If you're looking for a cocktail that can quench your thirst while giving you an intense and enjoyable flavor, look no further than the humble margarita. This cocktail is synonymous with Mexican food and a night out on the town, but you can make your own to sip and enjoy at home. 

That said, tequila can give some nasty hangovers, so why not try a non-alcoholic tequila alternative? This way, you can knock back a few drinks without regretting it the next day. Seir Hill has you covered with Durangold, an alcohol-free tequila with all the flavors and none of the setbacks. We've curated a spicy blood orange margarita recipe that really makes this tequila sing.

So, let's put on our sombreros and see what this cocktail can do!

An Intro to Seir Hill's Durangold Tequila Alternative

Seir Hill is an award-winning non-alcoholic spirit producer that's focused on one thing - quality. Everything we make tastes and smells like the real thing, so you don't have to sacrifice flavor to enjoy your favorite cocktails. Since tequila is such a strong and aromatic liquor, we took our time to ensure the tasting notes are identical to what you could find on the call shelf at your favorite watering hole. 

Durangold tastes like a sunrise in an agave field. It has a delicate balance of lemon peels, agave, and quintessential southwestern aromas that awaken as soon as you mix it with your favorite ingredients. As with other alcohol-free spirits, Durangold is meant to be mixed, not taken straight or on the rocks. Best of all, it's calorie-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free so that you can enjoy your favorite recipes (like a blood orange margarita) guilt-free. 

Spicy Blood Orange Margarita Recipe

Technically speaking, you could add Durangold Tequila alternative to a bottle of margarita mix and call it a night. However, there's something so much better about squeezing fresh juice and mixing the ingredients yourself. When you're able to put your own blood (orange), sweat, and tears into a cocktail, the results are far superior to any pre-made mix you could find at your local grocery store. 

What makes this cocktail so incredible is the blend of spicy and sweet. Blood oranges are naturally sweeter and juicier than regular oranges, adding a deep crimson hue to your beverage. So, not only do you get something that tastes amazing, but it will look marvelous if you post it on social media. 

As you'll notice with the recipe, you can make your own spicy syrup or buy one off the shelf. Jalapenos are usually spicy enough for most people, but if you really want to kick things up a notch, we recommend habanero peppers instead. If you're unsure what you'll prefer, try the original recipe and then feel free to mix it up as necessary afterward. 

What You'll Need

• Juicer - A manual juicer works well, or if you really want to get as much juice as possible, we recommend a masticating juicer. 
• Cocktail Shaker w/ Strainer - You may have one of these already, but you'll need to strain the pulp and ice from your mixture to enjoy this cocktail to its fullest extent. 
• Cocktail vs. Margarita Glass - If you want to be extra fancy, you can enjoy your margarita in a specialty glass with rim seasoning. However, a standard cocktail glass works well, particularly if you want to enjoy your drink on the rocks. 
• Drink Muddler - This piece is handy for a wide assortment of drinks, including the Old Fashioned, Mojito, and Mint Julep. You can even use all Seir Hill products to make these cocktails. 

Ingredient List

• 2 Blood Oranges
• 1/2 Lime
• 1.5 oz Durangold Tequila Alternative
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 1/4 Jalapeno Pepper (without seeds)
• Salt and Chili Powder for the Rim
• Lime Wedge as a Garnish

How to Make a Spicy Blood Orange Margarita Mocktail

First, you'll need to muddle the jalapeno with the simple syrup. Mash the ingredients in your cocktail shaker until they make a decent paste. 

Next, you'll have to juice your blood oranges and lime. Again, using a manual juicer is perfectly fine, but you can use an electric juicer if you want a larger batch. In that case, you should increase the tequila to two ounces. 

Add your juices, tequila, and ice to your jalapeno syrup. Shake the mixture well until it's thoroughly chilled. This process should take about 20 seconds. 

Mix salt and chili powder and coat the rim of your glass. If you don't want the extra spiciness, use only salt. If you haven't salted a glass rim before, all you need to do is run a wet finger around the edge, then dip the glass into the salt. For an extra-rich coating, you can use one of your blood oranges on the rim instead. 

Strain your margarita into the glass. If you're using a margarita glass, you shouldn't add any ice. However, ice is recommended when using a standard tumbler or cocktail glass. 

A Brief History of the Margarita

The origins of the margarita change depending on who you ask. However, considering that margarita means "daisy" in Spanish, the likely story is that it evolved from a class of cocktails called daisies. Daisy drinks were highly popular in the first half of the 20th century, and the cocktail category mixes citrus juice, liqueur or syrup, and a base spirit (i.e., rum or gin). 

The Tequila Daisy was made famous in 1936 after a journalist wrote about the cocktail after visiting Tijuana, Mexico. A local bar in the area served the "Famous Tequila Daisy," and it had already made quite an impact on the locals. According to the story, the drink was an accident after the bartender grabbed the wrong liquor bottle. However, the customer loved the drink so much the bartender had no choice but to put it on the menu. 

Across the pond, the British also had their own version of a Tequila Daisy with a cocktail called the Picador. Since the ingredients and proportions are the same as a modern margarita, this recipe may have also been part of the drink's origin story. However, the name "margarita" didn't exist (in print, anyway) until 1953. That year, another journalist from California talked about drinking margaritas in Ensenada after a long day of surfing. 

So, it would seem the true history of the margarita may date back much further - just only the locals in Mexico knew of its existence before it was brought to the States. 

Why Make a Margarita Spicy Blood Orange? 

The original margarita uses orange liqueur, lime juice, and tequila. So, why mix things up with blood oranges and spicy peppers? Well, it's only natural to put one's own spin on a famous cocktail. After all, you can get a traditional margarita, both fresh and frozen, at virtually any bar in the world. However, a spicy blood orange version is something you almost have to make at home because these ingredients are not usually available at a bar. 

The spiciness of the peppers and the sweet juiciness of the blood oranges create a flavor profile unlike anything else you've ever tasted. Much like how margaritas are sweet and salty, these tastes blend well in your mouth and make vibrant memories that will last a lifetime. 

When to Serve a Blood Orange Mock Margarita

The color and flavor of this margarita variation make it an excellent choice for fall activities, such as Sober October. However, since blood orange season usually runs from December to April, you may have to save it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Feel free to make this recipe a family tradition, both with and without Seir Hill's tequila alternative.