Devil’s Margarita

The Devil’s Margarita is by far my favorite Halloween cocktail of all time. The spice level feels a little witchy compared to your average classic margarita. Plus the pepper devil horns and red wine float are two of the easiest spooky garnishes a cocktail lover could ask for.

The devilish star of the show is the ghost pepper simple syrup. Fair warning to be careful with those ghost peppers. A little goes a long way. If you don’t want it so spicy, opt for jalapeños, serranos, or habaneros!

Watch Me Mix a Devil’s Margarita

How to Make a Devil’s Margarita

1. Add mezcal (or tequila), Cointreau, lime juice, ghost pepper syrup, and chile liqueur (optional) to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake.
2. Strain into a glass filled with ice.
3. Gently pour the red wine so it floats on top.
4. Use a red pepper to garnish the glass with devil horns!

How to Make Ghost Pepper Simple Syrup

If you can boil water, you can make your own simple syrup. And you really don’t have to use ghost peppers for this spicy version, it just makes it extra Halloween if you do. For less heat, use jalapeños, serranos, or habaneros. Leave the seeds in for more heat or remove the seeds for a more subtle spiciness.

1. Add equal parts water and sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add 3-4 slices of ghost pepper (or your pepper of choice).
3. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
4. Let simmer for 2-4 minutes and remove the peppers.
5. Let cool and strain into a sealable glass jar or bottle. It will keep in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

Devil’s Margarita Ingredients

Mezcal

You can use mezcal or tequila blanco in a one-for-one swap here. Or, use a half-and-half combo of both! I like leaning into the complexity of a spicy margarita with mezcal’s smokiness, but the crisp brightness of tequila blanco works great, too and can temper down the spice if you don’t love a ton of heat. Check out my Mezcal Guide and Tequila Guide for more information, including the bottles I recommend.

Orange Liqueur

Any classic margarita, will probably have some kind of orange liqueur. Cointreau is one of the most popular and is my tried-and-true go-to for triple sec (a type of orange liqueur), so you really can’t go wrong.

Ghost Pepper Syrup

You can make a spicy simple syrup with any pepper you want based on how devilish you want your Devil’s Margarita. See instructions for making it above.

Chile Liqueur

To amp up the heat even more (and add more flavor complexity, I add a little Ancho Reyes Verde Chile 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.

Red Wine

The float of red wine on top is sooo pretty (and eerie) for these Halloween margaritas. You can use your favorite kind of red wine, though I’d recommend a mellower one like Pinot Noir or Malbec.

Lime Juice

If it’s not fresh we don’t want it!

Tips for Making the Best Devil’s Margarita

• Know your own spice tolerance and adjust this recipe to suit your taste. If you love a spicy margarita, go for it with a spicy simple syrup and the chile liqueur. If you only love a little spice, use seeded jalapeños in your simple syrup and add less chile liqueur or skip it altogether.
• The red wine float and pepper devil horns really makes this cocktail perfect for Halloween, so have fun with your garnishes and glassware. I love a Tajin rim, too!
• Use really cold ingredients and chill your glass before pouring in the cocktail.
• Pour the red wine float very gently on top of the cocktail so it doesn’t mix into the rest of the margarita. it should sit on top and slowly fade down into the drink.

Why You’ll Love a Devil’s Margarita

• Obviously, if you love a spicy margarita, you’ll love the devil’s margarita. My recipe is spicier than your typical spicy margarita, so it’s not for the faint of heart (but you can still tone down the spiciness if you want).
• If you love a creative garnish, this is the cocktail for you. It’s classy and really easy to pull off. The effect of a bunch of glasses with devil horns at the dinner table (or around a fire) is delightfully spooky.
• The red wine float makes this spicy margarita super unique and perfect for Halloween.

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Devil’s Margarita

Time to make: 10 minutes minutes

Devilishly simple, wickedly spicy.

Print Recipe

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. mezcal (or tequila)
• 3/4 oz. orange liqueur (like Cointreau)
• 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. ghost pepper syrup
• 1/2 oz. Ancho Reyes Verde chile liqueur (optional)
• 1-2 oz. red wine (optional float)

Instructions

• Add all the ingredients, except the red wine, to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake.
• Strain into a glass filled with ice.
• Gently pour the red wine so it floats on top.
• Use a red pepper to garnish with devil horns!

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Xoxo, cheers!