Best Spicy Cocktail Recipes

There’s a whole world of fabulous cocktails out there, but if you really want to get the party started, serve spicy cocktails!

Spicy Greyhounds, Whiskey Hot and Sours, Firecrackers, and other hot cocktails are all the rage in bars, and our NUDE cocktail glasses are the perfect way to present them.

If you fancy putting your tastebuds to the test, here’s our rundown of the best spicy cocktails, along with a few of the most well-loved spicy cocktail recipes sure to add some heat to any social gathering.

What Kind of Spices Are Used in Cocktails?

When making cocktails, it’s easy to stick to the classics. Still, if you want to impress guests, blending sweet, sour, and savory ingredients adds a sophisticated twist to your drinks.

Bold and fiery chili, and aromatic spices and herbs elevate the flavor of beverages and give a new dimension to the drinking experience. Here’s a look at the most common cocktail spices and cocktail herbs the best bartenders and mixologists use.

Cocktail Spices

• Black Pepper: A pinch of freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle heat and earthiness.
• Cloves: Providing cloves are used sparingly, they can add a strong, deep, and aromatic element to drinks.
• Cinnamon: Many people enjoy the sweet, comforting flavor of cinnamon. It conjures up feelings of winter warmth and The Holidays.
• Nutmeg: The distinct, nutty flavor of nutmeg adds a sophisticated touch to drinks and is often found grated on top of cocktails.

Cocktail Herbs

• Mint: No Mojito would be complete without the refreshing addition of fresh mint.
• Thyme: A little thyme goes a long way in drinks and provides a savory depth and complexity.
• Basil: Often used in gin cocktails, basil adds scent and a sweet, herbal flavor.
• Rosemary: To put an aromatic twist in cocktails, many bartenders use a sprig of rosemary.
• Lavender: Unconventional as it may seem, lavender can add a sophisticated, floral tone to a drink and can enhance its presentation.

Best Spicy Cocktails with Vodka

From the well-loved Bloody Mary to the new wave Chilli Margarita, there are plenty of ways to heat up vodka cocktails to make them memorable. See below the best spicy vodka recipes, and don’t forget they look amazing when served in glasses from our Savage collection.

Bloody Mary Recipe

Often considered the ultimate brunch cocktail, here’s a classic, simple recipe for a spicy Bloody Mary:

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz vodka
• 3 oz tomato juice
• ½ oz lemon juice
• 3 dashes Tabasco (hot sauce)
• Salt & Pepper (to taste)
• Celery stick, lemon, or olives to garnish

Method:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the vodka, lemon and tomato juice, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
3. Shake well, then strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with celery, an olive, or a lemon wedge.

Spicy Vodka Lemonade Recipe

This refreshing, Spicy Vodka Lemonade recipe will put a spin on a cocktail party. It can be made in big batches and served from a NUDE jug, pitcher, or in a highball glass.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 3 1/2 oz lemonade
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 3 slices of jalapeno pepper
• Slices of lemon to garnish

Method:

1. Add the jalapeno slices to a shaker and muddle.
2. Pour in the vodka, simple syrup, and lemonade and shake.
3. Strain into an ice-filled glass.
4. Use lemon slices for garnish.

Chili Martini Recipe

This Chilli Martini is a spicy take on the classic version and the ideal home bar cocktail recipe. It is best served in one of our elegant martini glasses.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1.2 oz dry vermouth
• A few slices of fresh red chili plus some for garnish.

Method:

1. Muddle a few chili slices in a shaker.
2. Add the vodka and dry vermouth.
3. Shake well, then serve in a martini glass.
4. Garnished with a thin red chili slice.

Best Spicy Cocktails with Tequila

Tequila is known as a bold spirit, so it works wonderfully with chili. Spicy tequila cocktails leave a memorable impression, so consider adding these cocktail recipes to your home bar repertoire.

Bloody Maria Recipe

This twist on Bloody Mary looks perfect served in glassware from the NUDE Hepburn Collection. It should appeal to anyone who likes spice and tequila!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz tequila
• 3 oz tomato juice
• ½ oz lime juice
• 3 dashes Worcester sauce or hot sauce
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Wedge of lime or celery for garnish

Method:

1. Add ice to your cocktail shaker.
2. Pour in the tequila, tomato and lime juice, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
3. Shake well and strain contents into a highball glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge or celery stick.

Spicy Paloma Recipe

Grapefruit lovers will delight in this Spicy Paloma recipe, as the mix of this refreshing citrus fruit, tequila, and spice is the ideal thirst quencher on a sunny day. This is another cocktail that looks great served in a highball glass, so consider one from our Big Top Collection.

Ingredients:

• 1.1/2 oz tequila
• 3 oz grapefruit juice
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Sparkling mineral water
• 3 slices of jalapeno pepper
• Slices of lime for garnish

Method:

1. Put the jalapeno slices in a shaker and muddle.
2. Pour in the tequila, grapefruit, lime juice, simple syrup, and shake.
3. Strain into a long glass filled with ice,
4. Top with mineral water and garnish with a slice of lime.

Chili Margarita Recipe

Use items and glassware from the NUDE barware collection to mix yourself a fiery Chili Margarita that is sure to warm your taste buds!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 oz lime juice
• ½ oz agave syrup
• A mix of salt and chili powder to garnish the rim.

