Cocktails are great, but cocktails that double as healing elixirs are even better. Okay, maybe "healing elixir" is a strong word, but seriously, there are real health benefits to this spicy Mezcal Margarita from the cocktail team at Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, South Carolina. If you can take the heat, it's worth your while to incorporate spicy peppers into your diet, thanks to a little compound called capsaicin, a natural bacteria and inflammation-fighter that gives peppers their spicy kick. Whether you're sipping this concoction poolside, or serving it up at your Labor Day barbecue, it's got a kick that your guests are guaranteed to love.
2 oz. Del Maguey Mezcal infused with Serrano pepper(s)
1-2 Fresh Serrano Peppers
1.5 oz. Cointreau
3 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
.75 oz. Agave Nectar
Applewood Smoked Sea Salt
1 Lime Wedge
Method
Dip cocktail glass rim in lime juice and smoked sea salt, then fill cup with ice. Combine Mezcal, Cointreau, lime juice, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until frothy.