Name: Spicy Blackberry Margarita
Prep time: 24 h
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 24 h 5 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups blanco or reposado tequila; 1 jalapeño, sliced; 10-12 blackberries; 1/3 cup sugar; 1/3 cup water; 1 1/2 oz. jalapeño tequila; 1/2 oz cointreau; 1/2 oz lime juice; 1 teaspoon blackberry simple syrup; 5 blackberries; 2 oz. club soda

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Heavenly Blackberry Jalapeño Margarita

This simple summer cocktail fuses sweet and spicy flavors in such a dreamy way. You’ll be whipping it up for every social event and impressing your friends with your masterful bartending! Although it has a fancy look, feel and flavor, this spicy blackberry margarita is super easy to make.

It starts out with some tequila and a fresh jalapeño. 24 hours after the two are brought together, you’ve got yourself a wonderfully spicy spirit that can be intensified with extra soaking time according to your tastes. After that, juicy blackberries are combined with sugar and water to create a wonderfully sweet and fruity homemade simple syrup.

Once your tequila is infused and your simple syrup is chilled, the best margarita of your life is mere seconds away. Cheers to that!

A bottle of Don Julio tequila on a kitchen countertop beside two fresh jalapeños

What You’ll Need

Here are the ingredients that go into each component of this summery mixed drink. When you need to see specific amounts, scroll down to the printable recipe card.

For the Spicy Tequila

Tequila: Blanco or reposado.
Sliced Jalapeño

For the Blackberry Simple Syrup

Blackberries: Be sure to stick with fresh berries.
Sugar
Water

To Make the Margarita

Jalapeño Tequila
Cointreau: Or your preferred brand of triple sec.
Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed.
Blackberry Simple Syrup
Fresh Blackberries
Club Soda: Note that this isn’t the same thing as seltzer water – it has added minerals to give it a slightly saltier flavor, making it perfect for mixed drinks like this one.

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What Type of Tequila is Best?

This largely depends on personal preference, but you can’t go wrong with silver (also called white or blanco) or reposado tequila. Tequila blanco is either freshly distilled before it’s bottled or aged in an oak barrel for less than 2 months. Reposado ages for anywhere between 2 months and 1 year, giving it a mellower, more complex flavor profile than the former.

The margarita mixture being strained into a glass filled with crushed ice

How to Make a Spicy Blackberry Margarita

Get ready to discover your new go-to method for making margaritas. Regular ones will never measure up!

Make Jalapeño Tequila: Add the tequila and sliced jalapeños to a mason jar. Close the lid and let the mixture sit for at least 24 hours. The longer you let it infuse, the spicier it will become.
Make Blackberry Simple Syrup: Add the blackberries, sugar and water to a small saucepan and muddle (mix around and gently smoosh) the blackberries with a muddler or a wooden spoon. Heat the mixture to medium heat and cook it until the sugar is dissolved.
Strain Seeds & Chill: Strain out the seeds by pouring the simple syrup through a sieve into a small container. Chill the strained syrup in the refrigerator.
Combine Everything But Club Soda: Add the blackberries, tequila, Cointreau and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the blackberries using a muddler or a wooden spoon. Add in the lime juice and 2-3 ice cubes.
Cover & Shake: Cover the cocktail shaker securely and shake it until it’s frosted on the outside.
Strain Into Glasses & Add Club Soda: Strain the margarita mixture evenly into 6 cocktail glasses filled with ice. Top off each marg with club soda.
Garnish & Serve: Garnish the cocktails with fresh blackberries, mint sprigs and jalapeño slices if desired. Enjoy!

A spicy blackberry margarita in a glass with a second marg and a jar of homemade simple syrup in the background

How Long Can You Leave Jalapeños in Tequila?

Feel free to soak your jalapeño slices in the tequila for up to 48 hours, keeping in mind that this will make for quite an intense level of heat. Once you’re satisfied with the spiciness, strain the tequila and return it to a sealed jar if you’re not using it immediately.

Tips for Success

Check out these helpful hints before you embark on your spicy margarita adventure.

Stay Fresh: Don’t try to make this drink with frozen berries or bottled lime juice. You won’t get the same great flavor if you take such shortcuts.
Add the Club Soda Last: Remember to hold off on adding the club soda until your cocktails are poured. If you shake it up with the other ingredients, your margs will lose that nice little fizz.
Make It Your Own: Want to ditch the jalapeño, skip the infusion and make a regular blackberry margarita? Go right ahead! Craving a different berry flavor? Make the swap! Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on this recipe.

The bird's-eye view of a jalapeño marg garnished with fresh berries, a mint leaf and a jalapeño slice

Serving Suggestions

Every cocktail tastes better with an addicting munchie beside it. The following snacks are all stellar choices!

Pair With Goat Cheese Balls: These creamy Assorted Goat Cheese Balls will make any occasion feel like a fancy holiday. Their tangy flavor lends itself nicely to the sweet and spicy taste of these margs.
Serve With Cajun Shrimp Bites: Lightly seasoned sweet potato crisps are topped with homemade guacamole and pan-seared cajun shrimp in this creative appetizer! Pairing this sweet and spicy margarita with Cajun Shrimp Guacamole Bites just makes sense.
Pair With Chips And Dip: From Roasted Garlic Hummus to Creamy White Queso or Homemade Guacamole, sometimes a bowl of dip and a bag of chips are all you need to round out a fresh cocktail. Sounds like a proper fiesta!

A blackberry jalapeño cocktail on a plastic cutting board with another one behind it

Can I Make This in Advance?

In addition to infusing the tequila a day or two ahead of time, you can make the blackberry simple syrup in advance if you’d like. The cocktail itself is best fresh, but you can mix up most of the ingredients ahead of time if necessary.

Instead of straining your margarita mixture into ice-filled glasses, transfer it to a large mason jar. Seal the jar and keep the mixture in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve the margs, proceed with the recipe as usual. This ensures that the drinks won’t water down or lose their fizz.

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Spicy Blackberry Margarita

Heavenly Blackberry Jalapeño Margarita