Hot Lips Cocktail

History of Hot Lips Cocktail

Hot Lips was created around 2010 by bartender Jessica Gonzalez at Death & Co. (New York). It became so popular that Gonzalez brought it with her to the NoMad Bar. The drink is notable for being a stirred cocktail that incorporates fresh citrus – an approach that was controversial at the time. It combines a house-made spicy tequila/mezcal infusion with citrus, vanilla, and pineapple. Think of it as a hybrid martini-margarita: spicy and smoky from the jalapeño tequila, but silky and smooth due to the vanilla syrup, with just a hint of agave sweetness.

Ingredients for Hot Lips Cocktail

(Including prep ingredients)

• Vanilla Syrup (Do-ahead): 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp extract).
• Jalapeño Agave Batch (Do-ahead): 6 oz blanco tequila, 6 oz mezcal, ½ jalapeño (stemmed), infused 2–8 hours.
• Cocktail: Kosher salt (for rim), 1½ oz Jalapeño Agave Batch, ¾ oz fresh lemon juice, ¾ oz vanilla syrup, ½ oz fresh pineapple juice.

Instructions for Hot Lips Cocktail

1. Prepare Syrups (Do-ahead): Vanilla syrup: Dissolve sugar in water, infuse a vanilla bean for 4+ hours, then remove pod. Jalapeño batch: Infuse tequila and mezcal with sliced jalapeño (2–8 hours to taste). Both can be made ahead.
2. Rim & Setup: Rub a rocks glass with lemon and dip rim in salt. Fill glass with ice.
3. Mix Cocktail: In a mixing glass, combine 1½ oz infused tequila/mezcal, ¾ oz lemon juice, ¾ oz vanilla syrup, and ½ oz pineapple juice. Add ice and stir (not shake) for about 30 seconds.
4. Serve: Strain into the prepared glass and serve.

Food Pairing with Hot Lips Cocktail

With its spicy-sweet profile, Hot Lips goes hand-in-hand with bold Mexican and Latin cuisine. Pair it with spicy fish tacos, grilled pineapple salsa, or mole sauce dishes. It also matches well with peppery starters like jalapeño poppers, spicy corn salad, or a charred vegetable platter. The vanilla and agave sweetness means it can even complement lighter desserts with chili (e.g. chocolate chili brownies or vanilla ice cream with fruit chili jam).

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