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.
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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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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!
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.
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
Hot Honey Margarita Recipe
Recipe by: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
Nutrition
The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Kelly says
how do you get the honey to mix. Mine just "globs" up in the shaker....shake before adding ice seems to work for me.....thoughts
Erin says
Hi Kelly! It is important to work quickly once you have added the ice so that the honey does not get cold. You can definitely shake it or use a whisk before adding the ice to get it mixed in with the Then shake again with the ice.
Karina says
Haven't made it yet. I would love to know what pepper was the base for your hot honey. What I have is ghost pepper honey and I worry half an ounce might be too much. If I know what yours was, I can judge whether I want to cut it with a little regular honey.
Erin says
I use a combination of Cholula hot sauce, Tabasco, and cayenne. You can use half regular honey and half hot honey, if you prefer.
Edith says
How much tequila do I use?Dont know the exact measurements on any of the ingredients you listed😫it’s my first time making a mixed drink..How much honey...ect...Thank you:)
Erin says
Hi Edith! Click on the "jump to recipe" button at the top of the page or scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the recipe card. It has the measurements for each of the ingredients. Enjoy!
Matt says
The perfect pairing for some fajitas!
Michelle Huston says
HOT HONEY made this a winner at my house for cocktails today! Thanks for sharing such a twist on a classic drink!
Erin says
I am so excited that you loved it!
Kayla DiMaggio says
Ooh, I have some hot honey sitting in my pantry right now. This sounds perfect for a hot Summer day. I am looking forward to trying this!
Erin says
That's awesome! I hope you love it!
Jeri says
We love a little bit of spice in our drinks, and this hot honey added the perfect amount! This was my first time trying hot honey, and I loved it! It was so easy! This is our new favorite cocktail!
Erin says
That makes me so happy to hear, Jeri! Thank you for sharing!
Amanda says
I usually make my spicy margaritas with jalapeño, but this was such a delicious twist! I just loved the honey flavor to go with the spice.
Erin says
I love a good jalapeño margarita! This hot honey margarita is a little bit spicier using the hot honey recipe in the post, though of course that can be adjusted to preference.
Alexandra says
Cheers to this delicious drink - the hot honey is such a fantastic addition!
Love the kick it gives this margarita!
Erin says
I am so glad that you enjoyed the extra heat!