Sichuan Peppercorn Margarita

Before you start

Chile heat and Sichuan pepper are very different sensations. Chiles burn; Sichuan peppercorns, the dried husks of a prickly ash shrub, make the lips and tongue buzz and tingle, along with a floral, lemony aroma. This original margarita uses a short-steeped peppercorn syrup in place of agave, so every sip has a faint electric hum under the lime and tequila.

The main decision is how long to steep. A 15 to 20 minute steep gives aroma and a gentle tingle; a longer steep can numb the palate so much that you stop tasting the lime. Toasting the husks briefly before steeping brings out the citrus notes. Use red Sichuan peppercorns, pick out any black seeds and twigs, and strain the syrup thoroughly.

Ingredients

• Sichuan pepper syrup (makes about 150 ml)1 tbsp (about 6 g) red Sichuan peppercorns — black seeds and stems removed
• 100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
• 100 ml (3⅓ oz) water
• Cocktail50 ml (1⅔ oz) blanco tequila — 100% agave
• 25 ml (generous ¾ oz) fresh lime juice
• 15 ml (½ oz) orange liqueur — a dry triple sec
• 10 ml (⅓ oz) Sichuan pepper syrup
• 1 tsp flaky salt mixed with a pinch of ground Sichuan pepper — for a half rim, optional
• 1 lime wedge — for the rim and garnish
• as needed ice cubes — for shaking and serving

Method

1. Toast the peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, shaking the pan, until fragrant. Crush them lightly in a mortar or under the flat of a knife.
2. Bring the sugar and water to a simmer, stirring to dissolve, then take the pan off the heat. Add the crushed peppercorns, cover and steep for 20 minutes.
3. Taste a drop on the tip of a spoon. It should tingle gently after a few seconds. Strain through a fine strainer and let the syrup cool, about 15 minutes.
4. Rub a lime wedge on half of the outer rim of the rocks glass and dip it into the salt and pepper mixture. Fill the glass with fresh ice.
5. Add the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur and peppercorn syrup to the shaker. Fill with ice and shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
6. Strain over the fresh ice in the rimmed glass. Garnish with the lime wedge and serve. Warn first-time drinkers about the tingle so it is a pleasant surprise.

Tips for success

• Buy peppercorns from a store with high turnover. Fresh husks are reddish-brown and strongly aromatic; old ones smell dusty and barely tingle.
• Keep the rim to half the glass. The numbing sensation stacks quickly, and a full rim can overwhelm the drink.
• If your syrup is too strong, cut it with an equal amount of plain 1:1 syrup rather than steeping a new batch.

Substitutions

Sichuan peppercorns

Green Sichuan peppercorns are more floral and piney with a sharper buzz. Japanese sansho gives a similar tingle with a brighter citrus note; use about half as much.

Orange liqueur

Leave it out and raise the peppercorn syrup to 20 ml for a leaner, Tommy's-style margarita that puts the spice in front.

Blanco tequila

Mezcal adds smoke that plays well with toasted pepper. Use 25 ml of each for a balanced split base.

Variations

Sichuan pepper paloma

Shake 50 ml tequila, 15 ml lime and 10 ml syrup, strain into a tall glass over ice and top with 90 ml grapefruit soda.

Troubleshooting

My mouth goes numb and the drink tastes flat

The syrup steeped too long or the rim is heavy. Steep for 15 minutes next time, and use less rim salt.

No tingle at all

The peppercorns were old or not crushed. Use fresh husks, toast them and crack them before steeping.

The syrup tastes bitter

Black seeds and twigs were left in. Pick them out before toasting; they add grit and bitterness, not tingle.

Storage

Serve the margarita immediately after shaking. Refrigerate the peppercorn syrup in a sealed jar and use it within about 2 weeks; discard it if it turns cloudy or smells off. Its tingle fades gradually over time.

Safety notes

Contains 50 ml of 40% tequila and 15 ml of 40% orange liqueur, about 1.5 U.S. standard drinks (one standard drink is roughly 14 g of pure alcohol). Serve only to adults of legal drinking age, and never drink and drive.