Spicy Jalapeño Margarita with Chamoy and Tajin Rim

In the world of margaritas, spicy margaritas made with fresh Jalapeño, reign supreme! Muddled jalapeño peppers add a fresh heat while a Chamoy and Tajin dipped rim adds salty spicy flavor with each sip. 

Spicy Margarita Recipe

A spicy cocktail might sound strange if you've never tried one but if you like things on the hotter side, one sip will have you hooked. I've shared other spicy margaritas recipes like my Chili Pomegranate Margarita, Spicy Orange Margarita, and my Spicy Jalapeño Mango Margarita but never the classic Jalapeño Margarita! How is this possible?

I love this recipe because it is so fresh and simple with no added syrups or sugar so it's not overly sweet. Just a few ingredients are needed to create this cocktail and the chili rim is completely optional. 

Spicy Margarita Ingredients

• Tequila – I like using Silver Tequila for this margarita.
• Cointreau – my favorite orange liqueur.
• Lime Juice -only the freshly squeezed kind.
• Jalapeños - you can use as much or as little fresh jalapeño as you like.
• Tajin - this is a popular Mexican spice blend made with a combination of salt, chili peppers, and dehydrated lime.
• Chamoy - is a salty, sweet, spicy and tart Mexican condiment that is popular in cocktails.
• Ice - you'll need ice for the cocktail shaker and the glass!

How to Make a Spicy Margarita

• Jalapeño - slice a few pieces of jalapeño and place in the bottom of cocktail shaker. Add as much or as little jalapeño as you can handle for your own spice preference.
• Liqueur – add tequila, Cointreau and lime juice.

• Muddle - muddle the jalapeño well to infuse spice into the alcohol. I use a wooden cocktail muddler for this but if you don't have one you can use the handle of a wooden spoon! Just make sure you are really breaking up the jalapeño to release all of the flavor. 

• Rim - dip margarita glass in Chamoy then in Tajin to create a spicy rim.
• Ice - fill glass with ice.
• Shake or Stir - fill cocktail shaker with ice and shake well or stir to chill and combine all of the ingredients. For this post I stirred the margarita but I usually shake in a cocktail shaker. Either work well as long as you make sure to take your time.

• Strain – the margarita into your ice filled glass and discard old ice and jalapeño.
• Garnish - with fresh jalapeño slices and lime.

Spicy Skinny Margarita

Because this drink does not have any simple syrup it is technically a "skinny margarita" although almost every margarita I make is! I've never understood why restaurants use sweetened margarita mix, sweet and sour mix or simple syrup in their margaritas.

You can add agave if you want a bit of sweetness but I honestly don't believe it needs any. The Cointreau does add a bit of sweet orange flavor but it's very subtle. 

This really is a beautiful drink! Spicy Margaritas are perfect for serving on taco night with Mahi Mango Fish Tacos and Grilled Corn Salad.

More Margarita Recipes to Try:

• Frozen Pomegranate Margarita
• Easy Homemade Margarita Mix
• Frozen Sorbet Margaritas
• Coconut Blood Orange Margaritas
• Chili Pomegranate Margarita
• Creamy Coconut Margaritas
• Jam Jar Margaritas
• Blackberry Margaritas
• Raspberry Tequila Sour
• Limoncello Margarita