Mango Spice Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/10/21
Mango Spice Cocktail
alejandrophotography / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Absolut's mango spice cocktail offers a fun contrast of flavors in which you can experience the sweet taste of mango along with the heat of jalapeño pepper. It's a wonderful recipe that is perfect for anyone who loves to indulge in a spicy cocktail.

The key to using chile peppers in cocktails is two-fold: use the pepper sparingly and offset the spice with a contrasting flavor. In this drink, the spice is paired with both a mango-flavored vodka and mango nectar. Doubling up on the tropical fruit flavor adds depth and cools the drink down perfectly.

Notice also that just two slices of jalapeno are muddled and a third is a garnish; it's best to stick with that. Spicy drinks are not like spicy foods and they can easily become unpalatable. Nothing can salvage a drink that's too hot, so take it easy and keep the balance of flavors in mind.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, add the mango nectar, 2 jalapeño slices, and agave nectar. Muddle well.

  3. Add the mango vodka, lime juice, and orange bitters, then fill the shaker with ice.

  4. Shake well.

  5. Fine strain into a cocktail glass by using your regular strainer while pouring through a fine mesh strainer.

  6. Garnish with a jalapeño slice. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • To reduce the spice a bit, be sure to remove the white flesh inside the pepper as well as all of the seeds as these contain the real heat of the jalapeño. Without them, the pepper is actually quite mild, similar to what you get when making jalapeño poppers.
  • Fine straining this drink is essential because that second strainer will catch all the bits of pepper and leave you with a clean drink.
  • Mango nectar is relatively easy to find. Grocery stores usually stock 12-ounce cans of nectar near the fruit juices and mango's a popular flavor.
  • For the lime juice, you can simply squeeze the juice from one lime directly into the shaker.

Recipe Variations

  • Using a citrus garnish, such as a lime slice or wedge, is a great alternative to the pepper. It also allows you to squeeze in more juice or wipe the rim for a little more lime taste if you like.
  • If you like, make your own mango-infused vodka. It's very easy: cut one fresh mango into chunks, place them in an infusion jar, and fill with vodka. Allow it to rest for about one week or until the flavor reaches your desired intensity, then strain out the mango and bottle the vodka.
  • Use small sweet peppers instead of jalapeño to create a drink that's more savory than spicy.

How Strong Is a Mango Spice Cocktail?

Absolut bottles their flavored vodkas at a full 80 proof rather than the 70 proof that's standard with commercial infusions. That helps boost the flavor, but since it is the only liquor in this recipe, it's lighter than most vodka martinis. On average, the mango spice will mix up to just 14 percent ABV (28 proof), nearly half of drinks like the cosmopolitan. It's actually more along the lines of wine, only this cocktail has a lot more flavor.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
170 Calories
0g Fat
18g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 170
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 31mg 154%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 78mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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