How to Infuse Tequila
When you think of infusing spirits, it’s natural to turn to vodka first. After all, it is a neutral spirit and so you can infuse it with almost anything – and people have, from bacon to tobacco and every fruit imaginable.
How to Infuse Tequila
Other spirits are more tricky, however. How do you infuse tequila, for example? Well, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, has the answer. One of the most popular cocktails in their Cibolo Moon Restaurant and Tequila Bar is a Jalapeño Strawberry Margarita. This involves using their house tequila which has been infused with fresh-cut strawberries and jalapeños for 72 hours.
The bar stocks over 100 regular tequilas and five of their own infusions. You can see the strawberry and jalapeño infusion taking place in the bar itself.
Here’s how Cibolo Moon Infuses its Tequila
Choose your Tequila and Flavors
Use a 100% Blue Agave silver or Blanco tequila. Blanco tequilas work best because they are un-aged, thus are the freshest and can take on the most flavor. Herbs, spices and fruits are most commonly used for infusions. For best results, use fresh ingredients only.
Prepare the Ingredients
Choose a clean, airtight jar: quart sized mason jars work well. Wash the ingredients, place them inside the jar and fill it with tequila. Shake a few times and cover tightly with a lid.
For strawberries and citrus fruit – wash and slice thinly. For peppers, score them and leave them whole, or cut them in half. You can leave the seeds in for a spicy kick, or remove them for less spice.
Infusion Time
You will want to store your infusion in a cool, dark place and shake it a few times a day for the duration of the infusion. On average, the ingredients should stay in the tequila for 3-5 days. Some of the more intense flavors will only need 3 days, while less intense flavors should stay in the jar for a full week or more. You should do a taste test every few days to see if the flavors are sufficient.
Jalapeno Strawberry Margarita
And when you’ve finished with your tequila infusion, you can try making the bar’s Jalapeno Strawberry Margarita.
In a mixing tin, combine 1.5 oz. Infused Tequila, 1 oz. Lime Juice, 1 oz. Agave, 0.5 oz. Cointreau. Pour mixing tin over ice with a strainer in a Margarita Glass with Salted Rim.
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