Deliciosa Hot Honey Margarita

I set out to make the VERY BEST Hot Honey Margarita and nailed it…actually you can watch me perfect it since I did it live on Instagram– LOL! I wanted this Hot Honey Margarita to be super honey forward with a nice kick of heat, but still be recognizable as a margarita with a limey saltiness...and whoa did we get the flavors spot on!

It is a honey forward margarita recipe that kisses your lips with a little heat, but still has the flavors of lime and tequila in the background. Absolute perfection.

RELATED: Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

Two Secrets To Making Hot Honey Margaritas

The first secret to a really good hot honey margarita; you CANNOT shake it over ice. It needs to be shaken dry (without ice) or stirred vigorously so the hot honey can incorporate with the cocktail before it gets combined with ice.

The ice will slightly solidify the honey and not allow it to fully combine with the liquor and lime juice. By shaking/stirring it in first you get a beautiful blend of flavors.

The second secret is to use a couple extra red pepper flakes when you stir/shake the cocktail. The hot honey is nice, but I found that it didn’t produce the little kick of heat I expected from a HOT honey margarita!

Ingredients

Of course this cocktail includes usual suspects of a margarita; tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and kosher salt. But then we add a little hot honey for sweetness and red pepper flakes for an extra kick of heat.

Silver Tequila- A mid-grade silver tequila will work great in this recipe. We actually really love the Costco brand tequila, Kirkland… some call it “Costomigas” because it is speculated that it is actually Casamigos Tequila! Cazadores and Espolon are also great.

Fresh Lime Juice- No exceptions, fresh squeezed lime juice is what you want every time you make a margarita… any margarita. This citrus press makes quick work of getting the juice and is very affordable, under $15.

Cointreau- This is an orange flavored liqueur that is commonly used in margaritas. I prefer Cointreau because it has a very clean orange flavor. But it can be pricey, about $23, so if you are trying to save some money a DeKuypers triple sec will be much more affordable.

Hot Honey- You can make your own hot honey or use a store-bought one! This is one of the main flavors in the drink, so don’t skip it!

Red Pepper Flakes- If you are making your own hot honey you definitely need some red pepper flakes (and honey). But I also like to add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the shaker to give the drink a little extra heat. Just enough to make your lips tingle. If you want it extra spicy use a Sicilian Chili Flake!

Kosher Salt- Adding a little kosher salt to the rim of the glass balances all the flavors. We love Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt or Morton’s Kosher Salt. You can buy “Margarita Salt” but you will just pay more because it is called “Margarita”.

Soda Water- I always love a little bubble in my margarita. I think it enhances the flavors. Just a splash on the top is all you need. I usually just crack open a La Croix or Topo Chico from my fridge. You can make a Ranch Water with the rest of the Topo Chico.

Hot Honey

You can make your own Homemade Hot Honey or store-bought Hot Honey is great too. Mike’s Hot Honey is a popular brand.

We like to keep our hot honey flavor clean with just honey and red pepper flakes. That way the honey flavor is pronounced and the red pepper flakes just introduce the right amount of heat.

If you do make your own hot honey and you like it extra spicy, these Sicilian Chili Flakes are extra hot and make great hot honey!

Step By Step

1. Prep Glass Rim.

Place a tablespoon of kosher salt on a flat plate or surface. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass. Then dip the rim in the salt, making sure it adheres to the rim.

Add some crushed ice or one large ice cube to the glass and set aside.



2. Add Ingredients To Shaker, No Ice.

To a shaker, without ice, add the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, hot honey, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.



3. Shake Vigorously.

Give it a vigorous shake for about 20-30 seconds, making sure the honey combines with the other ingredients.

4. Strain Into Prepared Glass.

Using a small fine mesh strainer set over the prepared glass strain the Hot Honey Margarita over ice. Give it a good stir in the glass to chill it on the ice.

Top with a little soda water.



5. Salud!

Garnish the glass with a lime wedge or wheel and enjoy!

More Margarita Recipes

We love tequila cocktails so much here at Mom’s Dinner, especially Margaritas! Here are a couple other delicious Margaritas to try: