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New Year’s just isn’t complete without some margaritas. My Spicy Grapefruit Margarita is a great drink to have at your next party. Everyone needs a backpocket spicy margarita recipe!
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This is my spicy spin on a classic margarita. We love a perfectly balanced margarita.
I mean, right?!?!
Lyndsie, my brother Bren’s girlfriend, is all about the margaritas. Actually, she’s really all about tequila, but she’d never turn down a margarita either. In fact, Lyndsie and my cousin Abby were just down here at the barn trying to convince me to make more margaritas… yup, my Christmas vacation has included a lot of bartending. And you know, I’ve gotten pretty good at it.
I swear I have found the perfect amount of tequila, to lime juice, to fruity mixer for margs. OKAY, so maybe some people might add an extra shot…or two of tequila…cough, cough Lyndsie. But they all love them and I cannot lie, this spicy margarita is delicious.
When my cousin Abby first suggested it, I wasn’t sure I would be into drinking something spicy, but it’s kind of awesome. AND the chili salt rim? YES. I may or may not be licking that rim clean.
Abby lives in San Diego and says that the spicy margaritas are her favorite. SO, since we do Mexican every New Year’s Eve I thought I would try to make my own. I of course had to put in my own little twist on them and made them into spicy GRAPEFRUIT margaritas. Personally, the grapefruit is perfection. You could really swap in any juice of your liking though. Pomegranate, mango or pineapple would all be DELICIOUS.
Ingredients
- Silver tequila
- Grapefruit juice
- Fresh lime juice
- Agave nectar
- 1-2 whole jalapeños
- Slices lime + grapefruit
- Chili powder
- Kosher salt
- Granulated sugar
A few cocktail bar supplies::
- fresh ice and ice bucket
- small dish to present lime wedges
- plate of salt, chili pepper and sugar to line the rims
- cocktail measures
- jar or cocktail shaker or pitcher
- strainer
- glassware for serving
Let see, what else? Oh yes, so to make the margaritas a bit spicy, you add the jalapeño peppers directly to the drink. You have control over the spice level here. For a big batch recipe you’ll want to let the jalapeños sit in the drink for anywhere from 1-4 hours or until the drink has reached your desired level of spiciness. The more seeds you leave in the jalapeños, the spicier the drinks will become.
To make just one drink, simply shake a couple jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker until spicy and awesome. It’s all simple stuff, but so good!
Make sure to have a plate of salt to add to the rim of the glass. Follow the directions for my spicy chili salt rim. It’s just a combination of chili powder, salt and sugar. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and jalapeño!
Abby has official given this margarita a big TWO thumbs up, so I was pretty pumped! Plus, umm, aren’t they so fun and pretty?!? Kind of loving the colors!
Spicy Grapefruit Margarita.
Ingredients
Big Batch Margaritas
- 1 1/2 cups silver tequila, 12 ounces
- 2 cups grapefruit juice, 16 ounces
- 3/4 cups fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup agave nectar, may also use honey
- 1-2 whole jalapeños, halved (depending on how spicy you want your drink)
- slices lime + grapefruit, for serving
To make just ONE drink
- 1 1/2 – 2 ounces silver tequila
- 2 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar, or more to taste
- 1-2 slices jalapeno, depending on how spicy you want your drink
- slices lime + grapefruit, for serving
Spicy Chili Salt Rim
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Instructions
Spicy Chili Salt Rim
- In a bowl, combine the chili power salt and sugar. Mix well to combine. Use this mixture to rim your glasses.
Big Batch Margarita
- Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher and stir to combine. Keep chilled in the fridge for 1-3 hours. Taste the drink every hour to check for spiciness. The longer you leave the jalapeño in the drink the spicier the drink will become. Once the drink is spiced to your liking, remove the jalapeños.
- When ready to serve, salt the rims of 4-6 glasses. Add ice to each glass and pour the margaritas over the ice. Add a grapefruit and a lime wedge.
To make just ONE drink
- Salt the rim of your glass. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until combined and then strain into your prepared glass. The longer you shake the drink, the spicier it will be come. Add a grapefruit wedge and a slice of jalapeño if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Cheers to Abby and her spicy margaritas!
Simply beautiful, and very tasty.
Thank you so much, Amy! 🙂
These are the prettiest margaritas, I love that spicy kick! 🙂
Thanks Laura! Happy New Year!
I don’t like very much margarita, but I’ll give a chance to this recipe ’cause seems easy to make 😛
Thanks Perder! Happy New Year!
I used to be craaaazy about margaritas, now, not so much!!
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt
So lovin’ these Tieghan!! Happy New Year! Congrats on all your success in 2015! Way more to come for you in 2016 for sure! Can’t wait for the cookbook!
Thank you so much! Happy New Year!
I made your pineapple chicken tinga (no jalapenos *this* time) and your Chipotle steak burrito (subbing Latin rice instead of cilantro lime). Your recipes are AWESOME! I’m fairly new to cooking and regularly patrol cooking blogs – yours so far has had the best results. Definitely tucking some of these into my recipe folder. Thank you!
Awe!! Thank you!!! Happy New Year!
I just stocked up on ingredients for fresh margaritas for New Years but now that Ive seen this version Im heading straight back for some grapefruits! Cant wait to try it!
Thank you so much, Lyndsay! Happy New Year!
Oh these look so refreshing! And the chili salt rim? That’s just genius! I hope your Mexican themed New Years is fantastic! With all the food you have been showing, I don’t know how it couldn’t be!
Thanks Chelsea!! Happy New Year!
This sounds interesting, I never tried a spicy margarita and I would never think of making one. It looks good though, so maybe it’s time to try something new.
Thanks Kristina! Happy New Year!
Lovin all that citrus fruit! Looks gorgeous and sounds refreshing!
Thank you! Happy New Year!
These look amazing- love, love the colors! Your last few posts have totally inspired me to make a big mexican new year’s feast, and these margaritas are a must 🙂 Happy New Year!
Thank you! Happy New Year!
I love love love those glasses! So cute.
I’m always a sucker for spicy cocktails, and grapefruit margs. They’re the best!
I’ve adopted my best friend’s margarita ratios, and last year I wanted to do a grapefruit margarita ratios, so I started googling to see what other people did to see if anything was special and inspiring other than what I normally do. I ran across Ina Garten’s recipe and she uses 2 *cups* of alcohol for *4* drinks! Definitely a woman to party with.
OMG!! That is SO much alcohol, whoooaaaaa! LOL! Happy New Year!
Sounds like fun for New Year’s Eve.
Thank you!
Wow what a fun spicy drink! Totally the perfect one to make for my moving party!
Thanks Kelsey! Happy New Year!
Sounds refreshing! And I must say, your photography is rexceptional
Thanks Carolyn! Happy New Year!
I made them tonight and love them, but wouldn’t call it a refreshing drink. At least not by my definition. I think of refreshing something I reach for when I’m hot and tired and want a pick me up. Like perfectly brewed southern sun tea, or ice cold water, or cucumber water. This drink was perfect for any other occasion though. 🙂
I’m so happy you liked it!! Thanks Annabella!