Spicy Hot Honey Margarita Recipe

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Margarita lovers, this one is for you! This hot honey margarita recipe takes a spicy margarita to the next level! It is smooth and sweet with a fiery kick that has just enough heat to make you want another sip.

Close up of hot honey margarita with a jar of hot honey in background.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Margarita Ingredients
Step-By-Step Directions
Frequently Asked Questions
More Cocktail Recipes
Recipe
Reviews

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Hot honey is a trendy condiment that is used to add a spicy flavor to everything from biscuits to chicken. It is sweet, spicy, and incredibly addicting.

In my Texas margarita recipe, I use agave nectar as the sweetener. I use a similar recipe here, simply replacing the agave nectar with hot honey. It is so good! With the first sip, you will be hooked!

Where Spicy Chicken Soup brings me comfort in the winter, this spicy margarita more than fits the bill in warmer months!

Margarita Ingredients

Tequila - Just like with Ranch Water, my personal preference for this drink is to use a top-shelf silver tequila, but you can use whatever tequila you have on hand.

Orange Liqueur - This adds sweetness and accentuates the lime flavor in the margarita. I use Cointreau, but triple sec will also work.

Fresh Limes - I recommend freshly squeezed lime juice instead of bottled, as it has a brighter flavor and fresh ingredients just produce the best results.

Hot Honey - This takes the place of simple syrup or sweet and sour mix. You can use your favorite hot honey in this recipe. Or if you do not have any on hand, there are directions in the recipe card for a quick and easy hot honey recipe. It's a simple combination of honey, your favorite hot sauce, and a little bit of cayenne pepper.

Chili Salt - The chili-salt rim is optional, but it makes for a beautiful presentation, and the salt adds a nice balance to the margarita. I mixed a few tablespoons of kosher salt with about a teaspoon of chili powder on a small plate. It isn't critical to be exact in your measurements. Just add enough chili powder to get the color that you want.

Step-By-Step Directions

Step One: Pour the tequila and orange liqueur into your cocktail shaker

I love to use a mason jar when making cocktails. A standard cocktail shaker also works well.

Mason jar with silver tequila added, and hot honey on the side.

Step Two: Add fresh lime juice

Squeeze your lime with a citrus juicer or press, and add the fresh lime juice to your cocktail shaker.

Step Three: Mix in the hot honey

This is the magical ingredient that makes will make your margarita so delicious! Plus it feels good to use honey instead of sweet and sour mix. Honey is good for you! Especially local honey. So it makes me feel like I am drinking a skinny margarita, and not indulging too much.

Hot honey added to mason jar with other ingredients.

Step Four: Shake well and pour into glass

Once all of your ingredients are in the shaker, add some ice cubes and shake well. I like to shake the cocktail for about 30 seconds to help the honey integrate with the other ingredients.

Pour into a chili-salt rimmed glass, if desired, and garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

Hot honey margarita on a tray with a bottle of Tabasco and jar of hot honey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a big batch of this margarita recipe?

Absolutely! This is a great recipe to serve for a Cinco de Mayo party or at happy hour, and because each ingredient is measured in ounces it is very easy to increase. Simply determine the total number of servings that you want, and multiply each ingredient. Prepare in a pitcher instead of a cocktail shaker, and stir well before serving. Everyone will love these spicy cocktails!

How do I get the salt to stick on the glass?

Rub a cut lime around the rim of a rocks glass or margarita glass, where you want the salt to stick. Then immediately dip the glass in the salt and twist the glass. The salt will adhere to the juice on the glass.

Overhead shot of two margaritas, with hot honey, chili-salt mixture, tequila and lime framing the image.

More Cocktail Recipes

Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

Recipe

Rocks glass with hot honey margarita, chili-salt rim and a lime and hot pepper wedge.

Hot Honey Margarita Recipe

Recipe by: Erin

Hot honey brings a spicy twist to a regular margarita, giving you a smooth drink with a bold kick!

4.94 from 15 votes

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings

Calories 225 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 2 ounces Top shelf silver tequila (¼ cup)
▢ ½ ounce orange liqueur (1 tablespoon)
▢ 1 ounce lime juice (2 tablespoons)
▢ ½ ounce hot honey (1 tablespoon)

Quick and Easy Hot Honey

▢ ¼ cup honey (2 ounces)
▢ 2 tablespoons Cholula hot sauce (1 ounce)
▢ 1 tablespoon Tabasco hot sauce (½ ounce)
▢ ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and hot honey into a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, then pour into a rocks glass and enjoy.

How to Make Quick and Easy Hot Honey

Place the honey, Chalula, Tabasco, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
Stir well. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Notes

Substitute the Cholula or Tabasco with your favorite hot sauce.

Mix chili powder and salt together to create a flavored salt for the rim. Rub a lime around the edge of the glass, then dip the glass in the chili-salt mixture to coat the rim.

Nutrition

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