Pow & Mah Jalapeno Margarita

Pow & Mah Jalapeno Margarita is a margarita mixer, so it supplies the citrus-and-chile base and you add the spirit. Jalapeño margarita mixers usually pair lime-forward sourness with a green, vegetal heat that builds slowly rather than hitting all at once. The details supplied for this bottle don't give a heat level, sweetness or ingredient list, so check the label before deciding how much to pour. The classic build is a blanco tequila, which keeps the agave and pepper notes clear. Use roughly two parts tequila to three or four parts mixer, shaken hard with ice and strained. A mezcal swap works well with the pepper, since its smoke tends to sit comfortably alongside green chile. If the first pour tastes sweeter or hotter than you want, a squeeze of fresh lime will pull it back toward tart, and a splash of soda water will soften the heat without thinning it too much. For serving, shake over ice and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, or pour into a short tumbler or stemless margarita glass. A salt rim or a tajín-style chile-lime rim suits this flavor better than plain sugar. A thin jalapeño wheel or a lime wedge makes a fitting garnish. Food pairings follow the heat and acidity. Tacos al pastor, grilled shrimp, fish tacos, guacamole, carnitas and salty tortilla chips with queso all hold up well. Rich, fatty dishes also work, since the lime and pepper cut through them.