Sour

Spicy Margarita

5 min.Tequila Blanco

Chill an Old Fashioned glass in the freezer or by filling it with ice while you prepare the drink.
1
Moisten the outside rim of the chilled glass with a cut lime or orange segment.
2
Dip the moistened outer rim into Tajín seasoning to create an even chili-lime-salt rim, then set the glass aside.
3
Add the jalapeño slice to a shaker tin.
4
Add the basil leaves to the shaker tin if using them.
5
Muddle the jalapeño and basil gently to release heat and aromatics without shredding them to pulp.
6
Add the tequila blanco to the shaker.
7
Add the triple sec to the shaker.
8
Add the lime juice to the shaker.
9
Add the agave nectar to the shaker.
10
Add a pinch of salt or a couple of drops of saline solution to the shaker if using salt.
11
Add the Margarita bitters to the shaker if using them.
12
Fill the shaker with ice.
13
Shake vigorously until the shaker is well chilled and the mixture is properly diluted.
14
Discard any ice from the prepared Old Fashioned glass and fill it with fresh ice.
15
Fine-strain the contents of the shaker into the prepared glass, catching solids with the strainer.
16
Garnish with a fresh lime wedge on the rim and serve immediately.
17

United States
Origin
The Spicy Margarita is a 21st-century variation on the classic Margarita, defined by the addition of chile heat rather than a fixed historical spec. Difford's Guide popularized a standardized Spicy Margarita recipe and explicitly links the drink’s modern rise to Soho House’s Picante de la Casa, created by Chris Ojeda at Soho House West Hollywood in 2012. While many spicy riffs now exist, the Difford’s version has become a widely cited professional benchmark for the style.
History
Difford’s credits Soho House’s Picante de la Casa as the key template that helped turn the Spicy Margarita into a global trend cocktail. The recipe uses fresh jalapeño (or similar red chili) muddled in the shaker rather than a bottled hot sauce or chili liqueur, giving a fresher, greener style of heat. A Tajín rim adds an extra layer of chili, lime, and salt flavor and has become visually iconic for many bar-program Spicy Margaritas. Although the classic Margarita is an official IBA cocktail, the Spicy Margarita itself is not on the IBA list and remains a modern variation rather than a codified standard.
Trivia
Tacos al pastor, Guacamole and tortilla chips, Ceviche, Grilled shrimp
Pairings
Difford's Guide
Source