Spicy Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1½ ounces Tequila Blanco (or Mezcal)
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- 1-ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounces Triple Sec (preferably Cointreau)
- 3 fresh Jalapeno slices
- Ice
Garnish: Tajín spice and coarse sea salt for the rim (50/50 blend), pineapple wedge, jalapeno slices, lime wheel
Tools & Equipment
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How to Make
- Rub a fresh wedge of lime around the rim of your Margarita glass. Dip the glass in a plate of Tajín and coarse sea salt blend.
- Add tequila, pineapple juice, lime juice, Triple Sec, jalapeno slices, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake the drink vigorously until chilled.
- Strain your Margarita into the prepared glass. Add extra ice and garnish with a pineapple wedge, lime wedge, and extra jalapeno slices.
About
As many tequila lovers already know, the Margarita is one of the easiest cocktails to manipulate and dress up. The classic mixture of tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau makes the perfect canvas for experimenting with flavors.
Sweet pineapples and chili peppers are among the most delicious ways to upgrade this cocktail. Like the classic Margarita, there are many ways to customize the Spicy Pineapple Margarita. Here are some of the most common variations.
Common Variations:
Use Mezcal Instead of Tequila: For an unforgettable drink and the perfect blend of sweet, sour, spicy, and smokiness, switch your Tequila Blanco with a bottle of high-quality mezcal.
As they say, “all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila.”
While both are made from the agave plant, the type of agave differs, and the liquors are distilled differently. Tequila has a more agave-forward flavor, producing a semi-earthy and slightly sweet taste. In comparison, mezcal has a sweeter, smokier flavor with woody notes.
Use a Different Chili Pepper Instead of Jalapenos: You can use a serrano or habanero chili pepper instead of jalapenos to kick up the heat in your Spicy Pineapple Margarita. Serrano and habanero peppers offer a sharper, more intense, and spicier flavor than jalapenos.
- Serrano chilies are 2 to 4 times hotter than a jalapeno and offer a crisp, bright flavor
- Habanero chilies are sweet, almost fruit-like. However, they are more than 100 times hotter than jalapenos. So, you will need to use them sparingly
The key to using serrano or habanero chilies is to go slow. Alcohol intensifies heat, and your cocktail can easily become disastrous if you add too much. Add a small amount (one or two slices) of the chili and gradually add more to make your Margarita spicier.
Use Fresh Pineapples: If you have a couple of fresh pineapples on hand, feel free to use them instead of, or with, the pineapple juice. The sweetness of freshly juiced ripe pineapples adds a unique, irresistible touch to your Margarita.
You can even grill your pineapple slices before juicing them for extra smokiness when using mezcal instead of tequila. Remember to save a slice for garnish.
However, it takes a lot of pineapple (and muddling) to produce enough pineapple juice for a couple of cocktails. And we like a simple life, so we prefer opting for second best and using 100% pineapple juice.
