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    Recipes » Cocktails

    Spicy Mezcal Margaritas

    Published: May 1, 2022 · Modified: May 25, 2023 by The Sage Apron - This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These spicy mezcal margaritas are bold with a tart, spicy, and smoky flavor! Mezcal margaritas on the rocks will forever be one of my favorite cocktails, and this version - with the spice of a few slices of chili pepper is WOW. So good.

    A spicy mezcal margarita garnished with a slice of red chili and a Tan rim

    This cocktail recipe has a much bigger flavor than traditional margaritas. The sweet, tart, smoky and spicy flavors make for the most perfect combination! Don't forget to rim the edge with some salty Tajín!

    For another spicy agave recipe, try our Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas!

    Jump to:
    • All About the Ingredients
    • More Cocktails You'll Love
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    All About the Ingredients

    This Spicy Mezcal Margarita recipe shakes up quick with a few fresh ingredients and a stocked backbar. Here's what you'll need:

    An image of ingredients needed to make this margarita recipe
    Ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    From left to right...

    • Tajín - Perhaps my favorite Summertime spice blend! If you haven't tried Tajín yet - now is the time! This tangy spice in made from chili powder, citrus and salt. A salted rim is always a delicious option, but a zesty Tajín rim is perfect for this drink.
    • Chili Pepper - We love the fruity spice of fresno chilis for this recipe. Serrano or jalapeño peppers are also great options!
    • Orange Liqueur - You can use Triple Sec, Cointreau of Curaçao. This Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao is one of our favorite brands to keep on the backbar.
    • Mezcal - This agave spirit has a smoky and herbaceous flavor. If you haven't had it yet, you can read more about mezcal below.
    • Fresh Lime Juice - For the tastiest margaritas, squeeze your own!
    • Honey Syrup - This easy cocktail syrup is made from equal parts honey and hot water. The recipe is included below, but you can also check out the full honey syrup post here. Simple syrup or agave syrup work, too.
    • Ice Cubes - For shaking & serving!

    Choosing a Chili

    Spicy Mezcal Margaritas can be made with any of your favorite fresh hot peppers! But be careful, the spiciness of chilis can differ from pepper to pepper! We recommend tasting a small piece of the pepper so you know what you're working with! Typically a few slices (about one-third) of a fresno or jalapeño gives this drink the perfect balance of sweet, tart, smoky and spicy.

    Personally, we prefer fresno chilis in our margaritas. They're a good balance of heat with a subtle fruity flavor and nice pop of color! Serrano chilis and jalapeño peppers have a similar range of spiciness - so those work great too. If you wanted something even spicier, you could try a Thai bird chili or a thin slice of habanero! A few extra slices of sliced peppers as a garnish make a nice touch!

    Pouring a margarita through a cocktail strainer into a glass with ice
    We recommend twice straining this cocktail through a Hawthorne and fine-mesh strainer to remove any lime pulp and chili seeds.

    What is Mezcal?

    Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from any varietal of roasted agave. Tequila on the other hand is made only from a specific type of agave: blue agave. (Fun Fact: Tequila is actually a type of mezcal!).

    The heart of the agave plant (called piñas) are roasted on hot rocks in underground pits. The process creates complex flavors and gives mezcal its characteristic smoky flavor. Then, the roasted agave hearts are mashed. Many mezcalerias throughout Oaxaca are still using the traditional methods and mashing the piñas with a stone wheel turned by a horse or donkey. The mash is then allowed to ferment in vats of water before being distilled in clay or copper pots.

    Mezcal production is a cherished tradition of Mexican culture. We highly suggest finding yourself some high-quality, small-production mezcal (made from the traditional methods) for sipping, stirring and shaking!

    What Mezcal is Best for Spicy Margaritas?

    Mezcal is being made across Mexico from over 200 varieties of agave - so, there are tons of different styles and tasting notes. When purchasing mezcal, we make an effort to choose a small, sustainable producer. You know, so we can support local craft distillers and not, say, George Clooney. Here a few common brands that we know and love:

    • Del Maguey - Despite Vida being on every backbar in America, this product is actually made with care and attention. We highly recommend checking out some of the single varietals they offer.
    • Ilegal - Our usual go-to. The Joven is best for mixing.
    • Sombra - If you can find it, buy it!

