This homemade Spicy Jalapeño Infused Tequila recipe is a concoction with a kick. Made with fresh jalapeño peppers, this spirit — your choice of tequila or mezcal — will bring the heat to all your margaritas and palomas, and help you say goodbye to summer!
Whenever I see spicy drinks on a cocktail menu, I have to order them.
Cayenne on the rim, hot sauce, horseradish, jalapeño-infused tequila… I want it all.
But this hasn’t always been a quirk of mine. Just the other day I was chatting with a friend about how I had to teach myself to like spicy foods.
My friends used to order the most amazing buffalo chicken wings at a bar we frequented, but they were too spicy for me — at first. I forced myself to order it every time, until it became palatable.
And now? I can eat some spicy foods. I’m not a 24-types-of-hot-sauce-in-my-fridge kind of person, but I do enjoy a little kick here and there.
Spicy cocktails don’t have to be enjoyed only in restaurants and bars, though! You can make them at home by infusing spirits.
Just like we made homemade spiced rum and homemade Irish cream liqueur, you can make this homemade spicy jalapeño infused tequila recipe and have the Spicy Jalapeño Blackberry Margaritas of your dreams.
All you need are some jalapeño peppers, tequila and a mason jar or bottle to make it happen.
To make it, thinly slice the jalapeños and discard the seeds if you desire a milder end product. Then soak them in tequila for about a day. They may lose their rich, green color — this is a-okay.
Remove the peppers, and you’ve got a spicy spirit worthy of the best cocktail bar in town.
Now you’re ready to throw it in a drink like this mango margarita or this watermelon paloma, or even in cooking, like this margarita grilled chicken.
Bring on the fire!
What kind of tequila should I use?
Blanco (or silver) tequila is going to be your best bet because it is clear and colorless — a perfect blank slate.
If you prefer an aged taste, try a reposado, which is aged in oak barrels for between two months and one year.
Anejo tequila is aged over a year, and it’s meant to be sipped straight like a fine whiskey or wine, and purists would tell you not to infuse it. But me? I say be creative! You do you.
Still not sure? I have just the tequila guide for you!
Can you use other spirits?
Of course! Mezcal would be a great, smokier alternative to tequila, but rum and vodka make great bases for infusions.
Can you use other peppers?
Sure! Jalapeños are milder, but if habaneros, poblanos or even ghost peppers strike your fancy, go wild and experiment! But be sure to warn anyone you’re serving the tequila to in case they’re sensitive to spice.
How do you make it more spicy?
The amount of peppers and time both play a key role in this jalapeño infused tequila recipe.
More peppers — especially if you include the seeds — equals more spice. More time infusing means more of the spicy flavors can be absorbed into the tequila.
If you want more spice, use another half or whole pepper and/or infuse the tequila for an extra day or two. Feel free to taste-test it during the infusion process so you know for sure!
How do you make it less spicy?
Use a milder pepper, less pepper or infuse for less time. But if you wind up with a too-spicy tequila, you can dilute it or mix it with regular, un-infused tequila.
I hope you enjoy this jalapeño infused tequila recipe! Comment below with what you use it in so I can try your spicy concoctions. // susannah
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