Spicy food not doing enough to conjure warmth? Try a spicy cocktail!

Jess Fleming, Pioneer Press
·5 min read

A few weeks ago, I did a roundup of some of my favorite spicy foods — couched in a suggestion that they might help warm you as winter continued to drag on.

Since I’m still looking out my window at nearly a foot of snow covering the lawns across the street, I thought I’d offer you another one of my favorite ways to warm up, which also happens to be a way to forget about all the white stuff. Let me introduce you to the spicy cocktail.

Yes, bloody Marys are often spicy, but we are going to skip over those in favor of lighter, brighter drinks that are spiked with chili peppers of one sort or another.

I will say that most of these drinks were not as spicy as I wanted them to be, but they are all tropical and delicious and offer a little tingle for your taste buds that might make you forget for a few minutes that outside is still looking like winter.

Several options at Tongue in Cheek

Why have one spicy cocktail when you can have three or four? I kid — I brought friends so we could try them all — but Tongue in Cheek has several actually spicy drinks that are also balanced, food-friendly and delicious. I think my personal favorite was the bright, floral A Curious Case, which combines gin and saké for its base spirits and enlivens them with lemon, citrus, ginger cilantro and jalapeno. It’s the kind of drink I could down several of, which is either trouble or a lot of fun, depending on whom you ask.

My husband thought his Mother of Dragons would be an excellent brunch cocktail for those who don’t enjoy vodka. The drink starts with jalapeno-infused Windsor whiskey and adds fancy French peach liqueur and passion fruit juice for a fruit-forward, yet subtly spicy party starter.

And finally, we were all floored by the Cross-Eyed Mary, which employs house-made bloody-Mary-infused gin in a martini that is as savory as — maybe more so — than a bloody Mary, but way less filling. It is also quite spicy, thanks to a generous dose of sriracha.

Tongue in Cheek: 989 Payne Ave., St. Paul; 651-888-6148; tongueincheek.biz

Spicy-Rita at Boca Chica

There are a few spicy margs at this West Side Mexican-food staple, but the Spicy-Rita, with its arbol-chili-infused tequila and upscale Grand Marnier instead of triple sec, is the one I prefer. It hits most of the spots on my palate — sweet, spicy, sour and salty — and goes down pretty easy with some chips and salsa. I’d ask for it with the chili-infused salt on only half of the rim next time because it got a little salty at the end. It’s discounted during happy hour, too, and I’m already looking forward to sipping one during said hour on the restaurant’s cute patio.

Boca Chica: 11 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul; 651-222-8499; bocachicarestaurant.com

The Fourth Horseman at Handsome Hog

Another of my favorite places to belly up to the bar, Handsome Hog has a long list of fancy cocktails, but this one is near the top of my list.

Though the drink is only subtly spicy — its heat comes from charred Fresno peppers — it does feature smoke (mezcal), sweet and tart (lime and pineapple amaro) with a little salt to bring out all the flavors. It goes great with all the big southern flavors at the Hog, too.

Handsome Hog: 173 N. Western Ave., St. Paul; 651-219-4013; handsomehog.com

Bad Hombre at Brunson’s Pub

This mezcal-forward drink might just be the cocktail I order most in the Twin Cities. Mezcal, tequila and a fresh pineapple rosemary shrub are the stars of the show.

The spice here comes from habanero bitters that you can definitely taste, but not overwhelmingly so. Bellying up to this long, dark bar, with its efficient, friendly bartenders and elevated bar snacks and pub grub, is always a good idea. The only problem is that Brunson’s is definitely not a secret and sometimes you have to wait for a stool. Worth it.

Brunson’s Pub: 956 Payne Ave., St. Paul; 651-447-2483; brunsonspub.com

Habanero Cilantro Margarita at Pajarito

We got through the pandemic by ordering this mix by the quart.

We would spice it up further with Tattersall’s habanero bitters (a must-have if you like your at-home drinks spicy) but it’s great on its own, especially during the restaurant’s fabulous happy hour, when it’s discounted by $2 and goes great with a tray of $6 nachos. The margarita itself is nicely balanced — not too sweet or sour — and has floral, fresh notes from the cilantro and a wee bit of spice from habanero.

Pajarito: 605 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-340-9545; pajaritorestaurant.com

Pretty in Peach at Emerald Lounge

The spice here resides only on the rim, but the mix of cinnamon and cayenne definitely kicks things up in this lovely punch that includes tequila, a subtle amount of peach flavor, tart grapefruit and lime and some soft bubbles from cava.

Emerald Lounge is a great neighborhood spot to meet pals for a drink and a nosh. If you haven’t been, what are you waiting for?

Emerald Lounge: 455 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-410-1650; emeraldstpaul.com

Tee Tai at Chip’s Clubhouse

This tiki-adjacent drink that features ancho-infused tequila, tart lime juice and nutty orgeat is my current spicy-drink crush.

It’s got a nice zippy spice to it, but the creamy orgeat (almond syrup) really balances it out. Since the menu here changes frequently, I’m already mourning its loss and stopping by to have one every chance I get.

Chip’s Clubhouse: 272 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul; 651-330-1617; visitchips.com

Horseradish martini at Moscow on the Hill

My favorite martini in St. Paul has a hint of nose-clearing horseradish but is still very much the classic drink. My martini buddy likes hers dirty; I prefer mine neat.

Either way, it really is delicious. That drink and an order of the restaurant’s fantastic pelmeni dumplings can turn any bad day good. I promise.

Moscow on the Hill: 371 Selby Ave., St. Paul; 651-291-1236; moscowonthehill.com

Related Articles