We wanted to create a spicy margarita recipe because 1) we love margaritas and 2) homemade margaritas are much better than store-bought! A good margarita can go a looooong way. We aren’t huge fans of pre-made margarita mixes because they’re super sweet and have an almost “fake” taste (plus the hangovers are the worst). Like we recommend with all of our drinks, fresh ingredients make or break a cocktail. In our spicy marg, we use fresh lime juice and you can tell. The commercially made margarita mixes get the job done but you can usually tell when someone uses a mix versus all homemade.
Another secret to our spicy margarita recipe is the jalapeño simple syrup. Simple syrup may sound daunting to attempt to make but we promise it’s not! And if we can make it, you can make it. We have our go-to recipe here and we promise it’s how the name says – simple. Therefore, we promise you’ll love this recipe and highly recommend you make at home!
What type of tequila to use in our margarita recipe
When it comes to the tequila, you can use your favorite kind. The older the tequila has been aged, the stronger the flavor. Blanco tequila isn’t aged at all and bottled immediately after distillation. Reposado tequila is aged in oak barrels for 2-12 months before bottled. Joven tequila is mix of blanco and reposado. Then you have añejo (aged for 1-3 years) and extra añejo (aged for 3+ years), which take on a totally different flavor than the other tequilas.
Which type of tequila you should use depends on what flavor you prefer. We tend to use more blanco and joven tequilas so we can get good lime and jalapeño flavors, as these tequilas tend to not have a heavy flavor. The only recommendation we have with the tequila (or any alcohol) you use is to get a quality brand. Low quality alcohol can have you feelin a little iffy the next day if you know what we mean.
Recipe FAQ
Whichever you prefer! Typically, we serve this margarita chilled (like pictured above) or on the rocks but it can easily be made frozen. Simply add the margarita with a handful of ice to a blender. Blend for a minute or two until it reaches your desired consistency. Voila! A frozen spicy margarita!
There are a few ways! Including the jalapeño seeds when making the syrup will increase the heat. You can also make jalapeño-infused tequila if your heart desires! Simply slice fresh jalapeños (include the seeds) and put them in a resealable container. Pour in your favorite tequila and let the container sit for 1-2 weeks in a dark, cool environment. The end result is jalapeño-infused tequila!
Nope! We strongly prefer fresh fruit juice in any recipe simply because it has a better flavor (and nutrient content) than the more processed fruit juices. Probably the biggest reason this spicy margarita recipe is so good is because of the fresh lime juice! But if you’re short on time, store-bought juice is fine (but read the paragraph below to learn our trick to get fresh lime juice fast)!
Not a problem! All you have to do is use plain simple syrup instead of jalapeño simple syrup. Our recipe here is for jalapeño simple syrup but we explain how to make plain syrup (or really any flavor) if you’d like!
Tip to having fresh fruit juices on hand
We probably make this cocktail more than anything else (except for maybe our Empress cocktails like the Southside Gin and Garden City) because it’s so easy and just so good. Buying limes to juice in bulk and keeping the juice in the fridge so it’s easy to whip up a spicy marg whenever the mood strikes is a game-changer and makes life so much easier. We do the same with our jalapeño simple syrup! After making this recipe, we promise you won’t go back to store-bought margarita mix!
If you try this spicy margarita recipe, please rate and review below! We also love connecting on social media so tag us @theperfectpear8 so we can see your creation! 🙂
PrintSpicy Margarita Recipe
Good margaritas can be hard to come by because of all of the pre-made mixes available. Our recipe for a spicy margarita is super simple (and can be made not spicy) and delicious!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila (your favorite brand)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice (plus some for salt rim)
- ½ oz agave syrup
- ½ oz jalapeño simple syrup
- ½ oz Cointreau
- 2 Tbsp flakey sea salt
Instructions
For salt rim
- Squeeze fresh lime juice onto a dish (be sure to save 1oz fresh lime juice for the drink). Pour flakey sea salt into another dish.
- Dip rim of glass into lime juice and then salt.
For margarita
- Combine all ingredients into a shaker bottle with ice. Shake until mixed.
- Pour into glass and garnish with lime wedge or jalapeño slice. Enjoy!
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