Two glasses of spicy bloody vodka cocktail

17 Spicy Cocktails That Will Make Your Drink List Thrilling

Two Glasses of Spicy Cocktail garnish with chili

Are you looking for an extra kick to your drink? Then a spicy cocktail is what you need!

A spicy cocktail is a type of drink that tickles your taste buds and makes you feel like a daredevil. It's spicy but not overly so; it's sweet, yet there's a bite to it. 

The best spicy cocktails are those that don't overpower your palate with intense heat - they're balanced and nuanced.

Depending on how much heat you want, they might be made with habanero peppers or ghost peppers. Either way, their flavor will linger in your mouth for hours after drinking one.

This blog post will talk about tried and tested spicy cocktails that will provide your buds with an exciting adventure.

1. Spicy Paloma Cocktail

Four glasses of paloma cocktail garnished with slices of grapefruit

The Paloma is a delicious cocktail that's fun to experiment with. The spicy Paloma, which adds a little spice to the classic cocktail in an interesting way, is a fantastic example of its versatility. This cocktail would be a terrific aperitif, especially if there's something else on the menu that's equally spicy.

Ingredients

For the Thai Chile Aperol:

For the Spicy Paloma:

Steps to Make

  1. Make the chili pepper-infused Aperol by pouring 5 ounces of Aperol in a jar or glass and adding the chili pepper.
  2. Check the flavor and spiciness of the Aperol after 10 minutes. You can continue to infuse it if you want it to be spicier. However, keep in mind that infusing liquor with a chili pepper should only take a couple minutes and not hours or days. Anything longer than a few minutes will burn the alcohol to the point of undrinkability.
  3. When you deem the infusion spicy enough, strain it into a container with a tight-fitting lid. When it's kept in a cool and dry place, it can last for up to three months.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Aperol, juices, simple syrup, and ice.
  5. Shake well.
  6. Strain the mixture into an ice-filled chilled Collins glass with a slice of grapefruit.
  7. Top it off with a club soda by pouring it over the back of a bar spoon. Serve and enjoy.

2. Bloody Maria Cocktail

Two glasses of bloody maria cocktail garnished with celery stalks

The Bloody Maria is a spicy cocktail that combines the iconic Bloody Mary with tequila. The overall flavor is noticeably different as a result of that single alteration in the recipe. The tequila in the backdrop sticks out, unlike the vodka, which gets lost in this intensely flavored, spicy drink.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Pour the tequila, horseradish, Tabasco sauce, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, black pepper, and lime juice in a highball glass.
  2. Stir well, then add the tomato juice.
  3. Combine it thoroughly to make sure the ingredients blend well together.
  4. Fill the glass with ice, then stir it again.
  5. Garnish it with a celery stalk, lemon, and/or lime wedge. Serve and enjoy.

3. Jalapeño Margarita

A glass of jalapeño margarita cocktail

This is a quirky twist on the classic margarita, in which the fiery chili pepper is muddled into the beloved tequila cocktail. The spiciness of this cocktail is actually relatively modest. The oaky flavor of reposado tequila vs. unaged Blanco tequila accounts for this. 

The sweetness of the Grand Marnier and agave nectar helps to temper the jalapeno's spiciness, making the cocktail quite enjoyable.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Muddle the sliced jalapeño pepper in a cocktail shaker. It is recommended to remove the white membrane for a milder flavor as well as the seeds for a cleaner presentation.
  2. Pour the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, agave nectar, and orange bitters, then add ice.
  3. Shake thoroughly.
  4. Strain it into an old-fashioned glass or cocktail glass over ice.
  5. Garnish with a slice of jalapeño. Serve and enjoy.

4. Habanero Martini

Habanero Martini

Habanero Martini - Image by thespruceeats.com

The habanero martini is a cocktail for someone who likes hot and spicy flavors. It has a terrific taste and elevates the classic tequini (tequila martini) to a whole new level. The pepper will impart its flavor to the drink, similar to how olives impart their briny flavor to a gin martini.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Pour the tequila and dry vermouth in an ice-filled shaker.
  2. Shake thoroughly.
  3. Strain it into a chilled cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish it with habanero pepper. When the cocktail reaches your preferred heat, remove the pepper.
  5. Serve and enjoy.

5. Mango Spice Cocktail

Mango Spice Cocktail

This mango spice cocktail features a beautiful contrast of flavors, combining the sweetness of mango with the spiciness of jalapeño pepper. It melds the two flavors into a harmonious unity.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. In a cocktail shaker, pour the mango nectar, 2 jalapeño slices, and agave nectar. Muddle the ingredients.
  2. Pour the mango vodka, lime juice, and orange bitters, then fill it with ice.
  3. Shake thoroughly.
  4. Strain it into a cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish it with a slice of jalapeño. Serve and enjoy.

