Spicy Summer Cocktails

Get out that juicer! These summer cocktails pair the juice of fresh, summer, tropical fruits with unexpected spicy combinations. Forego the usual Moscow mule or margarita, and shake things up this summer! 

ingredients

jalapeno pineapple caipirinha

1 large pineapple

2 shots cachaca

3 tsp demerara sugar (or sugar in the raw)

1 packed cup mint leaves

1/2 tsp finely minced jalapeno

tart & spicy cantaloupe

2 cups fresh cantaloupe juice (1 cantaloupe)

1 1/2 limes

2 tsp fresh ginger juice (from about 1/2 knob of ginger root)

2 shots mezcal 

2 big pinches piment d'espelette chile flake

turmeric bees knees

2 shots gin

juice from 1 meyer lemon

1 1/2 cups soda water

1/2 tsp turmeric powder or 1 tsp fresh turmeric juice

2 tsp fresh ginger juice

1.5 tbsp honey

 

jalapeno pineapple caipirinha

Remove outer layer from pineapple. Cut into 5-6 round slices. Grill on either side until you've achieved deep grill marks and the pineapple is tender, about 2-3 minutes per side. Run the pineapple through a juicer. If you don't have a juicer, blend and strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Combine pineapple juice with cachaca, demerara sugar, muddled mint leaves, and minced jalapeno. Shake well. Serve over ice. Makes 2-3 cocktails. 

tart & spicy cantaloupe

Juice cantaloupe, and then ginger. If you don't have a juicer, blend and strain through a fine mesh sieve. (This won't work for ginger. You can also buy ginger juice!) Add juice from 1 1/2 limes, 2 tsp ginger juice, mezcal, and 2 big pinches piment d'espelette. Shake well. Serve over ice. Makes 2-3 cocktails. (I didn't in this photo, but a sugar/espelette/salt rim would be super delish with this drink!)

turmeric bees knees

Juice ginger and turmeric, if you're using fresh. Combine with gin, meyer lemon, and soda water. Make sure the honey is pourable so it dissolves well. Heat slightly if the honey is very thick. Shake well. Serve over ice. Makes 2-3 cocktails.