Spicy Tex-Mex Cocktails for a Fiery New Year!
Jalapeño Margaritas, Micheladas Calientes, Bloody Marias, & Red Pepper Margarita Sangritas
After Christmas Day, our thoughts turn to New Year celebrations - and along the US Border with Mexico - the holiday is celebrated with a Spanish accent. Here are some Spicy Cocktail Recipes to ring in 2026 with a bit of a punch!
You can rim any of these drinks with lime juice and Tajin or Cayenne Pepper for an extra kick. ¡Salud!
Jalapeño Margaritas:
1 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed and sliced (muddled)
1 1/2 ounces reposado tequila
1/2 ounce brandy-based orange liqueur
1 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar
1 dash orange bitters
Jalapeño slice (for garnish)
Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, agave nectar, and orange bitters to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice. -Shake away!
Strain into a glass (remember the Tajin Rim first if you want that). Add fresh ice cubes. Garnish with a jalapeño slice. Let the party begin!
Micheladas Calientes:
(For added fun consider using different hot sauces ranging from mild ("Anglo") up to five-alarm ("Puro Mexicano") to create a flight of these - and dare your friends to taste their way up to "mucho caliente").
1 ounce lime juice
3 dashes hot sauce
3 dashes soy sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 (12-ounce) bottle Mexican beer
Lime slice, for garnish
Fill chilled beer mugs halfway with ice.
Add lime juice, sauces, & pepper.
Stir well.
Top with beer (slowly).
Garnish with a lime slice.
Bloody Marias:
2 ounces tequila
1 teaspoon horseradish
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional
3 dashes Tabasco sauce, or other hot sauce
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes celery salt
3 dashes ground black pepper
1 dash lime juice
4 to 6 ounces tomato juice, to taste
Lemon and/or Lime Wedge for garnish
Celery stalk, for garnish
In a highball glass: Add tequila, horseradish, Dijon mustard (optional), Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, black pepper, & lime juice,
Stir well to combine.
Add tomato juice
Add ice & give it a final stir.
Garnish with a lemon and/or lime wedge and celery stalk.
Red Pepper Margarita Sangritas:
For the Pepper Mix:
2 cups tomato juice
1/3 cup sour mix
1/3 cup roasted red pepper purée
1 dash habanero hot sauce, or to taste
In a small bowl, stir the tomato juice, sour mix, and red pepper puree together. Chill in the refrigerator in a sealed glass container.
For the Margarita:
1 1/2 ounces Blanco tequila
2 1/2 ounces pepper mix
Lime wedge, for garnish
Red bell pepper slice, for garnish
Combine the tequila and pepper mix with ice in a cocktail shaker. Stir or shake.
Strain into a chilled Margarita glass.
Garnish with a lime wedge and/or red pepper slice.
Habañero Martini:
2oz vodka
3/4 oz dry vermouth
Ice
Finely chopped habañero (seeds optional)
In a shaker, combine vodka, vermouth & ice. Shake well.
Strain into a martini glass.
Add habañero,
Stir with a swizzle stick.
Garnish with a habañero slice
Serve & enjoy!
Want a non-spicy New Year Cocktail? Here you go:
Cranberry Margaritas
4 1/2 ounces Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktail
1 1/2 ounces Blanco tequila
1 ounce triple sec or Cointreau
1/2 lime coarse sea salt (for rimming glass)
Ice
Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip in salt.
Fill the glass with ice.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add cranberry juice, tequila, triple sec, & the juice of half a lime.
Shake to combine.
Strain the cocktail over the prepared glass and garnish with lime wedge.
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¡Salud y Feliz Año Nuevo!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
