I’m having a spicy margarita, one of my favorite variations on one of my favorite drinks. Actually with a splash of tepache, even better.
My hands down favorite is classic:
2oz tequila (any that I like)
1oz cognac based orange liqueur
1 oz lime
This one is same but half orange liqueur, half Ancho Reyes, I also really like it with Chinola Passionfruit instead of orange.
This week, I’ve been drinking Margaritas with grapefruit juice instead of lime and reposado instead of blanco tequila. Arguably it’s not a Margarita anymore with those specs, but whatever. Very tasty! Honestly, regular Margaritas are a little too sour and a little too intensely tequila for me.
If you can get Jarritos soda, the grapefruit makes a glorious Paloma, I have to add lime because it’s too sweet for me but I really like it.
Also mezcal, grapefruit, and rosemary.
Grapefruit soda is hard to get here, unfortunately …
Tommys Margarita for me. My go to version is:
6cl tequila (I like a reposado) 3cl lime juice 1.5 agave syrup
It’s also nice to replace half of the tequila with some mezcal.
I also like to drop a piece of cucumber in the shaker sometimes to get a nice and fresh “vegetal” twist to it.
Any alternative you would recommend to the Ancho Reyes? It doesn’t seem like I can get it here in Sweden :/ Maybe just a small piece of chili? Is that a sweet liqueur? Spicy margarita sounds really good!
It’s sweet, and not super spicy, just a hint when used in a drink. I like it but my oldest daughter doesn’t. Personally I would infuse orange liqueur with habanero, instead of trying to work one up with the dried ancho - much brighter flavor but good for margarita. I also often make a spicy fire tincture, infuse vodka with habanero for a week, then with anatto for a day, then strain. That adds “spicy” without a lot of other flavor and no sweet.
Interesting, I’ll look into it. Thank you for the details!

