The margarita. It’s one of the most popular, and most often ordered, cocktails in the world. A backyard party staple, it’s a drink that everyone has their own unique twist on — one that can stand up to a variety of different mixers, juices, spirits, and even creative rim concoctions.

To add some heat to your next party, try these spicy (and one sweet) margarita recipes from the brand ambassadors at Tequila Don Julio. With ingredients like jalapeño, chili powder, and homemade hibiscus elixir, they beat the usual margarita-mix-in-a-bottle people have been forced to drink at parties, hands down.

Spicy Cucumber Margarita

Created by Kevin Vanegas, Tequila Don Julio Brand Ambassador

1 ounce Tequila Don Julio Reposado

1/2 cucumber (peeled and cubed)

1 slice seedless jalapeño pepper (minced)

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

Splash of sour mix

1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

5 ice cubes

1 cucumber slice

1 mini pepper

*Note: For added bite, premix Kosher salt with chili powder to taste.  Rim the highball cocktail glass with salty pepper powder before adding margarita.

In a Boston shaker cocktail glass, muddle cucumber and jalapeño pepper.

Add Tequila Don Julio Reposado, fresh lime juice, splash of sour mix, Grand Marnier and ice to shaker.  Cover and shake well.

Pour contents from shaker into a highball cocktail glass.  Garnish with cucumber slice and mini pepper.

 

Jalapeño Margarita

Created by Elayne Duke, Tequila Don Julio Ambassador, New York City

1 1/2 ounces Tequila Don Julio Blanco

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 jalapeño, muddled

1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

Splash of orange bitters

Splash of agave syrup

In a Boston shaker cocktail glass, muddle jalapeño.

Add Don Julio, lime juice, Grand Marnier and agave syrup to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.

Strain into a margarita glass over ice.

 

Hibiscus Margarita

Served at Café Frida, New York City

1 ounce Tequila Don Julio Reposado

1 ounce Hibiscus elixir (boil hibiscus flower, add dash of pomegranate juice and fresh orange juice,)

1/2 ounce Grand Marnier

1 ounce agave nectar juice

1 ounce fresh lime juice

5 ice cubes

1 lime wedge

Add Tequila Don Julio Reposado, Hibiscus elixir, Grand Marnier, Agave Nectar juice, fresh lime juice and ice into a cocktail shaker.  Shake well.

Rim an old-fashioned cocktail glass with mixture of chile pasilla and salt.

Pour contents from shaker into rimmed glass.  Garnish with lime wedge.