In our Drink of the Week segment, we’ll showcase one unique type of beer, wine, cocktail — you name it — to try at one of the countless breweries, bars and restaurants from around the basin.

Anyone grow up with a group of friends that you absolutely love to hang around with, but there is one friend that is always a little bit spicy? Maybe they pop off to someone at the most inopportune time, or they just can’t keep their mouth shut when they probably should? Well, this week’s cocktail might be the equivalent to that friend, but only the good parts — the parts that make you smile and laugh. Let me explain. 

The spirit doing the heavy lifting here is Tanteo Blanco tequila. It’s combined with fresh squeezed lime juice, organic agave nectar, and roasted jalapeno. At face value it might seem like this drink is pretty straightforward. But, the tequila’s super power is that it is already infused with fresh peppers through a proprietary infusion process so we’ve skipped starting out on the ground floor — we’re a few flights up before we even start our journey. 

Don’t worry. You don’t have to put on the latex gloves and goggles just to drink this cocktail, but it will put a little pep in your step. The jalapenos incorporated are roasted, so the spice level gets knocked back with that process and adds a smokiness that gels superbly with the tequila. 

The citrus also helps to calm down the spice and allows for the floral notes of the agave in the tequila to shine through. The sweetness from the nectar is in perfect form. It wraps its arms around all the ingredients like Grandma and Grandpa with the littles at Christmas time and keeps everything running smoothly. 

Once sipped, you get the initial notes of tequila, but with a burst of lime. That gives way to the peppers, but the heat level doesn’t hang around like an unwanted houseguest. It pops in, has a good time, cracks some spicy jokes, and heads out – just like that friend we all have (or need). 

Azul Latin Kitchen is located at 1001 Heavenly Village Way in South Lake Tahoe. For food and drink menu options and additional information visit them online at azullatinkitchen.com or reach them by phone at 530-541-2985.