Candy Paint Recipe

Prepare jalapeños

Wash jalapeños and slice into 1/8–1/4-inch rounds. Leave seeds in for medium/firm heat, remove for mild.

Place 2 sliced jalapeños into a clean 16–20 oz glass jar. Pour 2 cups blanco tequila over the jalapeños, ensuring they are fully submerged.

Seal jar and let infuse at room temperature for 24–48 hours, tasting every 12 hours. For a bright, pronounced jalapeño note keep closer to 24 hours; for more heat and vegetal character infuse up to 48 hours.

When desired heat is reached, strain tequila through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean bottle. Discard solids. Refrigerate and label; use within 4 weeks.

In a small saucepan combine 1 cup dry rosé wine and 1 cup granulated sugar. Add 1 tablespoon lightly crushed pink peppercorns.

Bring mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar fully dissolves. Maintain a low simmer for 6–8 minutes to concentrate flavors — avoid boiling vigorously so alcohol reduces gently.

Remove from heat and let steep for 10–15 minutes to extract peppercorn aroma. Taste and adjust time for desired intensity.

Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean jar, pressing to extract liquids. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Syrup will keep 2–3 weeks in fridge.

Chill a coupe or rocks glass by filling with ice water while you build the cocktail (optional).

Add 1.5 oz house-infused jalapeño tequila, 0.75 oz Mezcal Amaras Verde, 0.5 oz Meliti Amaro, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.5 oz house pink peppercorn wine syrup into a cocktail shaker.

Fill shaker with ice (enough to nearly fill) and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.

Dump ice water from chilled glass (if used). Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or a rocks glass over fresh ice, depending on preference.

Garnish with a lime wheel and either a thin jalapeño slice floated on top or a few whole pink peppercorns for visual contrast.

Serve immediately. Note: balance can be adjusted — add 0.25 oz more syrup for sweetness or 0.25 oz more lime for brightness.