Spicy Jalapeño Margarita
A fresh, tart Margarita with a jalapeño kick that builds as you drink.
Ingredients
- Blanco tequila50 ml
- Orange liqueur15 ml
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed30 ml
- Chili, jalapeño, muddled to release its oils and heat3 slices
- Agave syrup15 ml
- Salt, to rim the glass (or use Tajín) (optional)1 pinch
- Lime, to garnish (optional)1 wedge
- Chili, jalapeño, to garnish (optional)2 slices
Method
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip it in salt or Tajín, if you want a rim.
- Fill the glass with ice and set it aside.
- Put the jalapeño slices in a shaker and muddle them lightly to release their oils and heat.
- Add the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur and agave syrup to the shaker with the jalapeño.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 10–15 seconds, until well chilled.
- Strain into the prepared glass over the fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and a few extra jalapeño slices.
About this drink
The Margarita has its roots in Mexico in the 1930s and 1940s, when tequila, lime and orange liqueur found their classic balance. The jalapeño version is a newer branch from the American cocktail wave of the 2000s, when bartenders began muddling fresh chilli straight into the shaker to give the classic a modern, fiery twist. The longer the jalapeño steeps, the more it bites, so taste as you go.
