20 Spicy Cocktails That Bring the Heat

If you love to live the spicy life, of course, you're on the quest for a cocktail that can match your inferno hot wings. You'll love kicking your blazing life up a notch with these spicy cocktails.

Thanks to the variety of chilies, hot sauces, and spicy simple syrups that bring the heat and don't hold back, there are many ways to add heat to your drinks. Whether you're a die-hard Tabasco fan, or you eat your jalapeños straight, one of these spicy alcoholic drinks is sure to tingle your tastebuds.

If you want to add some flames to your sidecar, all you need to do is incorporate a little chili syrup into your regular recipe.

Ingredients

• Orange wedge and sugar for rim
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ ounce chili-infused simple syrup
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• 2 ounces Cognac
• Ice
• Orange twist for garnish

Instructions

1. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the orange wedge.
2. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lemon juice, chili syrup, orange liqueur, and Cognac.
4. Shake to chill.
5. Strain into the sugared coupe glass and garnish with orange twist.

This flavorful combination of jalapeño and limes makes for a perfectly balanced spicy cocktail. Think summer, but 90 degrees in the shade.

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• 3-4 jalapeño coins
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1½ ounce London dry gin
• Ice
• Club soda to top off
• Lime wedge and jalapeño coins for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the simple syrup and jalapeño coins.
2. Add ice, lime juice, and gin.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into a collins glass filled over fresh ice.
5. Top off with club soda.
6. Garnish with a lime wedge and jalapeño coins.

If you want to pack a little spice into your regular old-fashioned, add some walnut bitters and chili pepper syrup.

Ingredients

• 2 orange slices
• ¾ ounce chili pepper simple syrup
• 1-2 dashes walnut cocktail bitters
• 2 ounces bourbon
• Ice
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle orange slices, chili pepper syrup, and bitters.
2. Add ice and bourbon.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with an orange peel.

This gin and tonic recipe balances a red pepper garnish with a few cucumber slices for a fresh, complex yet spicy drink.

Ingredients

• Lime wedge and chili powder with coarse salt for rim
• 2 ounces tonic water
• ½ cucumber, sliced
• 1 ounce gin
• Ice
• Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. Run the lime wedge around the rim of a collins glass.
2. Dip the rim in chili powder mixture.
3. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber slices with lime wedge.
4. Add ice and gin.
5. Shake to mix.
6. Strain into the prepared glass.
7. Top off with tonic water.
8. Garnish with a lime wheel.

The classic Tom Collins gets a spicy upgrade with this recipe that adds chili powder and cilantro.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cilantro sprigs
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces gin
• Club soda
• Ice
• Lime wheel

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chili powder, cilantro sprigs, lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
4. Top off with club soda.
5. Garnish with a lime wheel.

This spiced Moscow mule is a great alternative to the regular recipe, as it contains muddled habanero for some serious heat.

Ingredients

• 2 lime wedges
• 1 habanero, seeded and sliced
• 2 ounces vodka
• Ice
• Ginger beer
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In the bottom of a mule mug, muddle lime wedges and 2-3 habanero slices.
2. Add vodka, lime juice, and ice.
3. Stir to mix.
4. Top off with ginger beer.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Anyone who's a fan of the bloody Mary should try this tequila-based variation of the bloody Maria, which has a kick of horseradish and hot sauce. It's a must for weekend brunches. Or, try a bloody beer, which has a kick of horseradish.

Ingredients

• 2½ ounces tequila
• 1 teaspoon horseradish
• 4 dashes Tabasco or other hot sauce
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 dashes celery salt
• 4 dashes pepper, plus additional for garnish
• Tomato juice
• Celery stalk for garnish
• Citrus wedge with olive for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktails shaker, add ice, tequila, horseradish, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, celery salt, pepper, and tomato juice.
2. Shake to mix.
3. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a celery stalk, citrus wedge, and pinch of black pepper if desired.

The brunch-time favorite takes on a full-bodied flavor with this spicy version chock-full of chili powder and spicy tomato-vegetable juice.

Ingredients

• Lime wedge and chili powder for rim
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce pickle juice
• 2 ounce spicy tomato-vegetable juice
• 2½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• Celery stick for garnish

Instructions

1. Rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
2. Dip into a saucer of chili powder to coat the rim.
3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lime juice, pickle juice, tomato juice, and vodka.
4. Shake to chill.
5. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
6. Garnish with a celery stick.

This drink is not for the faint of heart. You can also add sweet fruit juices such as mango or strawberry to help tame the heat.

Ingredients

• 10 mint leaves
• 3-4 lime wedges
• 2-3 jalapeño coins, to taste
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 ounces light rum
• Club soda
• Orange wheel and jalapeño coins for garnish

Instructions

1. In a collins glass, muddle mint, lime, jalapeños, and sugar.
2. Add ice and rum.
3. Top off with club soda.
4. Garnish with an orange wheel and jalapeño coins.

The fruit juices in this spicy paloma recipe give your mouth a respite from the heat of the jalapeños.

Ingredients

• Lime wedge and coarse salt mixed with chili powder for rim
• ½ ounce agave nectar
• 2-3 jalapeño coins
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce grapefruit juice
• 1½ ounce tequila
• Ice
• Grapefruit sparkling water to top off
• Lime wedge and jalapeño coin for garnish

Instructions

1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass.
2. Dip the rim into the chili powder mixture.
3. In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño coins with agave nectar.
4. Add ice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and tequila.
5. Shake to chill.
6. Strain into the prepared rocks glass over fresh ice.
7. Top off with grapefruit sparkling water.
8. Garnish with a lime wedge and jalapeño coin.

