As the nights grow colder, it’s typical to start looking for drinks that add some heat to the body. While warm cocktails can certainly do the trick, spicy cocktails can also work wonders.
There are lots of different types of spices, so if a chilli cocktail brings a little too much heat - we’ve also recommended a variety of other punchy flavours, including ginger, coriander and cinnamon. Here’s our round-up of the best spicy cocktails.
Spicy Rum Cocktails
Hot Gold Apple Cider
This dark and spicy cocktail adds rum and cinnamon to spice up a cold weather favourite. It's a wonderful punch for autumn and winter parties and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You can also enjoy this spicy rum cocktail as a warming nightcap.
Ingredients:
- 350ml dark rum
- 350ml cups cinnamon Schnapps
- 900ml apple cider
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole allspice berries
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 orange, sliced
Chilli Tequila Cocktails
Mezcalita Verde
This spicy mezcal cocktail gifts you with the tangy taste of Mexico teamed with a smooth cucumber taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 pineapple, skin removed and chopped
- 1 handful of parsley
- 3 limes, juiced
- 1 cucumber, chopped, slices reserved for garnish
- ¼ - ½ green jalapeño
- Agave syrup
- 60ml mezcal
Picante de la casa
This Picante cocktail recipe is based on the much-loved Tommy’s Margarita but combines those ingredients with chilli and coriander to add a little extra heat and spice.
Ingredients:
- 60ml reposado tequila
- 18ml agave nectar
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 1 chilli pepper (about ¼ inch wide)
- 10 coriander leaves with stem
Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita
Tabasco is the star player in this spicy Margarita cocktail. Its vinegar base and spicy pepper taste are unmistakable and add a fantastic contrast to the cool flavours of fresh mint and cucumber.
Ingredients:
- 75ml reposado tequila
- 15ml orange liqueur
- 60ml key lime juice
- 1/2 cup chopped cucumber, peeled and seeded
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 6 mint leaves, chopped
- 2 dashes tabasco hot sauce
- 6 ice cubes
- 2 cucumber slices for garnish
- Coarse salt for optional rim
Want to keep things classic? Try our premixed Margarita.
Spiced Vodka cocktails
Bloody Mary
Perhaps the most famous of our selection of spicy cocktails, the Bloody Mary is a complex balance of flavours. When created with high-quality ingredients and the right recipe, you can enjoy a drink that is distinctively delicious.
Ingredients:
- 60ml premium vodka
- 120ml tomato juice
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes tabasco sauce (or more if you can handle the spice)
- 1 pinch celery salt or sea salt
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- Ice
Want an even spicier variation on the Bloody Mary? Try our premixed Ghost of Mary Tudor.
Cucumber Cilantro Cooler
Cilantro, also known as coriander, has a very distinct flavour, reminiscent of lemony ginger with a hint of sage. In the Cucumber Cilantro Cooler, the fresh taste of cucumber offsets the spiciness of the coriander for a cocktail that pops.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup chopped cucumber (seeds removed)
- 1 large handful of coriander leaves
- 60ml vodka
- 1 lime, juiced
- 22ml simple syrup
- Ice
- Wheel of cucumber as garnish
- Sprig of coriander as garnish
Coriandrum
The Coriandrum is named for the genus of herbs that includes coriander. The recipe uses a simple coriander-flavoured mixer made by infusing agave nectar with coriander seeds. This spicy cocktail recipe is given a boost with coriander nectar.
Ingredients:
For the coriander nectar:
- 240ml coriander seeds
- 4 cups water
- 1 1/4 cups agave nectar
For the cocktail:
- 60ml vodka
- 7ml dry vermouth
- 1 splash coriander nectar
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Coriander seeds for garnish
- Lemon twist for garnish
Ginger Snap Martini
Ginger is added to countless cocktails in many different forms, including ginger ale, beer, and liqueur. The fresh root adds that signature warm ginger snap and spice to make amazing drinks. Bringing the taste of fresh-baked ginger snaps to life. It pairs vodka with molasses, fresh ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice for an intriguing martini you'll want to share at any winter party.
Ingredients:
- 3 (1/4-inch thick) slices fresh ginger, divided
- 15ml molasses
- 15ml simple syrup
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 60ml pear vodka
- 30ml amaretto liqueur
Another martini variation you can rely on for a boost? The Espresso Martini. Try our premixed cocktail for something quick and simple to prepare.
Spicy 50
The Spicy 50 cocktail is a punchy drink that mixes the heat of freshly sliced chilli with the soothing taste of honey and elderflower.
Ingredients:
- 45ml vodka
- 15ml elderflower cordial
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 8ml honey syrup
- 2 thin slices of red chilli
- 1 pinch black pepper
Other spicy cocktails
Fall Spice Cordial
The key to the Fall Spice Cordial is a single ingredient that’s easy to make. A spicy syrup for cocktails, chipotle-orange syrup has a tangy, spicy kick, and a sweetness that plays nicely against a premium bourbon and the soothing taste of vanilla. Ideal for chilly autumn nights.
Ingredients:
For the chipotle-orange syrup:
- 2 cups water
- 1 chipotle pepper
- 2 strips fresh orange peel
- 3/4 cup sugar
For the cocktail:
- 30ml bourbon whiskey
- 30ml vanilla liqueur
- 22ml chipotle-orange syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
That’s our selection of the 10 best spicy cocktails. For even more expertly crafted and easy to prepare drinks, you can build a personalised box of all your favourite flavours for any occasion.