Method:

1. To make the chili rim, run a lime wedge around the margarita glass and dip it in salt and chili flakes.
2. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
3. Pour the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and agave syrup into a shaker and shake.
4. Strain into the chili-rimmed glass and serve.

Best Spicy Cocktails with Whisky

If you’re craving big flavors, then a bold and spicy whisky cocktail is the answer. Ideal to warm you up on winter days, here are three deliciously daring whisky cocktail recipes you can create at home:

Honey, I’m Home Recipe

The sweet mix of whiskey, rum, fruit juice, and honey syrup are a real delight, and the pinch of cayenne adds a welcome kick to this delicious Honey, I’m Home cocktail recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz whiskey
• 1 oz dark rum
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• ½ oz honey syrup (equal parts hot water and honey)
• ¾ oz pineapple juice
• A little cayenne pepper (to taste)
• Lemon peel twist to garnish

Method:

1. Add ice to your cocktail shaker.
2. Pour in the whiskey, rum, lemon and pineapple juice, honey syrup, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
3. Shake and serve in a whisky or NUDE liquor glass.
4. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

Spicy Bourbon Sidecar Recipe

Use our long-stemmed cocktail glasses to present sweet and spicy Bourbon Sidecar cocktails at your next social event; your guests won't be disappointed! These sophisticated and fragrant beverages are perfect for any occasion and surprisingly simple to make. See our recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz triple sec
• ½ oz simple syrup
• ½ oz lemon juice
• Orange twist
• Chili powder

Method:

1. Fill your shaker with ice.
2. Pour in the bourbon, triple sec, simple syrup, lemon juice, and add a pinch of chilli powder.
3. Shake the contents, then strain them into a glass.
4. Garnish with a wedge of orange or orange twist.

Whiskey Hot and Sour Recipe

Whiskey Hot and Sour cocktails look and taste impressive, plus they are a breeze to make at home. Try serving them in one of our beautiful Big Top Whisky Glasses.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz whiskey
• ¾ oz lemon juice
• ¼ oz honey
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Hot sauce (to taste)
• A cherry for garnish

Method:

1. Add the ice, whiskey, honey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a little hot sauce into a shaker.
2. Shake well and pour into a lowball glass filled with ice.
3. Garnish with a cherry.

Best Spicy Cocktails with Gin

Many of the best spicy cocktails contain gin, as the botanical notes in the beverage are elevated with a hint of spice. There are many spicy gin cocktails around, most served in highball or gin and tonic glasses. Here are three of our favorite spicy gin cocktail recipes:

Spicy Greyhound Recipe

Have a little fun with this spicy take on the classic Greyhound Cocktail. This well-balanced drink looks great in Hepburn Lowball Glasses and should go down well with the guests!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 4 oz grapefruit juice
• Pinch of chili powder
• Sliced jalapeno for garnish

Method:

1. Add ice to the glass.
2. Add the gin and grapefruit juice and stir to combine.
3. Garnish with a thin slice of jalapeno.

Spicy Gin Gimlet Recipe

Add a memorable kick to your favorite gin cocktail with this creative and elegant Spicy Gin Gimlet recipe!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• ½ oz simple syrup
• ¾ oz lime juice
• 3 slices of jalapeno
• Thin jalapeno slice and lime twist for garnish

Method:

1. Use a shaker to muddle the jalapeno slices.
2. Pour in the gin, lime, and simple syrup, then shake.
3. Present with a thin slice of jalapeno and a twist of lime.

Jalapeno Gin & Tonic Recipe

This is one of the easiest spicy cocktail recipes around - and it's delicious! Served in a classic gin and tonic or highball glass, it should suitably delight the drinker.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 4 oz tonic
• 3 slices jalapeno (to taste)
• Wedge of lime

Method:

1. Add the jalapeno to the bottom of the glass and muddle.
2. Add ice, the gin, and the tonic, then stir gently to combine.
3. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Best Spicy Cocktails with Rum

The sweet notes of rum cocktails conjure up feelings of beaches, good times, and sunny days. So, why not add a little spice to really tantalize the taste buds? Here are three fabulous spicy rum cocktails you can easily rustle up at home.

Firecracker Recipe

Light up the night and any celebration by serving bright red Firecracker cocktails in our beautiful, long-stemmed cocktail glasses.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz rum
• ½ oz triple sec
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• A small chunk of watermelon
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Lime twist for garnish

Method:

1. Muddle the watermelon in a shaker.
2. Add the rum, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup, and a pinch of cayenne.
3. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
4. Garnish with a lime twist.

Senorita Rum Cocktail Recipe

Rather than using raw and dried herbs and spices, use spiced rum to elevate the taste of your cocktail. This Senorita Rum Cocktail is simple to make and can be served on any occasion.

Ingredients

• 2 oz spiced rum
• Ginger beer
• ½ oz lime juice
• Lime wedge for garnish

Method:

1. Add ice to a lowball glass.
2. Pour in the spiced rum, top with ginger beer, and add the lime juice.
3. Serve with a wedge of lime.

Café Picante Recipe

Finally, the last beverage on our hot cocktail recipe list is the delightful Café Picacante. This sophisticated cocktail looks innocent but watch out; it packs a spicy punch!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz rum
• ¾ oz Kahlua
• ½ simple syrup
• Hot sauce (to taste)
• Coffee beans to garnish

Method:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the rum, Kahlua, simple syrup, and a dash of hot sauce.
3. Shake well and strain into a glass with ice.
4. Garnish with a couple of coffee beans.