The 5 Best Substitutes For Ancho Reyes

What can I use instead of Ancho Reyes? Giffard Piment D’Espelette is the best substitute for Ancho Reyes. Other alternatives include Kiss Of Fire Chilli Infused Liqueur, Tanteo Jalapeno Liqueur, Patrón XO Café Incendio, or adding a dash of Tabasco sauce.

Ancho Reyes is a spicy Mexican liqueur made from dried poblano chile peppers with a cane spirits base. The chile heat is especially noticeable in the aftertaste but also includes a complex smokey caramel sweetness with a hint of tobacco leaf.

It is a popular addition to cocktail drinks. The original Ancho Reyes is red, and a green version called Ancho Reyes Verde is also available.

The Best Ancho Reyes Substitutes

Giffard Piment D’Espelette

Giffard Piment D’Espelette is a French chile liqueur made from the maceration of fresh Espelette peppers.

This main ingredient in this drink is only grown in a particular region in the south of France where the peppers are commonly referred to as ‘red gold.’

Espelette peppers are a category four chile on the Scoville scale, so it is only slightly hotter than the Poblano chile peppers used to make Ancho Reyes. Both drinks pack the same punch with an ABV rate of 40%.

Although Giffard Piment D’Espelette differs in color from Ancho Reyes, it is the best stand-in if you need a chile liqueur taste substitute. They both share a complex array of tastes with the unmistakable warmth of chile peppers.

Use Giffard Piment D’Espelette in equal amounts to Ancho Reyes in drinks. It can be consumed neat, chilled, or enjoyed in cocktails.

Kiss Of Fire Chilli Infused Liqueur

Kiss Of Fire is an Australian brand of chile liqueurs from the famous Hunter Valley region. The hot peppers are infused into a butterscotch solution to deliver a sweet yet fiery taste.

There are many flavors in the Kiss Of Fire line, such as strawberry and blackcurrant.

The closest taste match to Ancho Reyes is the Chilli Butterscotch variety since it includes the distinctive sweetness of caramel with the spicy taste of chile.

Kiss of Fire Liqueur has an ABV of 17%, which is less than half of Ancho Reyes. It can be used in all the same applications and is a good substitute if you want a little less alcohol in your drink.

Tanteo Jalapeno Liqueur

Tanteo is a Mexican made from agave and fresh jalapenos. The infusion of these key ingredients has resulted in an almost herbal-tasting liqueur with a mild spicy taste.

The tequila component of Tanteo gives a sweet fruitiness to the drink, and the jalapenos deliver a mild spiciness that makes it a suitable substitute for Ancho Reyes. Both have the same ABV rate of 40%, so that is not a factor if making the switch.

Tanteo has a milder chile taste than Ancho Reyes. Jalepenos are naturally not as hot as poblano chiles.

However, it will definitely spice up cocktails in much the same way, and it can be enjoyed neat or in a variety of mixes.

Patrón XO Café Incendio

Patrón XO Café Incendio is a Mexican-flavored tequila that combines the smooth taste of chocolate with a fiery kick of arbol chile.

It has a distinctly coffee-like flavor and aroma but with an unmistakable twist of chile.

Like Ancho Reyes, Patrón XO Café Incendio can be enjoyed neat or to add spiciness to cocktails or even desserts. However, when making the substitution, there is a distinct color difference as Patrón XO Café Incendio is a deep, dark brown.

Patrón XO Café Incendio can be used in all the same ways as Ancho Reyes. It may appeal to drinkers who enjoy the complex flavors of chocolate and coffee intertwined in a peppery-tasting liqueur.

Tabasco Sauce

Tabasco sauce is made from vinegar, hot peppers, and salt. It is an inexpensive, non-alcoholic hot sauce condiment that is widely available.

Although Tabasco is widely known as a culinary condiment, it is often used to add fire to drinks like the famous Bloody Mary.

While its taste is more vinegary and salty than Ancho Reyes, it will add a hint of chile taste that you may be craving in your drink.

Tabasco will not add the depth or complexity of flavor or subtle nuances of taste provided by Ancho Reyes, but it can give any drink an instant hot flash of chile taste.

To best replicate the taste of Ancho Reyes, add a dash of Tabasco to a sweet cane spirit drink. The sweetness will also combat the vinegar taste of Tabasco sauce.

Only use a dash of Tabasco, as the taste can easily overwhelm a cocktail. However, it is an inexpensive way to fire up almost any drink and give it a kick of chile flavor.