Spicy Avocado Margarita

Name: Spicy Avocado Margarita
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American

Recipe: Evan Hawkins , Romeo's , New York City

Photo: Noah Fecks

February 14, 2024

Evan Hawkins, beverage director and co-owner of Romeo’s in NYC, always wanted to put his own spin on the classic Margarita. The Mother’s Ruin alum achieved that with this spicy avocado Margarita. Blanco tequila, avocado, lime, and a peppery tincture build the cocktail’s verdant character. “The creamy texture was what I wanted most, as I felt that it would be such a great asset in a Margarita, specifically because it can cut right through the citrus to create a nice delicious balance,” Hawkins says.

Ingredients

2 oz. blanco tequila
1 1/4 oz. avocado cordial
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
4 dashes spicy tincture
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Avocado Cordial
3 avocados
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp. spirulina
5 oz. agave syrup (2:1)
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Spicy Tincture
1 liter high-proof spirit (vodka or everclear)
6 jalapeños, serranos, or Thai chiles
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Spicy Salt
1 cup salt
1 Tbsp. cinnamon powder
1 Tbsp. cumin powder
1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. smoked paprika
2 Tbsp. sugar

Tools:shaker, strainer
Glass:rocks
Garnish:chamoy and spicy salt

Preparation

Cover half of the rim of a glass with chamoy and then dip it in the spicy salt. Set aside. Add all of the drink ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. Strain over a large ice cube in a glass. Garnish.

Avocado CordialPeel the avocados and remove the pits. Combine the avocado flesh, lime juice, lemon juice, spirulina, and agave syrup in a blender and blend until smooth. Will keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Spicy TinctureSlice the peppers and combine them with the spirit. Let the mixture rest overnight. The longer it sits, the spicier it gets, so be sure to taste it often to check for the desired spice level. The spicy tincture needs to be strained completely after a maximum of 3 days.

Spicy SaltCombine all of the ingredients (listed to the left) in a container and stir or shake until they are well blended. Store in a dry place. Keeps indefinitely.