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Scotch Bonnet and Grapefruit Margarita

A rocks glass with a grapefruit margarita garnished with a scotch bonnet chile.

Scotch bonnet chile, a staple in Jamaican cooking and a favorite of recipe developer Chrissy Tracey, gives this grapefruit margarita a fruity, fiery kick. Tart grapefruit and lime keep the cocktail bright and refreshing, while the amount of chile can be adjusted to suit your spice tolerance.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    8 minutes

  • Yield

    Makes 1

Ingredients

¼ cup sugar or salt for rim
1 Scotch bonnet or habanero chile
1½ oz. tequila
1½ oz. Cointreau
¾ oz. fresh grapefruit juice, plus slices for garnish
½ oz. fresh lime juice

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place rocks glass or 8 oz. mason jar in freezer to chill.

    Step 2

    Add ¼ cup sugar or salt to small bowl for rimming the glass. Set aside.

    Step 3

    Slice 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero chile thinly. You'll want 1–2 slices for mixing your drink (depending on spice tolerance) and 1 slice for garnish.

    Step 4

    Fill a shaker with ice. Add 1½ oz. tequila, 1½ oz. Cointreau, ¾ oz. fresh grapefruit juice, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, and 1–2 slices chile. Shake vigorously, about 30 seconds until shaker gets very cold to the touch.

    Step 5

    Remove glass from freezer and dampen the rim with a little bit of water. Swivel rim generously in bowl with salt or sugar. Fill glass with ice and strain margarita into glass. Garnish with a chile slice and a grapefruit slice.

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