6. Pineapple Chili Margarita

A glass of pineapple chili margarita with pineapples, jalapenos, and limes in the background

The pineapple chili margarita is an excellent choice if you want a margarita with a lot of character. It features a tropical fruit flavor with a spicy kick from the hot sauce.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Combine the tequila, triple sec, lime and pineapple juices, and hot sauce in a shaker. 
  2. Add ice, then shake it vigorously.
  3. Use a slice of lime or wedge to wet the rim of the glass, and line it with coarse salt and/or Tajin Seasoning for extra spice, if desired.
  4. Strain the liquid into the ice-filled highball or Collins glass.
  5. Garnish it with a pineapple wedge and lime wheel, if desired.

7. Sweet Heat Cocktail

Sweet Heat Cocktail

Sweet Heat Cocktail - Image by thespruceeats.com

This cocktail combines sweetness and heat, as the name suggests. It's made with ginger vodka and habanero pepper.

Combining the two unique spiced flavors in a martini-style drink may sound risky, but it's actually rather delectable. It has a delicious sweet-spicy balance that will tantalize your taste senses.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle the slice of pepper.
  2. Pour the vodka, agave nectar, and lime juice, then add ice.
  3. Shake vigorously and strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with candied ginger if desired. Serve and enjoy.

8. Cucumber Wasabi Martini

Cucumber Wasabi Martini

Wasabi is an intriguing ingredient that isn't typically associated with cocktails. It is, however, a substitute for adding hot pepper ingredients to make a spicy drink. However, it is not a drink for everyone, but give it a shot if you're a daring drinker. It may become a new favorite!

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Muddle 3 cucumber slices, wasabi, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
  2. Fill with ice, then pour the gin and lemon juice.
  3. Shake thoroughly.
  4. Fine strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish it with the remaining slice of cucumber. Serve and enjoy.

9. Michelada

Michelada beer with tomato juice, clam and lemon, mexican drink

A michelada, a popular beer mixed drink based on the classic chelada, is a genuinely irresistible spicy drink. This recipe takes just a little time to prepare and only uses a few common kitchen ingredients. It has a terrific spicy kick that pairs well with your favorite Mexican beer.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Pour ice into a chilled beer mug or pint glass and fill it halfway.
  2. Pour the lime juice, hot sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, then add the ground pepper.
  3. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
  4. Slowly top it off with the Mexican beer.
  5. Garnish with a lime wheel. Serve and enjoy.

10. Habanero Blood Orange Margarita

Habanero Blood Orange Margarita

The habanero blood orange margarita is a drink you'll want to try if you're searching for a fiery margarita that's a little unique from the usual. It has a remarkable flavor profile thanks to a unique homemade element, and it's simple to prepare.

Ingredients

For the Blood Orange-Habanero Puree:

For the Margarita:

Steps to Make

  1. Make the purée by combining the blood orange juice and habanero pepper in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring it to a boil, stirring frequently.
  3. Reduce it to medium-high heat until it has thickened into a syrup consistency. 
  4. Remove the habanero pepper, allow the juice to cool, then bottle it.
  5. Dip half the rim of a cocktail glass in the mole negro sauce.
  6. Pour the lime juice into a cocktail shaker. Add the tequila, sour mix, and blood orange-habanero purée.
  7. Fill with ice, then shake vigorously.
  8. Strain it into the prepared glass.
  9. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired. Serve and enjoy.

11. Fall Spice Cordial

Fall Spice Cordial

The fall spice cordial is a delicious drink with a hint of spice and various flavors, perfect for cool autumn evenings. The key to this drink is a single ingredient that you must prepare, but it is pretty simple. 

The homemade chipotle-orange syrup has a tangy flavor, a spicy bite, and a hint of sweetness. It pairs well with a high-quality bourbon and the vanilla's refreshing taste. Although this isn't the spiciest cocktail, it clearly has a chipotle pepper bite, which is quite enjoyable.

Ingredients

For the Chipotle-Orange Syrup:

For the Cocktail:

Steps to Make

  1. Make the chipotle-orange syrup. In a pan, boil about 2 cups of water.
  2. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chipotle pepper and orange peel.
  3. Cover and let it simmer again for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain with a fine-mesh sieve to remove the pepper and orange.
  4. Return the syrup to the pan, then add the sugar. Bring it back up to a boil and keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  5. Allow cooling after taking it off the heat. Pour the syrup into a container with a tight seal, and you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
  6. In a cocktail shaker, pour the bourbon, vanilla liqueur, chipotle-orange syrup, and orange bitters. Fill it with ice, then shake thoroughly.
  7. Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.
  8. Garnish it with an orange peel, if desired. Serve and enjoy.

