili to tequila drinks for decades. The modern version is often credited to Todd Thrasher at Restaurant Eve in Virginia around 2000, but it really went mainstream when celebrities started ordering them at Mexican restaurants in LA and NYC.
Flavour profile
Spicy, Citrus, Sweet, Smoky
Variations
- Mezcal Spicy Margarita — Replace tequila with mezcal for smoky heat
- Habanero Margarita — Use habanero instead of jalapeño for serious heat
- Mango Spicy Margarita — Add 1 oz fresh mango purée for tropical fire
Practise making the Spicy Margarita in the free Virtual Bar game.