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Cocktail History
The Hot Lips is a modern cocktail that was created in 2009 by Jessica Gonzalez at Death & Company in New York City, New York. Although the recipe includes citrus, it uniquely stirs instead of shakes the fruit juice along with the drink’s other ingredients, including spicy jalapeño tequila, mezcal, pineapple, vanilla syrup, and cane syrup to create a cocktail that feels like a Margarita.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Jalapeño Tequila: This is a type of tequila made with fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then infused with jalapeño peppers to develop a spicy, vegetal flavor.
Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with fermented agave and yeast, which are distilled after roasting agave hearts in underground pits to develop a smoky, complex flavor.
Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe pineapples that has a sweet, tangy tropical flavor and bright yellow color.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.
Vanilla Syrup: This is a sweetener made with vanilla beans, white sugar, and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a sweet, aromatic flavor.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet flavor.
Salt: This is a mineral composed of sodium chloride that has a granulated, crystal texture and savory flavor.
Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Brands I Used
- 🔗 Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila
- 🔗 Del Maguey Vida Mezcal
- 🔗 Monin Premium Vanilla Syrup
- 🔗 Liber & Co. Classic Pure Cane Gum Syrup
- 🔗 Jose Cuervo Premium Margarita Salt
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.
Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.
Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.
Chef’s Knife: This is a large kitchen knife with a broad, sharp blade that’s used for chopping and slicing ingredients.
Pineapple Corer: This is a kitchen tool with a circular cutting blade that’s used for coring and slicing pineapples into rings or chunks.
Big Mouth Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a wide, bowl-shaped reamer and deep reservoir that’s used for efficiently extracting juice from large fruits.
Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.
Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.
Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.
Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.
Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.
Tools I Used
- 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer
- 🔗 Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
- 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
- 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
- 🔗 Godinger Palm Double Old Fashioned Glass
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright yellow color
• Aroma: Sweet pineapple with undertones of smoky mezcal
• Taste: Spicy jalapeño tequila and pineapple’s bright tropical flavor and complemented by the mezcal’s earthy smokiness and a subtle touch of vanilla
• Finish: Gentle spice and more smoky essence
Kendall’s Take
“This recipe reminded me a bit of the Smoky Pineapple Margarita I’ve tried before, just with a spicy jalapeño twist. The pepper-infused tequila gives the drink a bold kick, while the pineapple keeps everything bright and tropical. I was especially intrigued by the vanilla, which adds a subtle sweetness and a unique finish you don’t usually see in Margarita-style drinks. If you enjoy cocktails with a little heat and a lot of personality, the Hot Lips is definitely worth mixing up.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was found in the book Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
Hot Lips
Description
The Hot Lips is a modern cocktail created in 2009 by Jessica Gonzalez at Death & Company in New York City. It combines spicy jalapeño tequila, mezcal, pineapple, vanilla, and cane syrup, with a gentle stir instead of a shake, resulting in a smoky, spicy take on a classic Margarita.
Ingredients
Method
Pour salt onto a plate, rub outer rim of a lowball glass with lime slice, and roll rim of glass in salt until coated.
Add tequila, mezcal, pineapple juice, lime juice, vanilla syrup, and simple syrup to a mixing glass.
Fill mixing glass with cubed ice.
Using a bar spoon, stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Fill salt-rimmed lowball glass with fresh cracked ice.
Using a julep strainer, strain into salt-rimmed lowball glass.