12. Sunny Side Cocktail

Sunny Side Cocktail

This sunset-colored cocktail marries the sweetness of mango purée and the heat of chili-infused rum. This is a delicious drink that you can make easily and quickly.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. In a cocktail shaker, pour the rum, mango purée, lemon juice, and ginger beer.
  2. Shake thoroughly
  3. Pour it into an ice-filled highball or Collins glass.
  4. Add a splash of grenadine and garnish with a chili slice, if desired. Serve and enjoy.

13. Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita

Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita
Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita - Image by thespruceeats.com

This recipe is perfect if you can't decide which margarita flavor you want because it offers a little bit of everything. The flavors of key lime juice, cucumber, and mint are at the forefront of this frozen margarita. The Tabasco hot sauce adds a layer of flavor to the recipe. 

It has a recognizable vinegar base and hot pepper flavor, contrasting beautifully with the refreshing taste of fresh mint and cucumber.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Wet the rim of two old-fashioned or margarita glasses with cucumber or lime, then line it with the coarse salt.
  2. Pour the tequila, orange liqueur, key lime juice, chopped cucumber, sugar, mint, Tabasco hot sauce, and ice in a blender.
  3. Blend for about 1 minute, then pour equally into the two prepared glasses.
  4. Garnish with a cucumber slice. Serve and enjoy.

14. Spicy Devil Cocktail

Spicy Devil Cocktail

Although the devil cocktail appears harmless and straightforward in the glass, the topping that looks like ground nutmeg on top of this brandy cocktail is actually cayenne pepper! The deceptively hot cocktail's name is most likely derived from that dirty little secret. 

While it's a delicious drink, it's a bit of an acquired taste, so if you're sensitive to intense heat, you might want to avoid it. If you're going to enjoy the truly unique flavor of this drink, it is best to not go overboard with the pepper.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the brandy and crème de menthe.
  2. Fill it with ice, and shake thoroughly.
  3. Strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail or martini glass.
  4. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper on top. Serve and enjoy.

15. Red Pepper Sangrita Margarita

Red pepper sangrita margarita with sliced lime garnish

This savory, spicy tequila drink combines elements of a margarita, a bloody Mary, and a sangrita to produce a cocktail that's certainly worth a try. 

It's an excellent recipe that starts with a tomato base, adds a hint of sour mix, then adds a savory element with red pepper puree and heat with habanero hot sauce.

Ingredients

For the Pepper Mix:

For the Margarita:

Steps to Make

  1. Make the pepper mix. Pour the tomato juice, sour mix, and red pepper puree into a small bowl and stir it well.
  2. Add 1 dash of habanero hot sauce at a time until it suits your taste.
  3. Place it in a tight-lidded glass container and store it in the fridge. It will keep for about 1 week.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila and pepper mix with ice.
  5. Roll the contents from one shaker to another five times. Alternatively, stir or shake the cocktail vigorously.
  6. Strain the mixture into a chilled margarita or cocktail glass.
  7. Garnish with a lime wedge or red pepper slice. Serve and enjoy.

16. Spicy Tomato Gin & Tonic

Spicy Tomato Gin & Tonic

The spicy tomato gin and tonic is ideal for the summer season, particularly when tomatoes are in season! They're light and refreshing, and they're the perfect upgrade to a class drink. Add this to your happy hour menu and watch as you wow your friends and family with a unique cocktail.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Wet the rim of a highball glass with a slice of tomato and line with steak seasoning to coat.
  2. Muddle the tomatoes and dill in the prepared glass using a wooden spoon.
  3. Pour in the lime juice, kosher salt, ground pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce.
  4. Add gin, tonic water, then ice cubes.
  5. Garnish with cucumber, chili pepper, and lime wedge.

17.  Spicy Pineapple Shandy

Spicy pineapple shandy with dark gray background

With an unusual combo of heat and pineapple, this shandy is given a tropical twist. It's a fun take on a famous summertime cocktail that's also relatively simple to make. It's perfect for those situations when you want to style your beer and serve it at cookouts.

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. Pour the tequila, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and jalapeño simple syrup into a pint glass. 
  2. Stir thoroughly.
  3. If your liquid ingredients are not chilled, fill the glass with ice. Otherwise, skip it.
  4. Top it off with beer. Serve and enjoy.

Conclusion

Spicy Cocktails are a great way to level up your drinking experience with your friends and loved ones. We hope that this list helped you decide which to enjoy in your next drinking session.

Which cocktail recipe among the list did you like? Let us know!

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Cocktail Recipes Themed Cocktails

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