As the nights grow colder, it’s typical to start looking for drinks that can help heat you up. Warm cocktails can certainly do the trick, but spicy cocktails also work wonders. The best part is, there are lots of different types of spices, so if a chili cocktail brings a little too much heat, you have options. This includes a variety of punchy flavors, like ginger and cinnamon. Ahead, discover our round-up of the best spicy cocktails.
Spicy Rum Cocktails
Hot Gold Apple Cider
This dark and spicy cocktail features rum and cinnamon to spice up a classic, cold weather favorite. It's a wonderful drink for fall and winter parties and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You can also enjoy this spicy rum cocktail as a warming nightcap.
Ingredients:
- 12 oz. dark rum
- 12 oz. cups cinnamon Schnapps
- 32 oz. apple cider
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole allspice berries
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 orange, sliced
Spicy Tequila Cocktails
Mezcalita Verde
This spicy mezcal cocktail offers a blend of tanginess and a smooth cucumber taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 pineapple, skin removed and chopped
- 1 handful of parsley
- 3 limes, juiced
- 1 cucumber, chopped, slices reserved for garnish
- ¼ - ½ green jalapeño
- Agave syrup
- 2 oz. mezcal
Picante De La Casa
This Picante cocktail recipe is based on the much-loved Tommy’s Margarita. But, for a little extra heat and spice, it adds chili and cilantro.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. reposado tequila
- 0.6 oz. agave nectar
- 0.8 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 chili pepper (about ¼ inch wide)
- 10 cilantro leaves with stem
Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita
Tabasco is the star player in this spicy Margarita cocktail. Its vinegar base and spicy pepper taste are unmistakable and add a fantastic contrast to the cool flavors of fresh mint and cucumber.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 oz. reposado tequila
- 1/2 oz. orange liqueur
- 2 ounces key lime juice
- 1/2 cup chopped cucumber, peeled and seeded
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 6 mint leaves, chopped
- 2 dashes tabasco hot sauce
- 6 ice cubes
- 2 cucumber slices for garnish
- Coarse salt for optional rim
Want to keep things classic? Try our premixed Margarita.
Spiced Vodka Cocktails
Bloody Mary
Perhaps the most famous of our selection of spicy cocktails, the Bloody Mary is a complex balance of flavors. Create it with high-quality ingredients and the right recipe, and you can enjoy a drink that is distinctively delicious.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. premium vodka
- 4 oz. tomato juice
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes tabasco sauce (or more if you can handle the spice)
- 1 pinch celery salt or sea salt
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- Ice
Cucumber Cilantro Cooler
Cilantro has a very distinct flavor, reminiscent of lemony ginger with a hint of sage. In the Cucumber Cilantro Cooler, the fresh taste of cucumber offsets the spiciness of the cilantro for a cocktail that pops.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup chopped cucumber (seeds removed)
- 1 large handful of cilantro leaves
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 lime, juiced
- ¾ oz. simple syrup
- Ice
- Wheel of cucumber as garnish
- Sprig of cilantro as garnish
Coriandrum
The Coriandrum is named for the genus of herbs that includes coriander. The recipe uses a simple coriander-flavored mixer made by infusing agave nectar with coriander seeds. (Coriander comes from the same plant as cilantro—coriander refers to the seeds, while the leaves and stalks are known as cilantro.) This spicy cocktail recipe is given a boost with coriander nectar.
Ingredients:
For the coriander nectar:
- 8 oz. coriander seeds
- 4 cups water
- 1 1/4 cups agave nectar
For the cocktail:
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1/4 oz. dry vermouth
- 1 splash coriander nectar
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Coriander seeds for garnish
- Lemon twist for garnish
Ginger Snap Martini
Ginger is added to countless cocktails in many different forms, including ginger ale, beer and liqueur. In this drink, the fresh root helps bring the taste of fresh-baked ginger snaps to life. The cocktail pairs vodka with molasses, fresh ginger, cinnamon, cloves and allspice for an intriguing martini you'll want to share at your next winter party.
Ingredients:
- 3 (1/4-inch thick) slices fresh ginger, divided
- 1/2 oz. molasses
- 1/2 oz. simple syrup
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 2 oz. pear vodka
- 1 oz. amaretto liqueur
Another martini variation you can rely on for a boost? The Espresso Martini. Try our premixed cocktail for something quick and simple to prepare.
Spicy 50
The Spicy 50 cocktail is a punchy drink that mixes the heat of freshly sliced chili with the soothing taste of honey and elderflower.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. vodka
- 0.5 oz. elderflower cordial
- 0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
- 0.25 oz. honey syrup
- 2 thin slices of red chili
- 1 pinch black pepper
Other Spicy Liquor Drinks
Fall Spice Cordial
The key to the Fall Spice Cordial is a single ingredient that’s easy to make: a spicy syrup for cocktails. This drink features a chipotle-orange syrup that has a tangy, spicy kick, and a sweetness that plays nicely against a premium bourbon and the soothing taste of vanilla. It’s ideal for chilly autumn nights.
Ingredients:
For the chipotle-orange syrup:
- 2 cups water
- 1 chipotle pepper
- 2 strips fresh orange peel
- 3/4 cup sugar
For the cocktail:
- 1 oz. bourbon whiskey
- 1 oz. vanilla liqueur
- 3/4 oz. chipotle-orange syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
That’s our selection of the 10 best spicy cocktails. For even more expertly crafted and easy to prepare drinks, you can build a personalized box of all your favorite flavors.