A Feisty Jalapeno Margarita Cocktail Recipe To Make This Weekend At Home
Combining the zesty vibrance of lime along with a fiery element such as spicy peppers, the jalapeno margarita is truly an embodiment of how to vary a classic without taking away from its core. Balancing the heat of the pepper with sweetness and tartness, the jalapeno margarita makes room for various mixology techniques as a way to introduce heat into the cocktail. Whether one chooses to infuse the base spirit – tequila – with slices of fresh jalapeno, or muddle it while shaking the other ingredients, options are endless, based on the levels of spice one seeks.
Some versions of the recipe use orange juice or agave syrup to balance sweetness as well as add mellow smokiness, which deepens the profile while enhancing its taste. The layered cocktail thus lingers on the palate long after a sip has been taken, making it a standout option for drink menus that are centered around spirits and canapes at events. Furthering the effect of spice in the cocktail, adding a Tajin rim only emphasises the presence of heat and makes the cocktail a representation of a trendy ‘swicy’ drink.
Jalapeno Margarita Cocktail Recipe For One
Ingredients
- 30 ml blanco tequila
- 30 ml triple sec
- 15 ml agave nectar/simple syrup
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- 5-6 slices jalapeno pepper
- Tajin, for rim
- Lime wedge, for garnish
- Jalapeno slice, for garnish
Method
- Rub a wedge of lime on the rim of a rocks glass and dip it in some tajin spice mix or flaky sea salt, before setting aside.
- Add the jalapeno slices and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle the ingredients to extract spice from the peppers.
- Pour in the remaining ingredients (tequila, triple sec, agave nectar) in, followed by a handful of ice cubes.
- Shake the mixture vigorously for 15-20 seconds, until well combined before straining into the rimmed and ice-filled rocks glass.
- Garnish with a wedge of lime and slice of jalapeno before serving.
Key Tips To Make The Perfect Jalapeno Margarita Cocktail At Home
- Taste the cocktail as you go to ensure that the sweet, citrus and spice flavours are balanced and maintained throughout dilution, as the ice melts.
- Add a touch of soda or sparkling water to the cocktail to give it a fizzy texture, which enables the spice to sit lightly on the palate instead of lingering.
- Experiment with a variety of salts or spice blends for the rim since they add texture along with flavour; one could also swap the salt for a sugar rim for those who have a sweet tooth.
- Gradually increase the amount of jalapenos used in the cocktail as the peppers vary in spice – while some might turn out to be extremely hot, some peppers might taste milder – which means having to use more for adding a layer of heat.
*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
