I’m calling my fancy new tequila and Aperol cocktail the Chipilo cocktail—an imbibe that drinks like a spicy margarita with a splash of Aperol, angostura bitters, and Tabasco sauce (which is optional). What you get is a subtly spicy cocktail with sweet citrus and bitter orange notes. It’s incredibly refreshing and highly recommended for all my margarita lovers out there.

Why the Chipilo cocktail? Well, Chipilo is a small city in Puebla, Mexico where Italian immigrants settled in the late 1800s. It’s known as a little piece of Italy in Mexico. Just like a splash of an Italian aperitif in a very familiar feeling tequila cocktail.

What’s in It?

This cocktail is made with tequila, Aperol, simple syrup (sugar and water), fresh lime juice, Angostura bitters, and optional Tabasco sauce. If you like a spicy margarita, you will LOVE this drink.

How to Make the Chipilo Cocktail

Combine all ingredients in a Boston shaker with a large cup of ice and shake. Strain into a chilled double old fashioned glass over fresh ice cubes or a giant ice cube. Garnish with a lime wheel. This is a great cocktail to make in batches this summer.

You can enhance this cocktail a little further with brûléed lime or lemon wheel garnishes. Sprinkle a little sugar on your citrus of choice and brûlée with a kitchen torch. This will add smokey notes to the cocktail and elevates the whole drinking experience.

Happy cocktailing!

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