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I’m calling my original tequila and Aperol cocktail the Chipilo cocktail—an imbibe that drinks like a Spicy Margarita with a splash of Aperol, Angostura bitters, and Tabasco (or spicy bitters). The cocktail boasts sweet citrus and bitter orange character with a subtle spicy flavor. It’s incredibly refreshing and highly recommended for all my Margarita lovers.
Table of Contents
Brief History
Why am I calling this creation the Chipilo cocktail? 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.
This cocktail is essentially a riff on an Aperol-infused Margarita, however, the bitters and Tabasco add additional acid and bitter depth. In my early cocktail experiments, I often used Tabasco to quickly add heat to various cocktails. This was back before I used spicy bitters or infused my tequila with hot peppers. The dirty hack for spice just so happened to play so interestingly with the fresh lime juice.
If you’re a fan of the Naked and Famous cocktail, you should give this cocktail a try. It’s very much in the same realm of flavors. Looking for more cocktails to enjoy with your tacos? Why not a Tequila and Mezcal Sour or a Margarita? Swap in some flavor with a Pineapple Habanero Margarita!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Reposado tequila: I like Reposado for this because it offers a nice balance of toasted caramel flavors. Sometimes I’ll use Añejo, but I think I prefer Reposado since it makes for a brighter cocktail.
- Fresh lime juice: always use fresh citrus for a bright cocktail that pops. A handheld citrus squeezer makes juicing limes an easy task.
- Aperol: famous from the Aperol Spritz, Aperol is an Italian bitter apéritif made from gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona that has strong bitter orange notes.
- Simple syrup: I prefer 1:1 simple syrup because it’s less sweet than agave. Start with less than half an ounce and add more as needed. You want enough to round out the cocktail without it tasting overly sweet.
- Angostura bitters: bitters are optional but I like the subtle clove/cinnamon flavor it adds—it’s especially complimentary to the reposado tequila.
- Tabasco: I originally designed this cocktail with a dash of Tabasco. It sounds strange but the salty vinegar base simply works in this drink. Lately, I’ve also been using Scrappy’s Fire Tincture bitters. It’s the purest-tasting heat with no added flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
Expert Tips
- 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 a smokey aroma to the cocktail.
- Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.
- Use “dirty” ice from the shaker, fresh ice cubes, or pour over a large ice cube for the ultimate presentation/experience.
- This cocktail tastes great with a tiny pinch of salt or 80-20 saline solution.
More Margaritas
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this cocktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
El Chipilo Cocktail
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine tequila, Aperol, lime, bitters, simple syrup, and optional Tabasco in a shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled double old-fashioned glass over fresh ice or a giant ice cube.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Man…this is fantastic. I’m an aspiring mixologist and I came across this by happenstance. I was not sure how it would work, but it does…the sweet from syrup and aperol in the front, the lime and Tabasco and reposado tequila on the back end…who would have thought…simply delightful.
So glad to hear it! there is something magical about Tabasco with these flavors
This is so incredibly good, I can’t believe it has this few votes. I sub out Campari for the aperol, but both are fine. I think It is also quite good with blanco tequila. Adding a splash of seltzer, lightens it up a bit, and you can even extend it into a refreshing long drink.
Absolutely fantastic. The wife asked me to come up with something with tequila and aperol and boom, looky here.
If you want to take this in a smoky mai tai direction, sub orgeat for the simple syrup and then add a splash each of dry curacao and mezcal.
This cocktail is so delicious! Perfect when you’re looking for Margarita flavors, but with a unique twist. Love the heat too. Will be making these regularly. Thank you!
Tried this just now. Great cocktail with a little spicy kick. Would definitely recommend