The Best Spicy Margarita Recipe

This spicy jalapeno margarita recipe has everything you need in a good margarita—tequila, lime juice, jalapenos, and a few secret ingredients that make this the BEST one out there…

One of my favorite cocktails ever, and I mean ever, is a good spicy margarita. There are so many different ways to make a spicy margarita. From chili flavored tequila or chili-infused liquor, to simply adding muddled up jalapeños to a traditional margarita recipe.

Whenever I visit a Mexican restaurant, I’m always on the hunt for the best spicy margarita. After years of searching, I’m happy to report that I think I may have found it. In fact, I loved it so much that I felt the need to replicated the recipe (with a few alterations) so I can make it at home! Today, I’m sharing the secret to making the perfect spicy margarita, every time! Any guesses on which San Diego hotspot this spicy margarita is inspired by? It’s JAVIER’S! (Located in La Jolla.)

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The Secret To A Perfectly Sweet & Spicy Margarita

A spicy margarita contains the same primary ingredients as any traditional margarita—lime juice, sweetener, and tequila. These ingredients are all you need to make a margarita and the rest is what differentiates flavored margaritas from each other.

This particular spicy margarita recipe has a unique ingredient that I have NEVER come across before in other spicy margarita recipes I’ve tried. This secret ingredient gives it a floral and refreshing flavor that compliments the heat and spice of the jalapeños perfectly. I was blown away when I learned what it was! Are you ready for it? The secret ingredient is St. Germain.

St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

If you’re unfamiliar with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, it’s an artisanal French liquor made with up to 1,000 fresh, wild, handpicked elderflower blossoms in every bottle. It has a fresh and floral aroma that smells of jasmine, lilies, and grapefruit, with a subtle flavors of pear, grapefruit, Meyer lemon, and passionfruit all rolled into one.

This liqueur has all the elements you need to balance out the heat of the jalapeños and chilis, creating a perfectly sweet and spicy margarita.

Fresh ingredients

Another must-have for making a perfect spicy margarita is using fresh ingredients. I can’t stress this enough! It’s definitely more work to make freshly squeezed lime juice, but I promise it’s worth it! Here are the additional fresh ingredients you’ll need to really elevate the flavor of this spicy margarita.

• Freshly squeezed lime juice
• Freshly sliced and diced jalapeño peppers
• Freshly sliced red chilis
• Agave nectar
• Orange juice (this is optional for this recipe)

Good quality tequila

We can’t forget about the star of the show, tequila! Normally with margaritas, you’ll want to opt for a blaco tequila (clear tequila). It’s unaged, and a more pure expression of what the agave plant can do. However, this recipe uses a mellowed-out reposado tequila (tequila with a golden hue). This type of tequila has been aged in oak between two months and two years giving it a more robust flavor. You can use any reposado tequila, or any tequila for that matter! As long as it’s a good-quality tequila, you’ll be fine.

My Favorite Bar Tools

If you enjoy mixing cocktails at home, a good-quality set of bar tools is essential! This is what I stock my personal bar with and the tools I use to mix all my cocktails!