If you love cool, refreshing cocktails and spicy drinks in equal measure, then this Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita is perfect for you. It’s crisp, cool, yet delightfully spicy — and seriously addictive.
Confession: I have a bit of an obsession with green drinks, especially cocktails. There’s just something irresistible about a lush, verdant green drink that looks like it came straight from a garden. Whether it’s the iconic matcha tea ceremony cocktail from Martiny’s in New York or a post-workout green juice from Joe & The Juice — if there’s a green drink on the menu I’m ordering it.
This particular margarita recipe has been living rent-free in my mind for a while now. I loved the idea of mixing a bunch of green ingredients I love into one drink — spicy jalapeños, crisp cucumber, cool mint, and zesty lime. But would all of these ingredients come together nicely, or would they clash?
I finally decided to find out by making this experimental margarita, and to my surprise, it came out even better than I hoped. The base of the drink tastes like a cross between spa water and a classic margarita, while the muddled, minty jalapeños bring an addicting heat.
This spicy cucumber mint margarita tastes like a hot tropical vacation in the heart of Mexico, where the sun burns bright, the ocean cools you off, and the smoky, spicy drinks hit just right. It’s perfect as a pre-dinner apéritif or to pair with tacos on your next Taco Tuesday.
Why You’ll Love This Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita:
- It’s a perfect balance of hot and cold. The fresh cucumber and mint bring a chill, spa-like calm, while the jalapeños add just the right amount of heat. If you’re the kind of person who adds hot sauce to everything, this drink is made for you.
- Refreshing, herbal, and made for summer. This margarita feels like a splash of cold water on a hot day. It’s bright, zesty, and full of fresh herbaceous flavor—ideal for rooftop hangs, poolside lounging, or taco nights with friends.
- You won’t even notice the alcohol (until you do). Thanks to the clean, green flavors, the tequila is beautifully mellowed. It’s smooth and sippable — maybe dangerously so.
- It looks as good as it tastes. They say we eat with our eyes first, and this cocktail is nothing short of a feast. With its vibrant green hue and garnishes, it’s the kind of drink that makes everyone go: “what drink is that??? I’ll have one those too!”
Ingredients:
- Tequila (1.5 oz)
- Triple Sec (or Cointreau) (0.75 oz)
- 1 Lime
- 2 small Persian cucumbers, or 1 large cucumber
- 1 Jalapeno
- Bunch of fresh mint (approx 10 – 12 leaves, plus another sprig for garnish)
- Ice
- Agave Syrup
- Salt (optional)
- Tajin (optional)
Supplies
- Cocktail Jigger
- Cocktail Shaker
- Highball glass
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Handheld potato peeler
- Muddler (I just used the back of a wooden spatula)
- Blender (I used a Magic Bullet)
- Fine mesh strainer (I used a lemon juicer instead of a strainer, and it also worked).
How to Make a Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita:
1. Muddle the mint and jalapeños in a cocktail shaker. Then let them soak in alcohol.
Cut 2 to 4 slices of jalapeños (depending on your spice preference) and add them to your cocktail shaker. Then add 10 to 12 mint leaves. Muddle them vigorously to release their juices and flavors.
Pour in the 1.5 ounces of tequila, and 0.75 ounces of triple sec or cointreau. Let this mixture sit while you do the other steps so the flavors can be released into the alcohol.
2. Make the cucumber juice.
Cut up 1 small Persian cucumber into chunks, and add just enough water so that it can blend smoothly in a small blender. I used a small cup size on the Magic Bullet blender (side note, this is my favorite kitchen appliance purchase ever lol. $20 and it has last me over 8 years and counting! I’m convinced this thing is bulletproof).
Once you have a smooth cucumber blend, strain the juice into a cup using a fine mesh strainer. I didn’t have one of these, so I just made do with a lemon squeezer. It worked surprisingly well, and most of the cucumber chunks were filtered out by the lemon seed filter. You’ll need 1.5 ounces of cucumber juice for this cocktail.
3. Garnish your glass with a Tajin or salt rim, and a slice of cucumber.
Glide a wedge of lime along the rim of your glass. Pour a circle of salt or Tajin (or both) onto a plate, then dip the glass rim onto the mixture to coat it.
Cut a cucumber in half lengthwise, and using a potato peeler, cut a long, continuous slice of cucumber (or two). You can encircle the insides of your glass with these cucumber slices to garnish! They make the drink look extra delightful.
4. Add liquids to cocktail shaker with ice, and mix.
Add a handful of ice to your cocktail shaker (filled with alcohol and muddled mint and jalapeños). Then add 1.5 oz of cucumber juice, 0.75 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice, and 1 large tablespoon of agave syrup. Cover your cocktail shaker, and mix vigorously until your shaker is frosty with condensation.
5. Pour, garnish and enjoy!
Add ice to your glass, and pour the cocktail from the shaker (ensuring the muddled jalapeño and mint debris do not fall out as much as possible). Garnish with a sprig of mint, and a wedge of lime, and a slice of jalapeño. Enjoy!
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Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz tequila
- 0.75 oz triple sec (or Cointreau if you fancy)
- 1.5 oz cucumber juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp agave syrup
- 2–4 slices jalapeño (to taste)
- 10–12 mint leaves
- 1 small Persian cucumber
- 2 tbsp tajin optional garnish
- 2 tbsp salt optional garnish
- 1 sprig mint optional garnish
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Muddle & Infuse: In a cocktail shaker, muddle jalapeño slices and mint leaves. Add tequila and triple sec. Let sit to infuse while preparing the cucumber juice.
- Make Cucumber Juice: Blend chopped cucumber with a splash of water. Strain using a fine mesh strainer. Measure out 1.5 oz of juice.
- Prepare Glass: Rim a glass with lime and dip in Tajín or salt. Optional: Garnish inside with long cucumber ribbons.
- Shake Cocktail: Add ice, cucumber juice, lime juice, and agave to the shaker. Shake until frosty.
- Serve: Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with mint, lime wedge, and jalapeño slice. Enjoy!
