Name: Tumbleweed
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: ¼ cup Smoky Chile Rim Sugar (optional) (see headnote); lime wedge (optional, if using sugar); 1½ ounces guava nectar; 1 ounce blanco or reposado tequila; ½ ounce dark chile liqueur; ¼ ounce lime juice , plus lime slice for garnishing; 1 ounce recipe

Why This Recipe Works

Infused into a liqueur, ancho chiles (which are dried ripe poblano peppers) can add an unexpected additional dimension to a cocktail—a mild, smoky, earthy heat that lingers at the end of each sip. And where better to add a touch of heat than a sweet-spicy-sour riff on a classic margarita? Margaritas are traditionally made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, and, in our opinion, they are hard to improve upon. But swapping out the traditional orange liqueur for ancho liqueur, and adding guava nectar along with the lime juice, gave us a brand-new, unique combination that was pleasantly tart at the start and smoky with just a bit of heat at the finish. Guava nectar is an attractive pink beverage with a thicker consistency than juice and a tangy flavor that has hints of pear, grapefruit, and strawberry. To reinforce the dark chile flavors from the liqueur, we added a rim of chile-infused sugar.

Before You Begin

You can find guava nectar in the international aisle (or the juice aisle) of most well-stocked supermarkets. We prefer to use our homemade Ancho Chile Liqueur here, but any store-bought dark chile liqueur will work. We prefer our Smoky Chile Rim Sugar for the sugared rim, but you may substitute plain granulated sugar. You can use blanco or reposado tequila in this recipe; blanco will create a brighter and more tequila-forward cocktail, while reposado will provide more nuanced aged and oaky notes to the drink. For Smoky Chile Rim Sugar recipe, see this article.

Instructions

Spread sugar, if using, into even layer on small saucer. Moisten about ½ inch of chilled cocktail glass rim by running lime wedge around outer edge; dry any excess juice with paper towel. Roll moistened rim in sugar to coat. Remove any excess sugar that falls into glass; set aside.

Add guava nectar, tequila, liqueur, lime juice, and syrup to cocktail shaker, then fill with ice. Shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain cocktail into prepared glass. Garnish with lime slice and serve.