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It’s 5 O’clock somewhere! Reason enough to kick back and relax with this sweet and spicy cocktail. Sweet guava juice and homemade, a spicy citrus/jalapeno simple syrup pair with tequila for one of the tastiest margaritas around. Make it a cocktail party by serving these sweet and spicy cocktails with a Pineapple Habanero Cheese Ball, a few Extra Flavorful Jalapeno Poppers, and maybe a bowl of tortilla chips with some Creamy Cilantro Jalapeno Sauce.
When I lived in Houston, Ninfa’s was the Tex-Mex restaurant of choice for a weekly girl’s night out. We loved it! They always had special margaritas for each season. Spring brought about a fruity, sweet margarita with a spicy kick. Sheer perfection.
This is my take on Ninfa’s sweet and spicy margarita. It incorporates my interpretations of a really great margarita – a little orange flavor along with fruit of some sort, some tang from lime or lemon juice, and tequila of course.
Guava is a tropical fruit with a lovely pink flesh that is sweet and tastes like strawberries mixed with a pear. It is just delicious.
These days, guava juice or nectar can be found in most grocery stores. Just look in your international food isles or in a Latino grocery. 2 brands that are very good are Kern’s or Goya.
Use what you like to make cocktails. That’s the best part of having a happy hour at home!
Keep happy hour going all week long with these cocktails:
This sweet and spicy cocktail is a delightful surprise on your tongue. Sweet guava juice, the flavors of orange and lime, and a spicy, citrus jalapeno simple syrup make a delicious margarita with the heat of jalapeno. It’s perfect for a warm summer evening.
For the citrus / jalapeno simple syrup:
For the rim:
For the margaritas:
Make the syrup:
In a large saucepan over high heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a full, rolling boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When the sugar is completely dissolved, remove the pot from the heat.
Stir in the jalapeno slices, lime zest, and orange zest. Cover and allow to steep for at least 1 hour. The longer the mixture sits, the stronger the flavor and heat.
Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the syrup into an airtight container, like a Mason jar, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Meanwhile, make your rimming mixture:
In a shallow dish, combine the margarita salt, sugar, and chili powder. Mix till well combined. Set aside.
To assemble the cocktail:
Rim your margarita glasses with a slice of lime and turn upside down into the salt, sugar, and chili powder mixture. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker, combine all the ingredients. Fill the shaker with ice and shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker is icy cold.
Strain into the glasses.
Garnish with a lime slice and a slice of jalapeno, if desired.