9 Spicy Cocktails That Pack a Punch

Some people are always chasing some spice in their life; be it food or drink, there's always a spicy challenge or craving lurking around the next corner. And just like when it comes to different hot sauce styles, there's more than one way to pack that heat, as these spicy cocktails prove.

Spicy Margarita

A spicy margarita is one of the easiest and most accessible spicy tequila cocktails, no matter where you go.

Ingredients

• 2-3 jalapeño coins
• 2 ounces tequila
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• ½ ounce agave
• Ice
• Jalepeño coin for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño coin with splash of lime juice.
2. Add ice, tequila, orange liqueur, agave, and remaining lime juice.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with jalepeño coin.

Spicy Negroni

Take your Negroni from classic to smokey and spicy with a flick of the wrist.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce mezcal
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 1 ounce Campari
• ½ ounce chili liqueur
• Ice
• Orange twist for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing glass, add mezcal, sweet vermouth, Campari, and chili liqueur.
2. Stir rapidly to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with orange twist.

Hot and Dirty Martini

This salty and spicy martini hits the spot, but you still may want a glass of water close by. Instead of hot sauce, you can muddle jalapeños or use jalapeño or other pepper-infused spirits.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin or vodka
• ½ ounce olive brine
• 1-2 dashes hot sauce
• Ice
• Olive for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, olive brine, and hot sauce.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Garnish with olive.

Pickle Spice Martini

Not only does this version of a savory and spicy martini skip the dry vermouth, but olive brine and pickle brine also have distinctive flavor differences. The pickle brine cuts through the burn of the gin, much like a pickleback shot with whiskey.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce pickle brine
• Ice
• Whole cayenne chile, or another spicy red chili, for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, and pickle brine.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Garnish with chili.

Spicy Watermelon

A spicy yet refreshing watermelon cocktail with smooth tequila as its base.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces reposado tequila
• 2 ounces watermelon juice
• 1 ounce lime cordial
• ¼ ounce jalapeño simple syrup, to taste
• Ice
• Lime slice, watermelon wedge, and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, reposado, watermelon juice, lime cordial, and jalapeño simple syrup.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with lime slice, watermelon wedge, and mint sprig.

Chili Espresso Martini

Add a little extra kick to your espresso martini with some chile liqueur.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces vodka
• ¾ ounce espresso
• ½ ounce coffee liqueur
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• ¼ ounce chili liqueur, to taste
• Ice
• Coffee beans for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, simple syrup, and chili liqueur.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Garnish with whole coffee beans.

Spicy Mojito

Keep your mojito light and fresh but spicy by muddling fresh ingredients together.

Ingredients

• 2-3 jalapeño coins
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• 2 ounces white rum
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Club soda to top off
• Mint sprig and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño coins and mint leaves with splash of simple syrup.
2. Add ice, rum, lime juice, and remaining simple syrup.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
5. Top off with club soda.
6. Garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge.

Spicy Bourbon Sidecar

If you're a person that has a deep love for classic cocktails, this spicy cocktail will change your life.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon
• ¾ ounce orange liqueur
• ½ ounce chili liqueur
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Chili for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, orange liqueur, chile liqueur, and simple syrup.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Garnish with chili.

Spicy Chocolate Martini

Nothing beats some heat in a chocolate martini treat.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces chocolate vodka
• ¾ ounce chocolate liqueur
• ½ ounce Irish cream
• ¼ ounce chili liqueur
• Ice
• Chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chocolate vodka, chocolate liqueur, Irish cream, and chili liqueur.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

Hot Takes on Cool Drinks

For those looking for that heat, a spicy cocktail can really hit the spot. Whether you want yours crisp like a martini or rich like a dessert cocktail, there's are plenty of spicy drinks for any whim or desire.