Entertaining

The 5 Best Spicy Tequila Cocktails

If it had been invented first, this spicy, agave-fueled twist on the Bloody Mary might now be the bottomless beverage we all drink at brunch. The Bloody Maria kicks up almost every flavor pocket of the Bloody Mary in delicious ways. With plenty of hot sauce, jalapeño and tajín (chile-lime) seasoning, it’ll leave you smacking your lips.

We set out to make the hottest cocktail in the world and we just might have succeeded. We added some Carolina reaper hot sauce to the tried and true Highball of tequila and Cel-Ray to make the drink explode in your mouth.

If you want to really amp up the vegetal flavors of tequila, try this Margarita that uses actual vegetables. Carrot juice provides some sweet vegetal flavor to go with smoky mezcal, which joins chile-infused tequila in the cocktail.

The Margarita gets most of the attention, but the Paloma may just be the best tequila cocktail. The classic version of the Highball is spritzy and easy drinking, but this version made with the heat of muddled jalapeño requires slower sipping. But that’s fine; it just means you’ll have it around for longer.

The best way to chase your tequila shots is not with lime but with Sangrita, a mix of lime, orange juice and chile powder. The next time you’re doing shots at a party, make sure you have some of this on hand.