While I know a lot of people have issues with tequila, I am not one of them. In fact, it’s my favorite type of liquor. My favorite way to enjoy tequila is in a margarita, more specifically, spicy margarita. I had my first spicy margarita about a year and a half ago at Taqueria Feliz in Manayunk and it was love at first taste. Over the past year I’ve tried every spicy margarita I’ve come across. Some of my favorites were from Lolita Tequila Bar in Boston.

I’ve also been dabbling with infusing my own tequila with jalapenos with some great results. I made my first batch last summer and it was a huge hit. The key to a great infused tequila is to start out with a good tequila. My favorite is Milagro Silver. Tequila picks up the jalapeno flavor pretty quickly, but if you don’t have time to let it sit overnight, I recommend getting a vodka infuser. Just remember if you get a hot jalapeno you will end up with a hot tequila. For me the hotter the better, but if you’re tolerance for spice isn’t that great I would recommend removing the seeds and ribbing from the jalapeno before using it to infuse your tequila.

I don’t always have time to squeeze a ton of limes and honestly I think store bought margarita mixes are way too sweet, that’s why I love this recipe so much. The pineapple juice is a natural sweetener and balances the spiciness of the jalapeno infused tequila perfectly. Lime juice and triple sec then finish rounding out the flavor with a little bit of tartness. You can serve this margarita either on the rocks or frozen. And while I just enjoyed it plain this time, either sugar or salt would be great on the rim.

Are you a fan of spicy margaritas? What’s your favorite type?