A little trick for making cocktails with out of season ingredients is to use preserves and jams to capture the desired flavor. This drink uses a reduced 1:1 mixture of Clif Family Organic Peach Preserves and water to make a rich syrup that acts as the cocktail’s sweetener.
Spicy Peach Margarita
From the Clif Family Kitchen
Ingredients: 2 oz jalapeno-infused tequila or mezcal* 1.25 oz Clif Family Organic Peach Preserves or Clif Family Peach Habanero Preserves simple syrup** 1 oz fresh lime juice 1/2 oz Cointreau 1/2 oz peach liqueur/schnapps (or sub with additional 1 oz peach syrup) 2:1 mixture of Tajin/salt for rimming Preparation: *Combine 750 ml of tequila/mezcal with 1-2 sliced jalapenos (seeds included) for 18-24 hours. Strain out solids and discard. **Combine 1 jar Clif Family Organic Peach Preserves with the same quantity of water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally, simmer for about 15 minutes until the mixture has reduced but only just coats the back of a spoon; it should still be more of a liquid than a syrup as it will thicken as it cools. Remove from heat and allow to cool just slightly, then run through a fine mesh strainer pressing to remove as much syrup from the pulp as possible. Discard the jam’s pulp. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. If the syrup is too thick after chilling, add a tablespoon of water (or more as needed) and shake well to thin it out. Make The Cocktail: Rim a rocks glass with lime juice, then the Tajin/salt mixture. Fill with ice and set aside. Combine remaining ingredients in a shaker filled with ice; shake until very cold, about 20 seconds. Strain into the ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
