There are few occasions in a week {or a day} that I enjoy more than cocktail hour. It’s a magical hour – for me, it is usually enjoyed on Friday evenings after a long work week and before a nice meal out {or a relaxing night in, depending on the week}. It’s posh and retro all at once – there is something so wonderfully indulgent about doing nothing for an hour other than leisurely sip a well made cocktail and let the pace of life slow down.
I tend to prefer spicy/herbal cocktails over sweet ones, so this margarita was the perfect option for this party. To push it completely over the top, I rub a lime wedge over the rim of each glass and dip the rim in Habanero sugar {which I purchased from this fantastic store}, and float a slice of jalapeno on top. These definitely have a kick – if you are serving people who prefer things less spicy, you can increase the ratio of regular tequila and/or omit the jalapeno slice. Cheers!
Recipe continued after the jump…
Recipe
Makes 1 margarita
- 2 limes, cut into quarters
- 6 mint leaves, roughly torn
- 4 basil leaves, roughly torn
- 2 oz. simple syrup {recipe follows}
- 2 oz. jalapeno infused tequila {how to here}
- 2 oz. white tequila
- Ice
Squeeze lime quarters into a cocktail shaker. Add mint and basil leaves. Muddle with a muddler or wooden spoon. Add simple syrup, both tequilas and ice. Cover cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into cocktail glass and top with additional ice and slice of jalapeno {if desired}.
Simple Syrup:
Combine 1/2 c. sugar and 1 c. water in small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Let cool completely.
Thank you for reading!
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