Ingredients
- 2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and sliced
- 750mL silver tequila
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- Carefully cut two jalapeños in half, removing the seeds.
- Cut the halves into slices.
- In a large clean bottle or jar, add the jalapeño slices and tequila.
- Cap the bottles or jars and gently swirl to stir the mix.
- Store the containers in a cool, dark place for approximately 3 to 4 days, giving them a swirl each day.
- After several days, sample by pouring the infusion into a glass. If you want more heat, allow the jalapeño infusion to steep longer.
- If there's enough flavor and heat for you, carefully remove the jalapeño slices and discard them.
- Funnel the infused tequila into the second clean bottle, filtering with the cheesecloth.
- Carefully seal. The tequila can be used right away.
You can store unused infused tequila in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for approximately one to two years before the quality diminishes. Do take care to dispose when the flavor starts to fade or tastes "off."
Variations of Jalapeño-Infused Tequila
Punch up your jalapeño tequila with soft notes of fruit and herbs, or go bold with earthy, spiced flavors.
- If you're looking for a different source of heat, consider one to three habanero peppers or poblanos, deseeded and sliced, or two to three clean ancho chiles.
- A quarter to a half cup of honey gives a little balance to the spicy flavors by adding that beloved sweetness.
- Pineapple adds a tropical, slightly sweet touch, so add a cup to cup and a half of peeled and chopped pineapple. A cup of chopped coconut also adds a tropical flair.
- Continue the fruit flavors by including one to two whole, sliced lemons or limes, or a whole sliced orange. You can also go with a sweeter orange taste by using three or four whole, sliced clementines, tangerines, and key limes.
- Include juicy berry flavors by including half to a full cup of halved raspberries or hulled and sliced strawberries.
Jalapeño-Infused Tequila Cocktails
Nothing beats jalapeño tequila- except jalapeño tequila cocktails. Right off the bat, it's the perfect tropical heat, and once you try it in a cocktail, you may never look back.
Mango Habanero Margarita
Capitalize on the marriage of tropical and spicy with this mango margarita. Use sugar instead of salt on the rim for a sweeter spicy kick.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces habanero-infused tequila
- 2 ounces mango juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Jalapeño slice, lime wedge, and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, habanero tequila, mango juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with jalapeño slice, lime wedge, and mint sprig.
Jalapeño Pineapple Highball
With your infusion already packing a ton of flavor, you're already halfway to a tasty highball.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces jalapeño-infused tequila
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Jalapeño slices and pineapple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, jalapeño tequila, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with jalapeño slices and pineapple slice.
Spicy Berry Margarita
Let the jalapeño notes be a subtle background player in this sweeter than spicy margarita.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and sugar for rim
- 6-8 raspberries
- 6-8 blackberries
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- ½ ounces jalapeño-infused tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle berries with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, silver tequila, jalapeño tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with thyme sprig.
Spicy Paloma
Give a little love to another classic tequila cocktail by adding heat to the paloma.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces jalapeño-infused tequila
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Grapefruit wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, jalapeño tequila, and lime juice.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with grapefruit wheel and mint sprig.
Mixers for Jalapeño Tequila Drinks
You did the hard work of infusing your jalapeño tequila, so take it easy when you enjoy it with a simple mixer or two.
- Pineapple juice
- Cherry juice
- Orange juice
- Lime juice
- Lemon juice
- Tonic water
- Club soda
- Flavored club soda such as cherry, orange, vanilla, coconut, lemon, lime, raspberry, or strawberry
- Coconut water
- Margarita mix
- Orange liqueur
- Limeade
- Lemonade
Bringing the Heat With Jalapeño-Infused Tequila
With a scorching jalapeño-infused tequila, no cocktail will be the same again. Whether you infuse several flavors or enjoy the jalapeño tequila as is, your love for cocktails will be on fire.
