This spicy La Piña Mezcal cocktail blends together the sweet tropical flavors of pineapple with the spiciness of a jalapeno and the aromatics of fresh cilantro and smoky mezcal to make a stunner of a cocktail.
» You might also like this Spicy Mango Mezcal Margarita.
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Mezcal is one of my favorite liquors. The smoky nose really compliments a number of different mixers and fruits, so you can make dozens of great mezcal cocktails. This La Piña cocktail is the latest in our list.
You can make it as spicy as you want with the jalapeno. If you muddle a few slices with the seeds attached before pouring in the mezcal, you’ll see how the spiciness blooms in the cocktail. I personally love that bit of heat. However, we’ve kept this one fairly mild. You can adjust as you like.
Ingredients You Need
- Jalapeno pepper – You can make this cocktail as spicy as you like by leaving the seed in an muddling more slices, but we prefer to keep it somewhat mild by removing most of the seeds.
- Fresh cilantro – Muddling fresh cilantro gives the cocktail a lovely aromatic
- Mezcal – The smoky mezcal adds another dimension to the drink. You don’t need to use your best sipping mezcal for this recipe. A lower-end version is just fine.
- Pineapple juice – This give some sweetness and a nice tropical feel.
- Lime juice – Freshly squeezed is the only way to go.
- Agave syrup – You can substitute with honey or a low-carb sugar substitute syrup if you want.
- Ice – You’ll need some for shaking and some for serving.
How to Mix a La Piña Cocktail
Muddle the jalapeno slice and cilantro in a cocktail shaker. Pour in the mezcal, pineapple juice, lime juice and agave syrup. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled.
Fill a cocktail glass with one large ice cube or fill with small cubes. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro and a slice of jalapeno, if desired.
How to Adjust the Spiciness
If you deseed the jalapeno and only use one slice, you will get more of the smell from the chili than spiciness. I think that’s the best way to keep the heat down. You can also use a less hot chili, like a serrano, or a sweeter red chili.
If you want to make the cocktail much spicier, you can leave the seeds in and muddle 2-3 slices of jalapeno in the cocktail shaker. Trust me, this will give it a nice heat.
To Strain or Not?
I like to just strain the cocktail through the mouth of the cocktail shaker so that some of the bits from the cilantro are left in the cocktail. It’s very pretty, and it gives it a nice herbaceousness. If you don’t like the floating bits, you can strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between Mezcal and Tequila?
Most people are under the mistaken impression that mezcal is the same as tequila. The truth is that both are made with agave, but they use different agave plants and are cooked using different methods. Mezcal can be made from a number of varieties of agave, while tequila is only made with blue agave.
Is Mezcal good for you?
I wouldn’t that far! No alcohol is inherently good for you. But there are some reasons why Mezcal is a better choice than other liquors, even Tequila. “Good” mezcal contains no additives. While many alcohols have sugar and other chemicals added to them, the top brands of Mezcal have absolutely nothing but organic 100% agave and water.
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Spicy La Pina Mezcal Cocktail
This spicy La Piña Mezcal cocktail blends together the sweet tropical flavors of pineapple with the spiciness of a jalapeno and the aromatics of fresh cilantro and smoky mezcal to make a stunner of a cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 slice jalapeno chili, remove seeds for less heat
- 6 sprigs fresh cilantro
- 2 ounces Mezcal
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup
- Ice
Instructions
- Muddle the jalapeno slice and cilantro in a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in the mezcal, pineapple juice, lime juice and agave syrup. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled.
- Fill a cocktail glass with one large ice cube or fill with small cubes. Strain the cocktail into the glass.
- Garnish with a sprig of cilantro and a slice of jalapeno, if desired.
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Laura is the founder and editor of the travel blogs Savored Sips and Savored Journeys. She is dedicated to sharing the best information about drinks found around the world.