The Ember Spritz

Name: The Ember Spritz
Yield: serves
Ingredients: 16 cups water; 2 1/2 cups dried hibiscus; 1 cinnamon stick, ideally Mexican, broken into pieces; Sugar, to taste (start with 1 cup)

servings

Prep

cook

Last updated on

February 26, 2026

This cocktail is somewhere between a Margarita and a French 75. Maybe it's the mullet of the cocktail world: half party, half elevated business. It has all the bright, reliable energy of a Margarita but gets a sophisticated lift from the bubbles. The secret ingredient is our Red Ember Syrup, a homemade morita chile simple syrup that adds a faint caramel smoke without being overpowering.

By lightly caramelizing the sugar before adding the water to the syrup, you get a toasted, nutty base that pairs perfectly with the oaky notes of the tequila. This drink is bright, punchy, and has just enough of a simmering glow to keep things interesting. It is the perfect tequila cocktail for someone who wants a drink that is both refreshing and complex.

Notes & Tips

Choosing the wine: A dry Cava or a Brut sparkling wine is your best bet here. You want the acidity and the bubbles to cut through the richness of the syrup and the tequila, so avoid anything labeled "Extra Dry" or "Demi-Sec," which are actually sweeter than they sound.
The Pour: Shake the tequila, lime, and syrup with plenty of ice until it's frost-cold. Strain it into your glass and top it with a dry Brut or Cava. The bubbles act like a megaphone for all those smoky, toasted aromas and give the drink its "elevated business" finish.

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Drinks & Cocktails

The Ember Spritz

serves

prep in

minutes

cook for

Ingredients

2 oz Reposado Tequila (like Hornitos)
Juice of 1-2 fresh limes
1/2-1 oz Red Ember Syrup (Depending on your preference for ssweetness)
Dry sparkling wine, to top

Directions

If you have a minute, pop your glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water while you prep. A cold glass keeps those bubbles alive much longer.
Add the tequila, fresh lime juice, and the Red Ember Syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with plenty of ice. Shake it vigorously for about 10–15 seconds until the shaker feels frost-cold on the outside.
Empty your glass and fill it with fresh ice. Straining over fresh ice rather than the "spent" ice from the shaker keeps the drink crisp and prevents it from diluting too quickly.
Strain the mixture into your glass over the fresh ice.
Top the glass with your chilled sparkling wine. Give it one very gentle stir with a spoon just to incorporate the syrup and tequila from the bottom.
Add a fresh lime wheel to the rim.