    Can I Use Tequila Instead?

    Of course! If you're not a fan of the smoke, or are hoping for something sweeter - you can substitute equal parts of tequila for mezcal. Spicy tequila margaritas are delicious, too! If you prefer tequila, try our Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas.

    Spicy Mezcal margaritas next to a plate of tan and a sliced fresno chili

    Honey Syrup

    To balance the flavors and sweeten this margarita, we like to use a quick, homemade honey syrup. The honey adds a nice flavor that goes great with the agave and chili peppers. The syrup also has a richer mouthfeel - similar to that of agave. (It's healthier and much more sustainable, too!)

    A bottle of honey syrup and jar of honey with dipper

    Honey Syrup

    With 5 minutes, honey and water you can make this delicious cocktail syrup! Perfect for sweetening non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails.

    Honey syrup is great to use in lots of other cocktails, too! It's great in a classic margarita, a Bee's Knees or a Brown Derby. (Try it in our Blackberry Bee's Knees.) Plus, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.

    If you'd like, you can also use a regular simple syrup or agave syrup for this recipe.

    More Cocktails You'll Love

    Check out these other popular agave based drinks. For more happy hour inspiration, browse our entire collection of cocktails.

    • A close up picture of a jalapeno watermelon tequila cocktail
      Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas
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    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave us a star rating and share your photos @TheSageApron

    Recipe

    A spicy mezcal margarita garnished with a slice of red chili and a Tan rim

    Spicy Mezcal Margaritas

    Author: The Sage Apron
    These yummy margaritas are the perfect blend of sweet, tart, smoky, salty and spicy!
    4.97 from 27 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Honey Syrup Time 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes minutes
    Yield 1 cocktail
    Course Happy Hour
    Cuisine Mexican

    ADJUST SERVINGS

    Special Equipment

    • 1 Cocktail Shaker (or Mason Jar with Lid)
    • 1 Hawthorne Cocktail Strainer
    • 1 Fine-Mesh Cocktail/Tea Strainer

    Ingredients
     

    Spicy Mezcal Margarita

    • 2 ounces mezcal
    • 1 ounce lime juice freshly-squeezed
    • ½ ounce orange liqueur Triple Sec, Cointreau or Curaçao
    • ½ ounce honey syrup or agave, or simple syrup
    • ¼ - ½ chili pepper fresno, jalapeño or serrano; sliced, plus more for garnishing
    • Ice as needed, for shaking and serving
    • 1 wedge fresh lime Optional: as needed, for rimming glasses
    • Tajín Optional: or chili salt; as needed, for rimming glasses

    Honey Syrup

    • ½ Cup honey
    • ½ Cup hot water

    Instructions
     

    Spicy Mezcal Margaritas

    • Gather, measure and prepare the Spicy Mezcal Margarita ingredients as listed.
    • If rimming your cocktail glass with Tajín (or salt), start by preparing you glasses. Wet the rim of your cocktail glass with a fresh-cut lime wedge. Then, dip the wet rim of the glass into Tajín sprinkled on a shallow plate. Fill glasses with fresh ice cubes.
    • In a cocktail shaker (or mason jar), combine mezcal, lime juice, orange liquor, honey syrup and sliced chili pepper. Fill tin (or jar) with ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain cocktail through a Hawthorn and fine-mesh strainer directly into the cocktail glass. ¡Salud!

    Honey Syrup (Enough for About 16 Cocktails)

    • Heat water in a kettle, stovetop or microwave until simmering. In a heat-safe container combine water and honey. Stir until honey is thoroughly dissolved. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 month.

    Notes

    Check out the full Honey Syrup post.
    * A Note About Salt

    Unless otherwise noted, all recipes on The Sage Apron are developed using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt. It is a great all-purpose salt for cooking and baking. If using table salt, reduce quantities by about half.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    Let's Keep In TouchFollow us on Instagram @TheSageApron

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