Xilli - Tequila with spicy peppers Tequila 750ml

Xilli takes its name from the Aztec word for chili pepper and draws inspiration from the ancient Aztec practice of pairing alcohol with hot peppers in ritual and celebration, a combination the brand notes remains popular in Mexico today. The producers set out to create what they call the ultimate hot shot, building the concept as a modern homage to that tradition and pitching it as a spirit made for those willing to take on real heat.

Xilli is built around a secret blend of habanero and cayenne peppers infused with tequila, classifying it as a spirit drink rather than a straight tequila since the pepper infusion pushes it outside standard tequila categories. The tequila base provides the agave backbone, while the dual pepper blend is steeped in to deliver a progressively building heat, bottled at 35% ABV.

The palate opens with agave character and peppery notes that turn sweet before the spice takes hold, followed by a hint of aromatic spice, and finally a long, powerful, fiery finish that builds and lingers well after the last sip. It's an intense pour best approached by those who genuinely want the heat, whether taken as a shot or used to spike a spicy margarita.