With a tropical sweetness to balance out the spice from the fresh chiles, it's hard to drink only one of these chili mango martinis.

Ingredients

• Lime wedge and red pepper flakes mixed with sugar for rim
• 2 fresh chiles, such as cayenne
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 1½ ounces vodka
• 2 ounces mango purée
• Ice

Instructions

1. Run the lime wedge around the rim of martini glass.
2. Dip rim in red pepper flake mixture.
3. Split and de-seed one chili
4. In a cocktail shaker, muddle two to three chili slices with simple syrup.
5. Add ice, vodka, and mango purée.
6. Shake to chill.
7. Strain into the prepared glass.
8. Garnish with one chili slice.

This beer-based cocktail is a savory option, with just the right amount of heat from a few dashes of hot sauce.

Ingredients

• Lime wedge, salt mixed, and half teaspoon of chili powder for rim
• 1 bottle of Mexican lager, chilled
• 4 ounces tomato juice
• 3-4 splashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco
• 2 splashes Worcestershire sauce
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions

1. Run the lime wedge around the rim of a pilsner glass
2. Dip the rim into the chili powder mix.
3. Fill glass a third of the way with tomato juice.
4. Add hot sauce, lime juice, and Worcestershire sauce.
5. Stir to mix.
6. Top off with beer.
7. Garnish with an orange peel.

This honey and ginger delight is the brain-child of Aussie bartender Sam Ross, who created this modern classic during his tenure in NYC.

Ingredients

• 3 slices fresh ginger
• ¾ ounce honey syrup
• 2 ounces blended Scotch whisky
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ ounce smoky Islay single-malt Scotch whiskey
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle ginger and honey syrup.
2. Add ice, blended Scotch, and lemon juice.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
5. Slowly pour Islay Scotch to float on top.

This will be the first sunburn you’ll ever enjoy, with a combination of honey, white rum, lime juice, and hot sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce
• ½ ounce honey syrup
• 2 ounces white rum
• Ice
• Dash cayenne pepper and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lime juice, hot sauce, honey syrup, and rum.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a dash of cayenne and a lime wedge.

For a tropical heat, turn to this cocktail recipe that combines pineapple juice, simple syrup, vodka, ginger, and jalapeños.

Ingredients

• 1-4 jalapeño coins
• 4-6 thin slices fresh ginger
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce pineapple juice
• 1½ ounces vodka
• Ice
• Pineapple wedge and cilantro sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño and ginger with simple syrup.
2. Add ice, pineapple juice, and vodka.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into a highball galss over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cilantro sprig.

There's no knowing what awaits the drinker in this spicy martini, for it certainly isn't giving away any secrets.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka or silver tequila
• 2-3 jalapeño coins
• ¾ ounce dry vermouth
• 2-3 dashes orange bitters
• Ice
• Olive for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, jalapeño coins, vodka, dry vermouth, and bitters.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Garnish with an olive. 

Pineapple and spice and everything nice awaits you in this sugary and sunny spicy margarita.

Ingredients

• Lime wedge and sugar for rim
• 2 ounces jalapeño-infused tequila
• 3 ounces pineapple juice
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• ½ ounce agave syrup
• Ice
• Lime wheel and pineapple wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
2. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, jalapeño tequila, pineapple juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
4. Shake to chill.
5. Strain into the prepared glass.
6. Garnish with a lime wheel and pineapple wedge.

Life's better when you're green. With a little bit of spice. Okay, so what we're saying is that life is better with wasabi.

Ingredients

• 3-4 cucumber slices
• 1½ ounces gin
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon wasabi, to taste
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Cucumber ribbon for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber slices with simple syrup.
2. Add ice, gin, wasabi, and lime juice.
3. Shake well to chill and mix.
4. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon if desired.

Enjoy a daiquiri that skips the heartburn from all the lime juice and, instead, gives you a better burn with some spicy heat.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces rum
• 1½ ounces watermelon juice
• ¾ ounce jalapeño simple syrup
• ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
• Ice
• Lime wheel for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. Chill a coupe glass.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, watermelon juice, jalapeño simple syrup, and maraschino liqueur.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Garnish with a lime wheel if desired.

Take a trip to Brazil with a zesty, zappy, zingy spiced-up version of the caipirinha.

Ingredients

• 4 lime wedges
• 3-5 jalapeño coins
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces cachaça
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle lime wedges and jalapeño coins with the simple syrup.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Add cachaça.
4. Stir briefly to mix. 

If you want to make your spicy cocktail even spicier, there are several shortcuts to turn up the dial to eleven. Just promise us you'll take it easy or have some milk standing by.

• Swap your simple syrup for a jalapeño, habanero, or chili simple syrup to add some heat with a touch of sweet.
• While dried peppers still add a good touch of heat, fresh peppers will give your spicy cocktail the most heat.
• Add a splash of Ancho Reyes to your cocktail and add a touch more booze to your fiery creation.
• Skip the traditional rum, vodka, or tequila and instead infuse your spirit with jalapeño, habanero, or chili to double down on the heat and double up on the spice
• Any spicy cocktail can use a spicy rim. Mix your sugar or salt with a dash of chili or cayenne, dip the rim in Tajin, or sprinkle just a few red pepper flakes into your mix.
• Add a few drops of spicy bitters to give the drink herbaceous heat.

If you still can't get enough of these spicy cocktails, remember that certain spirits have an affinity for chilies: tequila, mezcal, and rum, to name a few. However, there's no reason not to play around with adding spice to any of your favorite cocktails. Grab the fire extinguisher, it's time to light a few fires in your cocktail shaker.