Tequila cocktails: Margaritas, Palomas and more oh my!

Raspberry Jalapeño Spicy Margarita, photo provided by Casa Tua Cucina

Marvelous Margaritas

The classic margarita has a long, storied history. But, today’s margaritas are far from simple and bland. From a boost of spicy to vibrant florals, there is a margarita for any and every occasion.

Like any good cocktail, the drink needs to be balanced. In a way, you long for another sip even when the glass is empty.

When it comes to spicy margaritas, the key is to find a way to build flavor. If the heat becomes too strong in the front, you can’t keep drinking it. If the heat is hidden under the sweetness, why have the spice?

One cocktail that caught FoodSided’s attention is the Raspberry Jalapeño Spicy Margarita from Casa Tua Cucina at Saks Brickell City Centre. Using the Casamigos Blano Tequila, this cocktail is bright, tart, sweet and spicy. It hits all the flavor profiles.

This cocktail visually looks impressive but the flavor is the real star. Although it might not be an easy food pairing, it is a lovely cocktail to sip on a leisurely afternoon.

Here’s how to make Casa Tua Cucina’s Raspberry Jalapeño Spicy Margarita

"Raspberry Jalapeño Spicy Margarita Ingredients: • 2 oz Casamigos Blanco Tequila • .75 oz Combier L’Original Liqueur D’Orange • 1 oz Fresh lime juice • .75 oz Agave syrup • 3-4 Fresh raspberries • 2-3 Jalapeño slices • Salt rim Preparation: Salt the rim of a rocks glass. In a cocktail shaker, muddle 1-2 fresh raspberries and 1-2 jalapeño slices. Add all other ingredients and shake vigorously for 8-10 seconds. Double strain into the salt rimmed rocks glass. Decorate with 2 fresh raspberries and 1 jalapeño slice."

If you are looking for a spicy, yet simple margarita recipe, look no further than Tequila Herradura Spicy Margarita. This cocktail shows how versatile a margarita can be. Just by adding a few jalapeno slices, you can get a lot of additional flavor.

Herradura Spicy Margarita, photo provided by tequila Herradura

Here’s how to make Tequila Herradura Spicy Margarita

"Tequila Herradura Spicy Margarita • Ingredients • 2 parts Herradura Silver • 1 part fresh squeezed lime juice • ½ – ¾ part agave • 1-2 fresh jalapeno slices (red or green) Preparation Muddle jalapeno slices in bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the rest of the ingredients with ice. Shake hard, then strain over fresh ice. Garnish with jalapeno and lime wedge."