Chase Your Tequila With a Sangrita Shot

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Fill one shot glass with the straight tequila of your choice.

3. In a cocktail shaker, add the orange and lime juices, grenadine, and hot sauce, then shake well with ice.

4. Strain into a second shot glass and add a slice of jalapeno.

5. To drink it, begin with the straight tequila and quickly chase that with the orange juice mix. Enjoy.

The Tomato-Based Sangrita

The Sangrita originated in Mexico, the home of tequila and it's meant to make the straight shot a little easier to get down. While the citrus-based recipe is considered the original Sangrita, the drink took a turn when it was popularized in the U.S.

You will notice that the second shot glass in this recipe is filled with a simplified Bloody Mary mix. It is a fantastic follow up to tequila and those few drops of hot sauce can really add a spicy kick to the drink.

To make the shot, shake 1 ounce tomato or clamato juice with 3 to 5 drops Tabasco sauce, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and ice. Strain into a shot glass and add a slice of jalapeno pepper if you like. Fill a second glass with a shot of tequila. Drink the tequila, then chase it with the tomato mix.

More Tips for Making a Great Sangrita

The Tequila. It's tempting to be cheap when it comes to tequila you intend to shoot. Why bother spending a few extra dollars when it's gone in seconds, right? While you don't need to fork over a large amount of cash for this or any tequila shot, it is important to choose one that you wouldn't mind drinking a little slower.

Yes, the chaser will clean your palate and ease the shock from a less-than-ideal tequila. If, however, you start with a decent tequila, the entire drinking experience will be just a little bit better. When it comes to choosing a style of tequila, a blanco or reposado will do just fine.

Sangrita for a Crowd. The recipes above are for a single drink and can easily be multiplied to make a large batch of Sangrita. Simply store the mix in the refrigerator until needed.

For this, it's recommended to blend the mixture, which is another option if using fresh-picked tomatoes as opposed to store-bought juice. This is convenient for parties and those who enjoy a Sangrita every now and then (it's a tasty sipper and you don't have to shoot it).

Customize Your Sangrita. You have many options when it comes to the ingredients of either Sangrita recipe. You might want to use grapefruit or pineapple juice instead of orange, or substitute the grenadine with agave nectar or simple syrup. 

In the tomato version, think about spicing it up with onion powder, ginger, salt, Maggi seasoning, celery salt, ground pepper, wasabi, or other chile peppers. Either version can have a little coriander or mint added for contrast.

There are no rules with Sangrita, so just have fun with it!