A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!
By Leslie Dinaberg
The sultry Heat of Passion is sweet, hot and spicy and certainly my favorite cocktail at the moment. Alcazar (a great little hole-in-the-wall tapas place on the Mesa) makes this Habanero Chile-infused Tequila concoction with fresh passion fruit puree, lime, sweet & sour and a rim of sugar in a martini glass. It’s truly one of the most delicious cocktails I’ve ever had.
My sister—who lives just a short walk away from Alcazar, which is convenient if you want to drink more than one Heat of Passion (and it’s hard to resist)—turned me on to this drink and now, well, I’ve got the hots for it too.
Just spicy enough for cold winter nights and sweet enough for hot summer days, this cocktail is a perfect treat any night of the year, especially when paired with food that packs some heat. Try the Gambas Chipotle or Aaron’s Salad if you really want to get carried away!
Psst. The Heat of Passion is also served downtown at Milk & Honey, Alcazar’s downtown sister restaurant.
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When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”
Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 26, 2012.