Pepperoncini Margarita

Full disclosure, I had never made this Pepperoncini Margarita before testing it in this video. But now, I’m like “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!” Spicy Margs are out, Pepperoncini Margs are in. Cheers!

Watch me Mix a Pepperoncini Margarita

How to Make a Pepperoncini Margarita

1. Rim your glass with celery salt and fill with fresh ice.
2. Add tequila, pepperoncini brine (mild or spicy… dealer’s choice), lemon juice, lime juice, chile verde liqueur, and agave syrup to a shaker with ice.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a pepperoncini or citrus wheel if desired.

Pepperoncini Margarita Ingredients

Tequila

For tequila to be tequila, it must be made from blue agave. However, some types or brands are “mixto” which means they are not 100% blue agave. Mixto tequila is generally not as high-quality as those made from 100% blue agave, so I always recommend looking for 100% blue agave tequila. Beyond that, there are five main kinds of tequila that differ based on their aging.

• Blanco: Tequila blanco is the tequila I use the most. It’s clear in color and super smooth and bright in texture and flavor. Blanco is ideal for margaritas and Palomas. For this Pepperoncini Margarita, I used Cazcanes Tequila Blanco No. 9.
• Joven: Also called Gold or Oro, tequila joven is often a mixto and might be a blend of blanco and other aged tequilas or has color additives. It’s usually sweeter and smoother than blanco and is used for shots.
• Reposado: Aged in oak barrels for less than a year, tequila reposado has a golden color and is a little mellower than blanco and has more oaky, caramel-y notes. It’s good for sipping or mixing in cocktails.
• Añejo: Aged for 1 to 3 years, tequila añejo is darker, smoother, and richer than reposado. If you’re having añejo, it’s on its own, either neat or on the rocks.
• Extra Añejo: Finally, ultra-aged tequila must be aged for at least 3 years, which results in the darkest, most complex, and (many say) the most luxurious tequila out there. You wouldn’t want to hide this beauty in sugar and citrus.

Pepperoncini brine

Pepperoncini are mildly spicy and delightfully tangy. They’re often pickled, which also gives them a more sour pucker that I just can’t get enough of. You can choose a mild variety or a spicy variety depending on how mild or spicy you want your margarita. Do you!

Fresh lemon and lime juice

Always always always use fresh-squeezed citrus juice in your cocktails! With so few ingredients, you want the ones you do use to be the best of the best.

Chili verde liqueur

To add some heat and complexity to my Pepperoncini Margarita, I add a little Ancho Reyes Verde Chili Poblano Liqueur. It’s made from fire-roasted, sun-dried poblanos (one of my fav peppers!) which makes it smoky-spicy while also being bright and fresh. If you like a spicy cocktail, a bottle of this is well worth the purchase.

Agave syrup

Agave syrup is the no-brainer sweeter for a margarita because it pairs perfectly with the blue agave tequila. You can find all kinds of agave syrups in grocery stores.