Jalapeño Lime Margarita Pitcher

Name: Jalapeño Lime Margarita Pitcher
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: about 1 1/2 quarts (1.4 L); 8 drinks
Ingredients: 1.5 cups blanco tequila (360 ml); 0.75 cup orange liqueur (180 ml); 1 cup fresh lime juice (240 ml); 0.25 cup agave syrup (60 ml); 1 cup cold water (240 ml); 1 –2 jalapeños, sliced; coarse salt, lime wheels

A spicy margarita is the crowd-pleaser people recommend to anyone planning a first party in a new place: it is simple, it batches well and the heat is adjustable. Steep the jalapeño in the lime juice and you control exactly how hot it gets.

about 1 1/2 quarts (1.4 L); 8 drinksYield

EasyDifficulty

What you'll need

1.5 cups blanco tequila (360 ml)
0.75 cup orange liqueur (180 ml)
1 cup fresh lime juice (240 ml)
0.25 cup agave syrup (60 ml)
1 cup cold water (240 ml)
1 –2 jalapeños, sliced
coarse salt, lime wheels

How to make it

Muddle half the jalapeño slices in the lime juice and let it stand 10 minutes. Taste; strain out the slices when it is spicy enough.
Stir with the tequila, liqueur, agave and water in a pitcher. Chill.
Rim glasses with salt, fill with ice and pour.
Glass: Rocks glasses with a salt rim. Garnish: A lime wheel and a jalapeño slice.

Chef's secrets

Remove the seeds for mild heat; keep them for hot.

Fresh lime juice only.

Good to know

Make ahead

Keeps in the fridge a day.