As the sweltering daily temperatures drag on, it’s time for a cocktail that can cool you down during the steamy late summer with chilled, double-distilled tequila and turn up the heat on a breezy fall evening (they do exist!) with a kick of spicy jalapeño. The bar team at South Tampa’s Élevage whipped up this refreshing sipper, called Jalapeño Business, to help usher in the new season.
Recipe
1 ½ oz. cilantro and
jalapeño-infused Espolòn Blanco
3/4 oz. mango syrup
½ oz. lime juice
½ oz. simple syrup
Procedure
Shake. Pour over ice in a rocks glass with a half-salted rim. Garnish with jalapeño and cilantro.
To infuse the tequila, cut the tops off of two jalapeños, slice the peppers into thin slices and drop them into the tequila bottle with your preferred amount of cilantro. Replace the bottle top, shake the bottle gently, and let it sit overnight. Alternatively, pour the desired amount of tequila into a jar and add pepper and cilantro to taste. Of course, be sure to strain the tequila before preparing the drink.
What to get to make a similar version at home:
- ESPOLÒN Blanco Tequila ($22, abcfws.com)
- MONIN Mango Premium Gourmet Syrup ($10, monin.com)
- ROSE’S Lime Juice ($3, totalwine.com)
- STIRRING’S Simple Syrup ($5, totalwine.com)
Élevage at the Epicurean Hotel
1207 S. Howard Ave. | (813) 999-8726
7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday until 11 p.m.
