Do you like adventurous cocktails? If so, you’ll be dying to try my Jalapeño Margarita. This drink is spicy, sweet, and has a hint of cheery citrus on the back end. It may look fancy, but it comes together in under 10 minutes.
Serve this margarita with pizza and wings, or make a drink flight with my other cocktail recipes. I can guarantee this Jalapeño Margarita will have you feeling feisty with every sip. With a blend of peppers, lime, and orange, every day becomes a vacation.
Jalapeño Margarita | A Spicy, Sweet Cocktail
Some people like a slice of pepper, while others want the whole thing, including seeds. Whether you’re a firebreather or prefer a walk on the mild side, you'll fall in love with this unique drink. Make it in bulk and serve it while tailgating or for poker night.
The Ingredients
Margaritas are simple in theory but have endless combinations. If you have a well-stocked bar, you can make this drink right now! If not, here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.
- Heath Riles BBQ Garlic Jalapeño Rub. I added my own twist to this recipe by mixing a little of my best-selling rub with salt. This extra step makes the margarita look beautiful and gives it BBQ flair. Add a dash to your patty meat if you serve this drink with burgers. A cohesive flavor profile elevates any meal.
- Margarita rimming salt. A little salt makes the sweet flavors stand out and reduces bitterness. Plus, it just makes the glass look good. I purchase rimming salt that’s specially formulated to enhance your drinking experience.
- Grilled jalapeños. I recommend grilling your jalapeños before adding them to your margarita mix. This step adds a gorgeous char and distributes the heat evenly. Raw jalapeños tend to be a little spicier, but charring the peppers is a happy medium.
- Limes. The key to a fantastic margarita is fresh lime juice. Many people use an artificial mix to make their margarita sour, but I prefer fresh limes. The flavor is less bitter but authentic.
- Orange juice. Oranges and limes are a fabulous combination. This simple ingredient is another twist I added to a classic cocktail. There’s no way you can be sad while drinking my Jalapeńo Margarita!
- Simple syrup. A dash of simple syrup adds sweetness without altering flavors. You can make your own simple syrup at home or purchase it at the grocery store. Either way, you’ll have an excellent drink.
- Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge. This orange-flavored French liquor has been a household name since the 1800s. If you enjoy brandy, add this product to your at-home bar.
- Tequila. Everyone has their own opinion on tequila, so use whatever you like best. If you need a good recommendation, try Camarena tequila. It’s never failed me yet!
The Process for Making My Jalapeńo Margarita
When you serve my Jalapeńo Margarita, you’ll impress all your friends with your astonishing bartender skills. You can find an in-depth demonstration of this recipe in the short video and recipe card at the bottom of this post. For now, here’s a quick rundown of how I crafted this cocktail.
- Mix the rimming salt. To make my custom rimming salt, I added a dash of Garlic Jalapeño Rub to my salt container. You can keep any excess salt and always have a batch of BBQ-inspired garnish on hand.
- Mash the jalapeños. I halved a grilled jalapeńo and muddled it in the bottom of my mixing glass.
- Squeeze the limes. Next, I used my citrus juicer to add the juice of two limes to the muddled jalapeños.
- Add juice and liquor. After I juiced my limes, I added 1 ounce of orange juice, 1 ounce of simple syrup, 1 ounce of Grand Marnier, and 2 ounces of tequila to my mixing glass.
- Shake. To finish my Jalapeńo Margarita mix, I added a cup of ice to the mixing glass and shook it.
- Rim and strain. I rimmed my YETI Rambler 10oz Stackable Lowball cup with a lime slice, then dipped the rim into my salt mixture. I added ice to the Yeti, then poured my strained margarita over the top.
- Garnish. I enjoy a good presentation, so I garnished my glass with a slice of grilled jalapeńo and lime. The only thing left to do is drink up!
The Results
This margarita was sweet and brought the heat. The sprinkle of Garlic Jalapeño Rub added a savory element that brought the cocktail together. If you enjoy out-of-the-box recipes, you have to try this one!
Serving Suggestions for Jalapeńo Margarita
Enjoy this beverage on its own, or serve it with a tasty main course. Here are a few delicious recipes you can serve alongside my Jalapeńo Margarita.
- Woodfired Pepperoni Pizza. Pizza and margaritas go together like peanut butter and jelly. This tasty pizza is woodfired and tastes better than any pizza joint.
- Drink flight. Drink flights are all the rage, especially at parties. The general idea is to serve multiple cocktails for a fun experience. If this piques your interest, serve the margarita alongside my SweeTarts cocktail and my Mississippi Sunrise beverage.
Storing Leftover Jalapeño Margarita
If you’re making this drink in advance, you can store the mixture in the fridge for up to three days. I recommend eliminating the ice, so the beverage isn’t watered down.
Equipment and Tools
YETI Rambler 10oz Stackable Lowball, bartender kit, manual citrus juicer.
